Western riding school opens

The Emerald Ranch crew... Left to right: Shayla Courtney, Shana Courtney, Shawnee Mackey, Susie Foote, Jeremy Usher, Don Chelew.

Aspiring horsemen in Sisters no longer have to travel far to learn western riding.

Five minutes from town on Cloverdale Road, Emerald Ranch offers students of all ages and skill levels an opportunity to improve their riding skills and gain experience around horses.

A main focus of Emerald Ranch, says owner Don Chelew, is that it should merge into the unique western theme of Sisters. It is important to Chelew that this business be a welcomed part of the Sisters community.

Classes range from a beginners class to a number of advanced classes, including equitation and bareback. There are courses on "How to De-Spook a Horse" and one on how to overcome a fear of horses.

Students may bring their own horse or use one owned by Emerald Ranch. The school's "cavvy" is comprised of 14 ponies and horses, ranging in size from 35 inches to 16 hands.

Head instructor Shana Courtney says that the courses allow students to learn about themselves and how to interact with horses.

"It is important for students to know how to handle a horse, not just look good riding them," said Courtney.

The pony camp offers group lessons, three hours in length, for children ages seven and up. The camp allows students to become involved in the day-to-day care of a horse.

They learn different aspects of ranch life and how to work with horses. The goals of the camp are to instill good values, patience and responsibility. Safety, horse psychology and health are also important parts of the camp.

"It is a good way for kids to experience the realities of owning a horse before buying one," said Chelew.

Courtney has taught horseback riding for more than 13 years. She earned a certificate from the Horse Safety Association and has taken numerous other courses oriented toward the instruction of young children and family development.

She merged her riding school "A Little Piece of Heaven" into Emerald Ranch last year when Chelew asked her to come on board after an exhaustive search for an instructor.

Don and Barbara Chelew purchased the 46-acre facility last summer. It has 48 stalls with indoor and outdoor riding arenas.

Foreman Jeremy Usher has spent a great deal of time refurbishing the facilities. Electrical and plumbing, among other things, have all been updated.

Barbara plans to make a park-like setting around a pond that sits on the property. Stocked with trout, it will be a fishing refuge for parents. Also available to parents is a kitchen/lounge complete with complimentary coffee, hot chocolate, cookies and crackers.

Chelew says that Emerald Ranch is strictly a school and not a boarding facility. They will, however, board horses for students.

A large open space behind the barns will become a green area used for events. It will double as a landing pad for an Airlife helicopter should one be needed.

"In over 13 years of teaching, Shana has never had such an incident," said Chelew. However, he said, "it's nice to know that we're prepared."

This is not the first entrepreneurial effort for the Chelews.

Together they have entered a number of ventures through their firm, Bardon and Associates.

Most notably, Bardon and Associates established Bullfrog Sunblock, a startup company that took the California coast by storm in the early to mid '80s.

Former residents of Southern California, the Chelews were looking to adjust into a high desert location. They had looked to no avail when they discovered Central Oregon.

Barbara, a quilter, attended the annual Sisters Quilt Show with her husband last summer. It was their first trip to Central Oregon.

"I had always associated Oregon with rain," said Chelew, "We had no idea that there was high desert in Oregon."

The couple stayed at "Rags to Walkers" which is across the street from Emerald Ranch. When they learned that the property was for sale, it all came together.

They had owned a small ranch in California and came to appreciate the local culture and the "good people" that live in Sisters.

"We knew right away that this was the place for us," said Chelew.

Emerald Ranch is a different kind of venture for the couple, who live on the ranch.

"We're not looking to achieve a high profit margin," said Chelew,

"We're just looking to run a viable business and become a beneficial part of the community."

For more information, call 504-1284.