Raven's Hollow is located in the secluded California countryside. It is a beautiful old stable built in the late 1800s by Richard Ravenborne, a recent arrival to California by way of London, England. His intention was to involve himself in the relatively new horse racing scene in America. Construction of Raven's Hollow was finally completed in late 1898. The stable and home were built by Richard himself with the help of some local laborers. It was a labor of love and you can see that love in every brick and beam. For the next decade Richard spent his time raising various horses that he hoped to turn into champion race horses as horse racing was gaining in popularity in America. His efforts were mostly unsuccessful.
In 1908 during a trip to New York to meet with a Thoroughbred horse breeder to purchase what was a very expensive, and he hoped successful, stallion that would finally make his dream of starting a racing empire a reality... Richard's life, and plans changed forever.
In 1908 during a trip to New York to meet with a Thoroughbred horse breeder to purchase what was a very expensive, and he hoped successful, stallion that would finally make his dream of starting a racing empire a reality... Richard's life, and plans changed forever.
While waiting at the hotel lounge for the breeder he was supposed to meet with he saw the most beautiful woman he had ever seen sitting near a window by the entrance. She had exotic dark eyes and skin the color of burnt honey. He was captivated. He introduced himself and when she smiled up at him his heart skipped a beat. She told him her name was Nadirah Jahdari and she had recently arrived in New York with an Arabian stallion from her homeland. She was at the hotel to sell the Stallion to a local breeder. The deal had fallen apart however after the breeder proved to be abusive and unfit to own any horse and certainly not her prized Arabian stallion. Having no experience or real knowledge of Arabian horses Richard was intrigued and asked if he could see the Stallion. He was truly curious about the horse but he also saw it as an opportunity to spend more time with Nadirah.
She led him to the stable where visitors could board their horses and took him to the last stall on the long isle. He passed many Thoroughbreds that were there for the sale he had planned to attend after his meeting with the breeder but his only interest was in Nadirah and her horse.
A beautiful and exotic jet black head peeked out of the stall at the end of the isle and nuzzled Nadirah's hand as she held it up to him. She slipped a halter over his head and led him from the stall. Richard looked in awe at the most magnificent horse he had ever seen. The horse was medium in size and lean with powerful muscles beneath his shining jet black coat. His huge dark eyes were filled with an intelligence Richard have never seen in any horse before him. His heart filled with joy at the sight of this exquisite creature that was as much a work of art as it was a horse. He held out his hand for the Stallion to sniff and the stallion touched it lightly with his delicate muzzle. He asked Nadirah where she had acquired such a horse.
Nadirah told him that the horse had been a gift to her father from the family of the man her father had promised her to. The man was a pig she explained. He was almost 3 times her age and a not a kind man but he was rich and her father saw it as a merger as much as a marriage. She dreaded the day she would be forced to marry him. She found comfort in the time she spent riding the stallion, who she called Hafiz, across the deserts of her homeland. She told him of how she devised a plan to escape to America with her beloved horse and of the weeks spent on the ship that brought her to New York. She was terrified the entire trip that she would be found by one of her fathers men. She told him that it had taken almost all of the money she had earned by selling her jewelry to pay for the trip to America and that she was now forced to sell her beloved stallion because what little money she had was gone.
She led him to the stable where visitors could board their horses and took him to the last stall on the long isle. He passed many Thoroughbreds that were there for the sale he had planned to attend after his meeting with the breeder but his only interest was in Nadirah and her horse.
A beautiful and exotic jet black head peeked out of the stall at the end of the isle and nuzzled Nadirah's hand as she held it up to him. She slipped a halter over his head and led him from the stall. Richard looked in awe at the most magnificent horse he had ever seen. The horse was medium in size and lean with powerful muscles beneath his shining jet black coat. His huge dark eyes were filled with an intelligence Richard have never seen in any horse before him. His heart filled with joy at the sight of this exquisite creature that was as much a work of art as it was a horse. He held out his hand for the Stallion to sniff and the stallion touched it lightly with his delicate muzzle. He asked Nadirah where she had acquired such a horse.
Nadirah told him that the horse had been a gift to her father from the family of the man her father had promised her to. The man was a pig she explained. He was almost 3 times her age and a not a kind man but he was rich and her father saw it as a merger as much as a marriage. She dreaded the day she would be forced to marry him. She found comfort in the time she spent riding the stallion, who she called Hafiz, across the deserts of her homeland. She told him of how she devised a plan to escape to America with her beloved horse and of the weeks spent on the ship that brought her to New York. She was terrified the entire trip that she would be found by one of her fathers men. She told him that it had taken almost all of the money she had earned by selling her jewelry to pay for the trip to America and that she was now forced to sell her beloved stallion because what little money she had was gone.
Richard offered Nadirah and the Stallion a home at Raven's Hollow and was overjoyed when she accepted. They boarded a train for California that very night. Richard had forgotten all about the tall, lanky Thoroughbreds he had come to see. He could only think of the beautiful Stallion Hafiz, the moment he saw him he knew that this was the type of horse he wanted to breed at Raven's Hollow.
