Arena Lighting

We have completed the replacement of inefficient Equestrian Center Dressage Arena lighting with new LED lighting.  The new lighting casts more efficient directional lighting at the arena footing while using half the amount of energy as the old fixtures.  The fixtures are also guaranteed for ten years saving on future replacement costs.

Fiddleneck – Poisonous Plant Toxic to Horses  

While this time of year brings lush green hills to the Nellie Gail Ranch community and Equestrian Center, please be aware of the potentially toxic plants that are often lurking among the tall grass. Fiddleneck is one of the many plants that can be toxic to horses and has been seen throughout the hills behind the Equestrian Center and around the community.

Nellie Gail Ranch open space is maintained in a natural state other than annual efforts to perform weed abatement late spring. Horses and pets should not be permitted to graze on Association trails or slopes. Homeowners will also want to monitor what is growing on their open space private property as well.

Please take a minute to select the below link from ucdavis.edu and read the article about Fiddleneck and inspect any areas before you allow your horse to graze to avoid ingestion.

Fiddleneck Information

Trail Grading / Rain Maintenance

It’s a very busy time for our trail maintenance vendor Boulder Earthwork. Following each rain, they clear mud and debris from the street that has washed off the trails. Then they evaluate the sandbags and replace or adjust as necessary. After that the v-ditches and catch basins are cleared to be ready for the next rain. Then after the sun returns and the trails dry, the weeds begin to grow and Boulder grades the ruts and weeds out of the trails. This cycle repeats throughout our 25 miles of trails each rain event throughout winter and spring.

Thank you for your patience, it does take time to get to all the trails, especially when it rains weekly as it has so far this year. Boulder has a route of priority areas that we know to look for right after heavy rains but if you are out and about on the trails and see anything that needs to be addressed, please text a photo and location to us at 949-933-8546 and we will be sure to inspect and address as needed.

Sand Footing Available

In order to continue to provide the best footing possible in our Equestrian Center arenas, we are happy to announce that we have removed and replaced the sand footing in the Lower Arena Dressage Court!

Please contact us if you would like to have some or all of the footing we removed for your home arena. We are giving the sand away and only ask that you arrange transport. We have approximately 80 yards available on a first come, first serve basis. If you are interested in taking some, please contact Equestrian Center Manager Charee Jones at 949-371-1595 Monday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday 7 am-12 pm.

Pony Club Horsemasters

The South OC Pony Club is open to Nellie Gail Ranch homeowners and Nellie Gail Ranch Equestrian Center Boarders. The South OC Pony Club is excited to announce adult horse lovers can become a Horsemaster member in Pony Club here at the Nellie Gail Ranch Equestrian Center!

If you are over the age of 18, come out and enjoy the fun and excitement of learning new horse sports such as Eventing, Dressage, Show Jumping, Hunter Seat Equitation, and Western. While some Horsemasters choose to work towards and gain certification, others simply enjoy the opportunity to learn while they enjoy riding with fellow equestrians. No prior horse experience is necessary! If you don’t currently own a horse, you may still participate in non-mounted meetings to learn about how to properly care for a horse.

Please HERE for more information on youth and adult programming.

Stinging Nettle & Weed Control on Trails

Stinging Nettle is one of the prevalent weeds being battled at this time by our trail crews. Weed control on the trails is occurring now through summer on the trails throughout Nellie Gail Ranch. Horses and dogs don’t usually eat stinging nettle, however, if they brush up against it while walking or lie down or roll on the plant, glassy hairs from the plant’s leaves and stems cause a skin reaction and an intensely painful stinging sensation that may last 24 hours or more. The standard practice for our trail crews is to grade the trails and spray herbicide on the nettle and other weeds along the two sides of the trail to limit regrowth.

This year we have stopped using Roundup and are using a non-toxic herbicide so we will be evaluating effectiveness this year. If you see specific areas of concern you may text a photo and location to 949-933-8546.

Equines and pets using trails should not be permitted to eat the stinging nettle or grasses or weeds in close proximity to them. Enjoy your time on the trails.

Trails Open

Trails are open but use care as we continue to correct minor grading issues caused by the rain and subsequent use following rains. Despite the cold temperatures, the days have been beautiful, and it is a great time to get some exercise and keep those New Year’s resolutions. Please help us protect your trails by keeping in mind all vehicles require a trail permit prior to accessing trails. This is particularly important for service vehicles in the winter season as we oftentimes know of certain trails that are excessively wet that may be damaged by heavy vehicles.  Permits are available from the Association office.

Pet Courtesy and Trail Safety

Pet owners, please check to ensure your property perimeter is secure and your dog(s) are not able to access the trails from your property.  We have received several reports of pets escaping their homes and approaching equestrians and trail runners on the trails.  Horses are flight animals and barking or fast approaching dogs (no matter how “friendly”) can potentially lead to a serious injury to the horse, rider or dog.

People are also sometimes unsure of a dogs intention and can become fearful when approached on a trail or in a community park by an off-leash dog.  Particularly when the pet owner is not present.  Please secure your property from “escape”.  And when walking your dog(s), please keep them under control and restrained by a leash not exceeding six feet.  It is both the law and common courtesy!

Trail Fence Maintenance

While you are inspecting your property for drainage concerns, please also evaluate your fencing. Many, many homeowner fences that abut the trail easements are in varying states of disrepair. Wood rails are missing, detached, broken or falling. Posts are leaning, wrought iron is rusting, chain link is sagging or torn or both. Homeowners have responsibility for ongoing maintenance of walls, fencing and other improvements on their property. Depending upon your type of fencing and fencing goal, there are a few options available to consider:

  1. Remove the fencing. Perimeter fencing is not mandated by the Association. If your fencing is broken and entire sections are missing, it is not providing any sort of barrier to humans or animals and removing it would be an aesthetic improvement.
  2. Repair the existing walls or fencing to re-establish a barrier for privacy, security or aesthetic purposes.
  3. Replace an existing fence with an alternative wood, vinyl, wrought iron fence or block wall. For this option, an application to the Architectural Review Committee is required, and a property survey must be submitted showing the property line, easement and proposed location of the new fence or wall. You may contact the Association office at 949-425-1477 or admin@nelliegailranch.org to request an ARC application. Please note the following incentive: For homeowners who are considering replacement of chain link fencing, we are offering to waive the ARC application fee as an incentive as long as the only item being applied for is the replacement of the chain link fence with an alternative fencing material.  You still need to submit the ARC application and required survey, however, the application fee will be waived.

Please take time this next weekend to walk the perimeter of your property and evaluate the condition of your perimeter walls and fences