Sherman Ranch Arabians: Family Pride … English Pleasure Breeding Excellence by Catherine Cole Ferandelli 2SS Saddle Seat Cover: Crossing With Inception—Maroon Fire Arabians’ Show Horse & Sire by Christy Egan 5SS Today’s Saddle Seat Horse 20SS Kingswood Farms: Breeding Excellence by Ashley Commissiong 32SS Landon Equestrian: Building A Five-Star Future by Mary Kirkman 46SS Wiloma Plantation … Growing Tradition With A Future by Amalia Perry 62SS Prestige Farms—The Legacy Continues by Colleen Scott

by CATHERINE COLE FERANDELLI

Nestled on 145 acres amid the gentle rolling hills southeast of San Francisco Bay, Sherman Ranch has been breeding top-notch Arabian horses since 1975. Anchored by family patriarch Martin ‘Marty’ Sherman’s breeding expertise and daughter Jill’s hands on management, Sherman Ranch is a 100% family run operation.

Jill chuckles, “I cannot assert enough how much our ranch is a family footprint. We all live and work here; we love our way of life. My dad is the King atop the hill, and my older sister Shelly and I live in homes below. And Peyton Bergstad, Shelly’s 17-year-old daughter, is just as committed to the Sherman way of life as we are.”

The “Sherman way” is “all hands-on deck” regardless of the task. And the tasks are many. The ranch’s multigeneration bloodstock produces some of the best English pleasure horses in the business, and includes a boarding facility, an equine retirement and young horse haven. Even part of the property pastures cattle for a neighbor. Aside from two non-related employees, all tasks are the work of a Sherman.

“Memorial Day weekend is a particularly special time,” Jill explains. “Four years ago, we debuted our Spring Soiree and Baby Shower, opening up Sherman Ranch to our community, our horse friends, and clients. Our one-day event is a fun outing for all ages. We love seeing folks view our operation, see our new foal crop, and watch top trainers demonstrate their disciplines. Kids engage in fun horse related activities, we serve a hearty lunch including a pig roast, and several select vendors offer fun shopping opportunities. We’re open to the public, and welcome anyone who is interested in horses and getting a taste of our way of life.”

Just a stone’s throw from the bustling, urban Silicon Valley, participants at this year’s Soiree and Baby Shower enjoyed a unique day in the rural countryside witnessing Sherman Ranch’s youngest bloodstock, performance demonstrations from nearby Arabian trainers Donna Waggoner, Leigha Perry of On The Bit, Tamara Grinton of Earthquake Arabians, and Saddlebred/Morgan horse trainer Merin Maggi, as well as the always rousing Liberty horse competition.

Peyton Bergstad aboard LP My Blue Heaven; and The Sherman Family (l-r): Peyton, Shelly, Martin and Jill.