Over the next Decade Richard took several trips to the desert to purchase horses to add to the breeding program at Raven's Hollow. Nadirah, whom he married soon after they arrived back at Raven's Hollow, had several contacts in the horse world there and Richard used her knowledge to purchase several outstanding mares and another stallion. Nadirah did not accompany him on these trips. She feared if she returned to her home country she would be found and forced into the marriage she had escaped so many years before.
The breeding program at Raven's Hollow enjoyed great success and the Ravenbornes became well known throughout the civilized world as trsutworthy and talented breeders of the Arabian horse. Their horses were highly desired by breeders and competitors. Life was good at Raven's Hollow. In the spring of 1920 Nadirah became pregnant with their first child. Richard was overjoyed. He adored his wife and the life they had built and although he was now 51 years old he was excited to finally be welcoming a child into their family. He had worried as he got older that there would be no one to continue the Raven's Hollow legacy when he was gone.
His joy was to be overshadowed by sorrow. Nadirah had a difficult pregnancy and on a cold and stormy winter night she went into labor in their home. The doctor was sent for but because of the storm he was delayed. Nadirah did not survive the birth of their child, a daughter. Richard was devastated but he knew that he must go on, for their daughter, who despite the complications was born healthy. He named her Farah, the name of her grandmother, as Nadirah had wished.
The breeding program at Raven's Hollow enjoyed great success and the Ravenbornes became well known throughout the civilized world as trsutworthy and talented breeders of the Arabian horse. Their horses were highly desired by breeders and competitors. Life was good at Raven's Hollow. In the spring of 1920 Nadirah became pregnant with their first child. Richard was overjoyed. He adored his wife and the life they had built and although he was now 51 years old he was excited to finally be welcoming a child into their family. He had worried as he got older that there would be no one to continue the Raven's Hollow legacy when he was gone.
His joy was to be overshadowed by sorrow. Nadirah had a difficult pregnancy and on a cold and stormy winter night she went into labor in their home. The doctor was sent for but because of the storm he was delayed. Nadirah did not survive the birth of their child, a daughter. Richard was devastated but he knew that he must go on, for their daughter, who despite the complications was born healthy. He named her Farah, the name of her grandmother, as Nadirah had wished.
Richard doted on his young daughter and raised her to love and appreciate the Arabian horses of Raven's Hollow as much as her mother had. He took her on a buying trip to the desert late in the summer of 1935 when she was 14 years old. She was allowed to choose a horse for herself during this trip. She chose a stunning young chestnut mare with a small pink snip. The mare was named Za'nyah. She was 2 years old and untrained but Farah was in love with her and her father could deny her nothing. They returned home with Za'nyah and 2 other young mares. It was to be her fathers last trip. The following winter he fell ill with a bad case of pneumonia and despite their best efforts the doctors were not able to save him. He passed just 3 days after Farah's 15th birthday.
Farah had no family in America and she did not want to leave her home. Her father had taught her well and she chose to stay and continue the family business though she was still a child. It was a struggle for the first year without Richard but she managed and finally things began to once again thrive. She proved to be a shrewd businesswoman. A few people made the mistake of trying to take advantage of her because of her youth and gender but they soon found that they had made a mistake and left Raven's Hollow without the horse they had hoped to purchase. She took many trips to the desert breeders to add new stock to the stable. Several other Arabian breeders were coming into great renown in America during this time and she made a point to also attend their sales. Farah had a real talent for spotting the exceptional and she purchased several outstanding young horses from these breeders and bred them with her desert born Arabians to develop her own lines. Raven's Hollow became known for horses of exotic beauty, great stamina, and athleticism.
Raven's Hollow was Farah's whole life and she had no time for romance or trivial things. She never married nor did she have any children. For a time it seemed that Raven's Hollow would end with her. Then in the fall of 2006 at 85 years old she adopted a young runaway named Katja. Katja, now a young adult is the current owner of Raven's Hollow. It passed to her after Farah's death at the age of 95 in the Early Spring of 2016. You can read Katjas biography on the Staff Page.
Farah had no family in America and she did not want to leave her home. Her father had taught her well and she chose to stay and continue the family business though she was still a child. It was a struggle for the first year without Richard but she managed and finally things began to once again thrive. She proved to be a shrewd businesswoman. A few people made the mistake of trying to take advantage of her because of her youth and gender but they soon found that they had made a mistake and left Raven's Hollow without the horse they had hoped to purchase. She took many trips to the desert breeders to add new stock to the stable. Several other Arabian breeders were coming into great renown in America during this time and she made a point to also attend their sales. Farah had a real talent for spotting the exceptional and she purchased several outstanding young horses from these breeders and bred them with her desert born Arabians to develop her own lines. Raven's Hollow became known for horses of exotic beauty, great stamina, and athleticism.
Raven's Hollow was Farah's whole life and she had no time for romance or trivial things. She never married nor did she have any children. For a time it seemed that Raven's Hollow would end with her. Then in the fall of 2006 at 85 years old she adopted a young runaway named Katja. Katja, now a young adult is the current owner of Raven's Hollow. It passed to her after Farah's death at the age of 95 in the Early Spring of 2016. You can read Katjas biography on the Staff Page.