Irene Lorimer – Owner, Trainer, Manager

For California native, Irene Lorimer, horses are in the family. She started her riding career at age 4 at her father, Bob Lorimer’s ranch, Oakland Riding Academy in the Oakland Hills. At just 12 years old Irene won her first equitation medal, the Onondarka aboard Trim Victor. Other Medal wins include  USET Medal at 14 years old and the Barbara Worth Medal.  In 1970 she established Windmill Ranch.  For years she showed on the rated Hunter/Jumper circuit (Indio, Woodside, Santa Barbara National Horse Show etc.) as well as showing Appaloosa stallion, Kameha, on the Appaloosa circuit for Russ and Francie Jouette of Mariposa, . She’s trained with the likes of Olympic bronze medalist Champ Hough, her sister, acclaimed Hunter rider and judge Linda Hough, the infamous George Morris and Equestrian Legend, Jimmy Williams.

With a lifetime of experience, Irene has been creating accomplished equestriennes in all three rings for the last 40+ years. Though she no longer competes, she enjoys watching her students succeed in life on and off the horse.

Heather Randall – Assistant Trainer

With horses prevalent in the family tree, it was no wonder Heather could be found on a ponies back by age 4.  She won the BBC Hunter Pony Challenge in 1989 at age 7 years old on pony Tipika. She rode at the Hollywood Forum in 1990 and was Champion in the Small Pony Hunters. Her other major wins include the NorCal and Carousel Medals. As a Junior she  won many championships in the Hunter rings but showed often in Jumpers aboard her chestnut wonder horse, Tyler. The Championship rosettes from their exploits are numerous. Having ridden with her mom since the beginning, she has also trained and cliniced with Linda Hough, George Morris and many others.

With her patience and kindness, Heather excels at teaching young children and adolescent beginners, as well as having the flexibility and strength to whip the Juniors into shape.

Lorimer Legacy – Bob and Lorraine Lorimer ran a tight ship and stressed the basics and good horsemanship (a trait passed down to their daughters.) They not only worked out of their Oakland Hills stables, Oakland Riding Academy, but also at Mills College with Cornelia Cress.  Irene has 3 sisters, Linda, Celia and Margaret and all of them rode or still ride. Sister, Linda Hough, is a USEF ‘R’ Hunter and Equitation judge, hunter hall of fame rider who piloted such horses as Showdown, Modest Man and Sutton Place to many hunter victories on both East and West Coasts. Linda Hough is also the mother of accomplished Grand Prix rider and former Olympian, Lauren Hough who has many international and national grand prix wins on Casadora, Quick Study and Blue Angel, as well as being PCHA Rookie of the Year at age 15. Sister, Celia Gamble, owned and operated successful training and show stables Quail Ridge with husband Randy Gamble in Gilroy before moving to Oregon. She rode great horses such as Night Games and Mighty Wizard. Irene’s other sister Margaret bought and sold young horses and ran a Thoroughbred breeding Farm at Lakeside Ranch in Morgan Hill.

This Family is Passionate about  Horses.

Facility – Currently Windmill Ranch resides at Diamond Hills in Livermore, California. Diamond Hills is situated on 120 acres overlooking the Livermore Valley and offers many amenities for both horse and rider: Turnouts, Large Pastures, round pens, outdoor arenas, an indoor arena with mirrors and wash racks.