Meet the Family
Our family feels such an honor and gratitude for this opportunity to be stewards of the Whispering Winds Ranch and Sanctuary. We would like animals wild and domestic to call the ranch their home. The ranch truly is our DREAM COME TRUE!
David
David (my Dad) spent his childhood on a family farm with pigs, chickens and cows. He had a pony named Bill who was not trained. His mother became a farmer’s wife very quickly, making cheese, butter and cracklings (unhealthy pig fat), and meals of apple pie. He remembers moments of true bliss milking the cows with his Dad, before leaving on the school bus and his father leaving for work as a school superintendent. They put in a victory garden of beans, cucumbers, tomatoes, kohlrabi, lettuce, melon and squash with the help of his two brothers and sister. Other memories include selling cucumbers by the side of the road for people to put up pickles, fresh cherries and chicken friers (dressed or undressed). He turned the chicken coop into a library for neighboring farm families to check out books. His family had three pigs his father named Ennie, Meenie and Miney (sadly there was no Moe).
David’s sister came to him and asked if he could help her ride Billy because she was afraid her other brothers would laugh at her. He feels badly about laughing when she was bucked of within moments. He said she used a barrel to get on, and the moment she sat down Billy ran and bucked sending her legs into the air and flipping her off backwards over the rump of the horse unscathed. How could he not have laughed?
Devyn
Devyn started riding when she was ten years old, taking lessons at Happy Horse Riding Academy. In 1977 her family purchased a one hundred year old farm. It took two years of work, hauling out 40 tons of debris, renovating the farm house and fixing up the barn before they were able to move in. But when they did they opened up a horse boarding facility soon after with stalls, paddocks, an outdoor arena, irrigated pasture and miles of farm roads to ride on. She worked for several years babysitting, cleaning houses, running a play school and many other odd jobs to save up for her first horse. Sara Jojo, an American Quarter horse with a whole lot of GO, joined the family when Devyn was fourteen.
Many wonderful memories of adventures along the farm roads, swimming Sarah across Putah Creek, taking dressage lessons in the arena and jumping fences in the pasture still remain with Devyn to this day. She remembers learning to jump right along with Sarah who would sometimes decide to stop suddenly sending Devyn over the jump on her own!
Lynx
Lynx started riding when she was five years old and is currently taking dressage lessons at Willow Creek Horse Park. She has taken gymnastics since she was only a year old and is interested in learning how to incorporate these skills on the back of a horse as well as learning how to jump. Lynx is also interested in singing and music production.
Alysia
Alysia is enjoying taking lessons at Sterling Riding Academy. She rides Trixie, the best of ponies, who loves her carrots, treats and brushings. She is also interested in dressage and jumping.
Ranch & Sanctuary
The whole family, besides being interested in caring for horses, would like to provide a sanctuary for animals in need of a forever home. Their recent adoptions include Minnie, the mini Mountain Pig, Chloe, a mini Pinscher/Chihuahua and Ebony and Mickey, two orphaned kittens. Earlier rescues include Tierra, a Rottweiler/Pitbull and Annie, a gentle loving Chihuahua.
