Pet's Place: Life on the Farm for Lillya
A family trades its townhouse for a place in the country to take care of its horse at home
Lillya the horse calls Southern California home these days, but her path started in Arizona. She was on her way to becoming a show horse, but she didn’t have the natural high-knee movements needed for that career. Her previous owners decided to sell her, and Alona Lanski brought Lillya into the family eight years ago.
Meet Lillya: Lillya enjoys spending time with her humans, whether it’s grazing nearby while they work in the garden or going on hourlong rides through the forest. Skittish at first, Lillya warmed up to the family after they spent time together. Lanski started gaining Lillya’s trust by taking a book out to the corral and reading near her for hours. Later they would walk in the pasture together and stroll over to meet neighbor horses. During this time, Lanski taught Lillya voice commands.
Making friends: Lillya’s first friend was Lanski’s son, then 8. He could walk up to her and give her a big hug, Lanski says.
Making friends: Lillya’s first friend was Lanski’s son, then 8. He could walk up to her and give her a big hug, Lanski says.
Room to roam: Lanski lived in a townhouse when Lillya was adopted, and she initially boarded her at a private horse facility. About two years ago, the family decided to move to a rural property that had space for all its animals, including another horse, goats, chickens and more.
“My husband is a city boy, but he saw how much I wanted to be on a place where I can have my horses with me,” Lanski says. The property needed to be outfitted with enclosures for the different animals, so the family started building fences, shelters and coops for everyone.
Now Lillya has a 75-by-35-foot enclosure complete with a 12-by-12 shelter that she shares with horse Tim-Tim and the goats. The space also opens up to a half-acre pasture. On one end of the pasture, a line of eucalyptus trees provides the horses with shade and privacy, Lanski says.
“My husband is a city boy, but he saw how much I wanted to be on a place where I can have my horses with me,” Lanski says. The property needed to be outfitted with enclosures for the different animals, so the family started building fences, shelters and coops for everyone.
Now Lillya has a 75-by-35-foot enclosure complete with a 12-by-12 shelter that she shares with horse Tim-Tim and the goats. The space also opens up to a half-acre pasture. On one end of the pasture, a line of eucalyptus trees provides the horses with shade and privacy, Lanski says.
Favorite activity: Lillya loves to spend a lazy afternoon grazing the pasture’s green grass and weeds.
Farm life: The move to the country changed life for Lillya, but it also changed Lanski’s daily life. She wakes up at 6 a.m. to do chores and visit the animals before she heads off to work. After work, she returns to her animals. “I think everything revolves around my tiny farm,” she says. “I enjoy it every moment, and I hope all my pets do too.”
Farm life: The move to the country changed life for Lillya, but it also changed Lanski’s daily life. She wakes up at 6 a.m. to do chores and visit the animals before she heads off to work. After work, she returns to her animals. “I think everything revolves around my tiny farm,” she says. “I enjoy it every moment, and I hope all my pets do too.”
Lillya’s Farm Companions
Tim-Tim: He’s a 6-year-old Haflinger who was added to the family as a companion for Lillya.
Tim-Tim: He’s a 6-year-old Haflinger who was added to the family as a companion for Lillya.
Agata and Anfisa: These two goats love to follow the family around and spend time curled up with people in the hammock.
Serafima: This is the first little chick that hatched on the Lanski farm, which includes six other chickens.
More animals: The family also has a dog, a cat and two beehives.
Could your pet be a Pet of the Week? We’re looking for pets that join their owners on the job, pets that may have a space built just for them, or simply a fantastic photo of your pet in an interesting home setting. Post your best photo in the Comments and tell us your pet’s story.
More
Read more about pets and design
Houzz TV: Life, Love and Purpose Down on the Farm
More animals: The family also has a dog, a cat and two beehives.
Could your pet be a Pet of the Week? We’re looking for pets that join their owners on the job, pets that may have a space built just for them, or simply a fantastic photo of your pet in an interesting home setting. Post your best photo in the Comments and tell us your pet’s story.
More
Read more about pets and design
Houzz TV: Life, Love and Purpose Down on the Farm
Pet at a Glance
Pet: Lillya, an American Saddlebred. Her registered name is Fairlawn’s Lady in Grey
Age: 14
Location: Olivenhain, a neighborhood of Encinitas, California
Owner: Alona Lanski