Today we’d like to introduce you to Tanja Fichera.
Tanja, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I came to San Diego for college at UCSD and graduated with a degree in Psychology. After that, I got my teaching credential and Masters in Elementary Curriculum and began teaching 5th grade. In 2013, I had my first child and received my NASM personal trainer certificate and began personal training and triathlon coaching. After my 2nd child was born, I began racing sprint triathlons and became a sponsored athlete and even represented the Team USA in the Sprint World Championships four years in a row with my best finish 7th in the world for my age group.
I had always had a love for horses and got my first horse (finally) when I was 27. I had ridden hunter/jumpers as a child growing up and even dabbled in dressage. But, my favorite part of riding has always been going on long trail rides. I started boarding at Carmel Creek Ranch in October of 2017. Enter the dream job. 🙂
About a year ago, I was asked by the ranch owner to manage the ranch. I was a bit shocked at the offer as I had never been a manager and although I knew about horses, this was a whole new experience. So, I tackled the job open heartedly. When I began managing the ranch, we had about 20 horses at the ranch. Currently, we have 80 horses! It has been a long road to getting the ranch to that capacity but one that I have loved. It has taught me a lot about myself, the horses, and interacting with others. We have the best set of workers and boarders at the ranch that made this transformation possible. We spent the last year beautifying, offering more services to our borders, improving footing in the arenas, and re-doing the barn, and having ranch gatherings and events. We now have a completely full facility with a 17 horse waiting list. We offer four trainers from dressage to hunter jumpers and we have many whom trail ride. This year, we are offering a variety of horsemanship clinics featuring Martin Black, Cody Deering, and Paul Dietz. Beginning in March, we are also bringing cattle back to the ranch and will have weekly roping/cattle working classes. I jumped into this position not being prepared and have loved every minute of it and am so excited to show up to the ranch for work every day. 🙂
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
No, definitely not. Struggles were filling the ranch- how to get boarders to want to come to the ranch. Also, the improvements we made had to be slowly made and trying to figure out what was in the best interest for all the horses and boarders.
Carmel Creek Ranch – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Carmel Creek Ranch- located off the 56 and Carmel County Rd. We offer boarding in box stalls and pipe corrals. We have three large arenas, a dressage court, two round pens, cattle, and access to endless trails in San Diego.
We have four trainers who offer dressage and hunter jumper lessons.
We are holding three horsemanship clinics this year with Martin Black, Cody Deering, and Paul Dietz.
What sets us apart from all the other boarding facilities is our culture. We have a mix of dressage, hunter jumpers, western, trail, and pleasure riders. It’s not often that you find all of that at one ranch. Our boarders make my job truly a pleasure!
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
For myself, success is when all of my trainers, boarders and the owner of the ranch are all happy and have what they need and want out of their horse passion. Nothing makes me happier than to see the ranch full of people and horses smiling and doing what they love.
Pricing:
- Barn stalls (12×12) with shavings and cleaning 2x a day- $850/month
- Separated 24×24 pipe corrals – $525/month
- Common wall 24×24 pipe corrals -$475/month
Contact Info:
- Website: http://carmelcreekranch.com
- Phone: 858-395-3873
- Email: tanja@carmelcreekranch.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Carmelcreekranch/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carmelcreekranch/?ref=bookmarks
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uaxt-UvPVWc
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