Last horses leave Joder Arabian Ranch (JAR)

Leaving the Ranch. Joder Arabian Ranch, Boulder, Colorado, 2013

Today was an historic day for the ranch–the last seven horses departed permanently for other pastures. Now, for the first time in nearly sixty years, no horses graze on the mountain, push around their grain buckets complainingly, nicker at one another, or roll in the grass at Joder Arabian Ranch (JAR).

On this hot, lazy day, hazy from nearby forest fires, the horses carried their riders over the City of Boulder’s Boulder Valley Ranch Open Space trails to their new home a few miles away at Jan’s La Rienda Ranch.

A big thanks to the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office who sent three of their Animal Control officers to help with the crossing of the potentially crazy busy Highway 36 (Animal Control…how appropriate, maybe!?)

The ride went well–although as bittersweet as a goodbye kiss–and the horses are now working out their pecking order at their new digs.

The non-profit, Rocky Mountain Equi-Rhythm (RMER), will now continue their wonderful work at some place other than JAR–their summer camps for kids, equine-assisted therapy, basic riding instruction, grad student equine-therapy practicums, and so on.

There were few dry human eyes as the horses and riders crossed under the JAR sign on their way out (at least the horses were well composed).

Horses and Riders:

Chairman – Caroline Roy

Dream – Karen Eiffert

Lily – Reilly Dahaliwal

Rosy – Max Woodfin

Winnie – Alexa Schild

Nelson – Wren Schauer

Jasara – Gillian Pierce (Fittingly Jasara, the last Joder horse, was the last in the line to leave the Ranch.)

Escort Horses and Riders:

Skip – Jan Yates, La Rienda Ranch

Willow – Sarah Huston

Tony – Carmen Porter

Across BVR Open Space, Boulder, Colorado, 2013