On the surface, Epona Farms is simply a six-acre ranch in Wilton, just 30 miles south of Sacramento, which provides instructional horseback riding lessons. But the story of this business is much richer.

Triona Watson, a Scottish-born horse lover, opened Epona Farms 12 years ago. Watson is a certified British Horse Society and Pony Club instructor trained in Great Britain, Ireland and Germany.

Prior to opening her business, she moved from Ireland to the United States and eventually established a successful equestrian center in Los Altos.

During her time at this center, Watson served as president of the Los Altos Hills Horsemen’s Association. But it was her arrival in south Sacramento County that led her to her current status as a horse rescuer.

“There are just so many unwanted horses out there that end up with premature death,” Watson said. “We rehabilitate them and give them a useful second career, so that they end up their lives in a happy and well-cared for environment.”

Watson said that she became a horse rescuer “really by accident,” as she was searching for inexpensive horses that she could use for beginning riders.

“To begin with, people would lend me their horses and many would eventually just give me their horses when they saw how happy and well cared for they were,” Watson said. “So many people buy horses thinking, ‘We have land and should buy horses,’ and many of these (horses) get abandoned. Horses were born to work and most horses love to work and if they don’t work, they will deteriorate and grow old really fast. This is the same with people. If they sit around doing nothing all day, they are going to age faster.”

Watson said that many horses are unfortunately abused, but she adds that horse abuse does not necessarily mean that a horse has to be deliberately physically abused.

Horse abuse, Watson said, comes in many different forms such as neglect and ignorance.

“(Neglect and ignorance) are actually the most common types of abuse,” Watson said. “Thankfully there’s not a lot of deliberate physical abuse of horses. There are some pretty awful stories out there, but fortunately this type of abuse is the exception rather than the rule.”

Currently Epona Farms is home to 20 lesson horses, 12 of which were rescued at different times from various situations.

About half of these rescued horses, Watson said, have come to the ranch in considerably poor condition.

“One of our rescued horses, Lady, was purchased at a horse auction in Southern California and she was quite thin and debilitated by the time she got here (at Epona Farms). She is now in very good shape and she’s one of the most popular lesson horses that we have here.”

Watson said that one of her most interesting experiences as a horse rescuer occurred about a decade ago.

After rehabilitating and finding a new home for a then-16-year-old bay Morgan horse, named Tally, Watson learned that the horse was once again in an abusive situation.

“It was the first and only time that I rehabilitated the same horse twice,” Watson said. “Because of his history, we swore that he would never leave the ranch again.”

Watson added that Tally, who is now 30 years old, continues to enjoy good health and that she still gives lessons on occasions.

Among the many fine, once abused, lesson horses at Epona Farms are Cashel and Dylan.

Cashel, a thoroughbred jumper, became neglected in a pasture about a year ago after his owner passed away.

“Thoroughbreds often don’t thrive in pasture conditions and he lost weight and got very thin and that became a great cause of concern,” Watson said. “The horse was eventually passed on to me and we fattened him up. Since then, he has become one of our top, advanced lesson horses.”

With a concerned tone to her voice, Watson said that Dylan is sort of a “dark horse” that she is “still trying to figure out.”

“We suspect he has some back problems and we are going to have him checked out by a chiropractor, so technically, he is a work in progress,” Watson said.

Dylan, a bright red-coated quarter horse, was donated to the ranch several weeks ago by a family living near Modesto. Watson said that, if possible, the horse will be used for the ranch’s riding program.

And if Dylan reaches the point of becoming a lesson horse, he will become part of the valuable team of horses that are helping to put smiles on the faces of those learning to ride horses at Epona Farms.

The popularity of the ranch’s riding program, which has introduced hundreds of children and adults to the joys of riding and interacting with horses, is continuously on the rise.

As owner and chief instructor of Epona Farms, Watson said that she is excited about the fact that her business offers the “only horseback riding academy in the area with an emphasis on teaching Pee Wee and young rider classes.”

The beginner classes and camps are Pee Wee Pony School for ages 4 to 6 years old, Horsing Around for ages 7 to 15 years old and Horse and Pony Day Camps for ages 7 to 15 years old.

A pair of the ranch’s upcoming horse riding instructional offerings are a five-day (March 17 to 21) riding camp for ages 7 to 15 years old, and the next session of the Pee Wee Pony School, which will be open from April 4 through 25.

Other educational equestrian classes for juniors, teens and adults are also available throughout the year in Western and English equitation, dressage, jumpers and cross country riding.

Watson said that people of all age ranges truly appreciate the environment and high quality, horse-riding instruction at Epona Farms.

“In our relaxed, family atmosphere, everyone from the casual weekend rider to the serious competitor has access to the same, high standard (instruction),” Watson said.

Miranda Gramlich, 19, of Elk Grove said that she appreciates the quality of instruction she has received during her 10 years of riding horses at Epona Farms.

Gramlich’s experiences with Epona Farms resulted in her serving as an assistant at the ranch and acquiring her own quarter horses, Zorro and 2s.

Fourteen-year-old Kelly Bracha of South Sacramento said that she has enjoyed riding horses at the ranch for the past four years.

“My grandmother signed me up for a class here and it was very exciting, because every girl likes to ride a pony,” Bracha said. “It was a pretty new thing for me, because before that, I had only ridden a horse one time for one week, when I rode at Skylark Ranch in the Santa Cruz Mountains.”

Bracha, who attends Sacramento New Technology High School, said that although she finds it somewhat difficult to explain, she enjoys the deep connection one can have with a horse.

“Horses are so cool,” Bracha said. “Everything about them is really cool. It’s like they can read your mind. It’s hard to explain, but they are just so smart.”

One of the ranch’s newest riders, 8-year-old Aliyan Hacker of Elk Grove, added that she has enjoyed working with horses and excelling to the level that she is now going over small jumps with her horse.

Marybeth Hrim, another riding student from Elk Grove, began taking lessons at the ranch last September.

Although Hrim owns two racehorses, it was not until she arrived at Epona Farms that she actually rode a horse.

Hrim said that she has since gained a lot of confidence riding horses and that she also enjoys the connection that people can share with their horses.

“They’re actually a great therapy tool and I feel so much better after riding a horse,” Hrim said.

In reviewing the ranch’s equestrian offerings, Watson said that she feels privileged to have the opportunity to rescue horses and offer the “unique, whole horse experience.”

“It’s really a joy to teach so many people how to ride horses,” Watson said. “It is also a great feeling to be able to rescue horses. But unfortunately, you can’t save them all. That’s the sad part.”

For additional information about Epona Farms, call (916) 687-7911, send an email message to eponafarms@gmail.com or visit the Web site www.eponafarms.com.