Though the animals think they’re in charge, Ellen McCumber keeps Ranch 61 running.
Horses are beautiful, majestic animals. There’s nothing quite like watching them run. And buck. And scare themselves silly. “I’ve seen horses do some of the funniest things,” Ellen says. “From being scared by their own farts and running away, to getting stuck in a giant hay feeder, to licking my dogs.”
A Cleveland native, Ellen has been around horses since childhood, when her older sisters started lessons. She started lessons herself at 6 and eventually captained her Roanoke College IHSA equestrian team. She has worked and trained at both hunter jumper and dressage barns. She even worked with an Olympic dressage rider’s horses.
Ellen’s current horse William holds special status around Ranch 61 as the sole gelding among a half-dozen mares—all of whom are in love with him. William, who charms human barn visitors with his lolling tongue and fondness for iced coffee drinks, has something strange in common with Ellen’s first horse Ben: only one eye. (We don’t suspect foul play—although we do suspect some fowl play: See photo above.)
Ellen rescued William, a 21-year-old off-track thoroughbred, a few years back. William is one of four equine rescues now living the good life at Ranch 61.
Asked the worst thing about managing a barn in Ohio, Ellen says, “Winter. Trying to keep hoses from freezing, making sure horses are comfortable, and making sure no one (me included) wipes out on ice. This list goes on.”
Happily, the good part of barn management outweighs the bad. “I get to be around horses—and my horse—a lot,” she says. “I love being involved in routine vet care, farrier visits and the overall wellness of horses.”
Though we don’t do horse shows here at Ranch 61 (yet!), there’s always something fun to see at the barn. “It’s a never ending comedy show with horses,” Ellen says. “That’s why I love them so much.”
— SK
Ranch 61 