West Ridge Ranch

It’s hard to believe that we’ve officially been on our new acreage for one week.

Seven days doesn’t sound like much, but when I look around, it feels like we’ve lived a month’s worth of moments already.

In the last week, we built a half-acre pasture and brought Gunner and Pumpkin home. Seeing them grazing outside my window still feels a little surreal. The hens have settled into their temporary quarters, and next week we'll welcome meat birds, turkeys, and more heritage layers. The garden is planted - not nearly as ambitious as I hope future gardens will be - but there’s something deeply satisfying about putting seeds into the ground and the fresh vegetables, canning jars, and a pantry stocked from our own efforts that will follow.

Inside the house, we've been busy making small changes to make it our own. Every project seems to uncover another piece of this home's story. We love its character, its history, and the feeling that we're becoming part of something that existed long before us.

The truth is, this move wasn't just about buying a property.

This past winter was hard on me.
The snow seemed endless, the cold lingered longer than usual, and somewhere along the way I found myself feeling disconnected. I knew I needed to make some changes. At the end of the day, we're all responsible for steering the direction of our own lives, and I realized it was time to make some bold decisions.

I changed my personal riding direction and that brought a renewed sense of purpose. It helped. But there was still a void I couldn't quite explain...

Then, after spending far too many evenings watching Clarkson's Farm (and laughing at the similarities and hardships I faced years prior), I couldn't ignore a feeling that kept resurfacing: I wanted to get back on the land sooner than I originally planned when I bought a home in town.

I’m fortunate to work in agriculture. My career allows me to spend time outdoors and be connected to an industry I genuinely love... But there’s a difference between working in agriculture and building a life around it. I missed the personal connection. I missed caring for animals before work and after dark. I missed growing things. I missed the responsibility, the rhythm, and the satisfaction that comes from being tied to a piece of land. Hell, I even missed the dark days of it all.

So I took a chance... I made the call to my mortgage broker just to see if it was even possible. What followed was stressful, nerve-wracking, exhausting, and more chaotic than I care to admit. There were moments of doubt, moments where the finish line felt impossibly far away, and moments where I wondered if I was completely out of my mind.

Sitting here now cuddling my horses just one week in, watching horses in the pasture, chickens scratching in the yard, seedlings emerging from the garden, dogs running amuck and a home slowly becoming ours, I know it was the right decision.

For the first time in a long time, my heart feels completely full.... Not because everything is finished - far from it. There are fences to build, projects to tackle, and plenty of mistakes ahead, but I can't wait to tackle them.

Sometimes the biggest changes begin with a quiet realization that you're meant to be somewhere else.. the harder part is having the courage to listen.

Here's to the first week of West Ridge Ranch, and to whatever comes next. 🤍🌾🐴🐔🏡

✨ It’s Time ✨

After much thought and planning, Fairhaven Equine is excited to announce our rebrand to West Ridge Ranch.

While our name is changing, our commitment remains the same - quality service, exceptional care, and a deep passion for raising and developing quality horses. As our operation has evolved, we felt it was time for a name that better reflects the vision of our new space, the landscape we call home, and the future we’re building - one that extends beyond breeding alone.

Nestled between a northern ridgeline and a river valley, and surrounded by Alberta’s rangelands, West Ridge Ranch represents more than horses. It reflects our dedication to agriculture, stewardship of the land, and building a thriving, regenerative ecosystem - from the soil beneath our feet to the air we breathe.

Over the coming weeks, you’ll begin to see our new name, logo, and branding come to life. We are deeply grateful for the support we’ve received as Fairhaven Equine, and we’re excited to continue this journey as West Ridge Ranch - bringing to life a lifelong dream of producing quality horses and quality food in a way that benefits the land that sustains us.

Thank you for being part of our story - we can’t wait to share the journey.

🐴 Welcome to West Ridge Ranch.

10 Real Breeding Facts That Matter 🐴💡

💡Stallion s***m takes ~55–60 days to develop
What you do with nutrition, stress, and management today shows up in semen quality nearly 2 months later.

💡Mare cycles average ~21 days
Typical range is 19–22 days, with ovulation occurring in the last 24–48 hours of heat.

💡Mares are seasonal breeders
About 85–90% cycle primarily under longer daylight (>14 hours), which is why spring changes everything.

💡Pregnancy is typically detected at 14–16 days
Ultrasound allows early detection, and early intervention for twins or issues.

💡Early embryonic loss happens in 5–15% of pregnancies
Especially in older mares, even confirmed pregnancies can be lost before day 40.

💡A stallion ej*****te can contain 5–20 billion s***m
Fertility is not just “amount,” but motility, morphology, and timing.

💡Twin ovulations happen in 10–25% of cycles
But only ~1–3% result in maintained twin pregnancies without intervention.

💡Foal heat comes ~7–10 days post-foaling
Early breeding is possible, but timing and uterine health are critical.

💡Stress can reduce conception rates by up to 20–30%
Transport, handling, and environmental stress all directly impact fertility outcomes.

💡≥60% progressive motility is a key benchmark
Below this threshold, fertility success rates generally decline significantly.