With almost a dozen horses (do the mini's and/or ponies really count?) and countless children, there always seem to be an adventure at the Plum Tree Ranch in Hidden Hills, CA. These modern day young residents are re-living the values and spirit of the Old West on a daily basis; galloping on the trails, rounding up loose ponies and spening hours grooming and washing thier horses to perfection. There is some sort of incredible harmony and balance that has been acheived with these children who live in multi-million dollar homes and still enjoy cleaning stalls into the night.
Most of the equine residents of the Plum Tree are older Arabian mares and geldings, "retired" from showing and breeding and in need of new permanent loving homes. Our mares are the foundation of the program and are incredibly brave, kind, experienced and loving with each of the children. They are "baby-sitters" that thrive on the daily and constant love and attention. The relationship between each rider and their horse is so unique and is a wonderful display of the charecteristics Arabians are known for; loyalty, intelligence, bravery, kindness, and versatility.
The boys & girls are a very diverse and interesting group of young people. All with strong personalities, ambition, and a strong sense of fun and adventure, they are a handful themselves! Whether they are secretly breaking miniature horses, letting loose big horses, or dancing on the mulch piles, there is a constant energy level that keeps me and the horses feeling young! The most touching thing to witness is how the wild crazy girls become so patient and nurturing with our younger riders. That they so willing and lovingly share their time and knowledge is a beautiful thing and just one of the many examples of the magic we see on a daily basis.
We hope you enjoy our collection of stories as every day seems to be a chronicle!
