Critter Corner: Meet Cali

Meet ruby Meet Ruby, our beautiful red Mini Highland cow, who was born on September 14, 2024, and joined our farm family in 2025. Unlike our other Mini Highlands, Ruby was the only one who wasn’t bottle-fed, making her much more cautious around people when she first arrived. She was incredibly skittish, and our animal care team spent many weeks patiently earning her trust. In the beginning, simply catching Ruby for her daily training sessions was quite the challenge. Through consistency, kindness, and plenty of patience, she slowly began to realize that people weren’t so scary after all. After several months of dedicated work, Ruby blossomed into a confident and trusting member of the herd. Today, she’s one of our friendliest cows and loves greeting guests with her curious personality and gentle nature. Ruby’s journey is a wonderful reminder that trust takes time, but with love and patience, amazing transformations can happen.

Meet hank Meet Hank, our adorable micro mini Highland bull! Hank arrived at Hunt Club Farm last October and was the smallest bull we had ever seen. Sweet as can be, he quickly stole everyone’s hearts and earned the nickname Hanky Panky. He’s still tiny, still incredibly sweet, and absolutely loved by everyone here! At just a few weeks old, Hank met the second-largest Holstein cow in the world and was equal parts curious and just a little intimidated by his giant new friend! Despite his tiny size, Hank has a big future ahead—he’ll grow to no more than 36 inches tall and next year will begin his important job as a herd sire. Tiny body, big personality! So the next time you see Hank, be sure to say hello!

Meet Decaf! Decaf, the adorable mini Highland heifer with a big personality packed into a tiny frame. Born on December 23, 2024, Decaf may look white at first glance, but she’s actually a beautiful light dun color—a soft, creamy shade that makes her stand out in the herd. Decaf comes from impressive (and petite!) lineage. Her sire, Tucker, is a micro mini Highland cross bull who stands just 38 inches tall, passing down his small stature and charming presence. If you’re trying to tell Decaf apart from her pasture mate Frenchie, just check the hair—Decaf’s signature bangs sweep off to the side, giving her a stylish, carefree look, while Frenchie’s fall straight down. Full of personality, Decaf is as sweet as she is spunky. She absolutely loves cow treats (and isn’t shy about stealing a few extra), and she’ll happily soak up attention—especially when it comes to chin scratches, her favorite. She’s also quite the talker, often letting you know exactly what she wants with her vocal personality. Whether she’s greeting visitors or sneaking an extra snack, Decaf is sure to steal your heart just as quickly as she steals treats.

Meet Frenchie! Born just one week before Christmas, Frenchie arrived at Hunt Club Farm on a frosty morning in February of 2025. She was small, barely taller than the fence rails but what she lacked in size, she made up for in fluff. Her long, snow-colored hair tumbled over her eyes in wild bangs, and her coat was so thick and shaggy she looked less like a cow and more like a walking haystack with tiny hooves. The moment the trailer door opened, Frenchie stepped down carefully, sniffed the crisp winter air, and let out the softest “moo,” as if she were politely introducing herself. She travelled here from the hill country of Texas with her fold friend Ruby. The first few weeks, Frenchie wouldn’t leave Ruby’s side. Within days, Frenchie stole the heart of the farm owners. Her sire is the GREAT Leonardo of Hairy Heifer Cattle Company, who has the most beautiful silver coat.  She loves gentle chin scratches and will lean in dramatically, nearly tipping herself over in pure happiness. By spring, everyone agreed on one thing: Frenchie wasn’t just super hairy and cute. She is the soft-hearted, shaggy little queen of the farm. On your next visit to the farm, stop by the cow pen and give Frenchie gentle chin scratches!

Meet Sunshine—aka Sunny or Sunny Girl—the farm’s pint-sized adventure queen! This Micro Mini Highland Cow heifer was born on March 11, 2025, and joined us just a few weeks later on March 28. At around 330 pounds, Sunshine may be small, but she’s full of energy and personality. Her golden-yellow coat shines in the sun (and yes, in cow speak, yellow is different from red!), making her impossible to miss as she dashes around the farm. Sunshine is always on the move—she’s raced alongside RipTide, strutted her stuff at the Bulls and Barrels Beach Rodeo, and joins in just about every event she can. Social and playful, she adores her herd mate Hazel, and the two are inseparable. Sometimes she gets mistaken for Java, but tell them apart by the bangs—Sunshine rocks hers, while Java has a middle part. With her endless curiosity, love of running, and sunny personality, Sunshine brings joy, laughter, and a little adventure wherever she goes!

Meet Mocha! Mocha is a micro mini highland bull and he was the first highland we picked out when deciding we wanted to bring highlands to Hunt Club Farm! Mocha was born in November of 2024 and his coat is considered black and he has brindle highlights. Mocha is a one of a kind! He is super friendly and loves chin scratches! We plan to have him as our herd sire when we begin our mini highland breeding program at the farm. Since Mocha is a micro-mini, his max height can be up to 36 inches. His dad is the infamous Yeti bull who is 35 inches full grown! Mini and micro mini highlands are primarily raised in the US and Canada, however the standard size highland breed originates from Scottland. The standard highland was bred to a Dexter breed of cow (like our pets, Gigi and Bourbon) to introduce dwarfism into their genetics; this is how we have the mini and micro mini sizes. Mocha loves to play ball with his bull friend Joe and he enjoys taking strolls around the farm! Next time you are on the farm, stop by the TreeWalk Adventure and say hi to Mocha!

Meet Bonnie — Our Sweet, Steady Halflinger at Hunt Club Farm Bonnie is a beautiful 15-year-old Halflinger who joined the Hunt Club Farm family on May 26, 2025. Standing at 13 hands and weighing 865 lbs, she may be small in stature but she’s truly a gentle giant at heart. With her striking red-chestnut coat and calm, kind spirit, Bonnie has quickly become a favorite among our staff, campers, and visitors. She spends most of her days with her best friend, Sandy, and the two are rarely apart. Bonnie loves summer camp season. She’s the perfect partner for young riders learning the ropes patient during grooming, steady under saddle, and always happy to be led around by little hands gaining confidence. She has a way of making every child feel safe, supported, and proud of what they can do. In June, Bonnie bravely underwent surgery to remove an eye she lost due to injury, but her resilience is inspiring. She hasn’t let it slow her down one bit. She navigates the farm with confidence and continues to bring joy to every camper and guest she meets. Bonnie is more than a lesson horse, she’s a teacher, a friend, and a shining example of the gentle, heartwarming magic that makes Hunt Club Farm so special.

Meet Sugar! Sugar arrived on the farm at only 2 weeks old in February of 2025. She was a tiny, fluffy mini highland cow with a sweet demeanor, which is how she got the name Sugar! She was our smallest and youngest calf on the farm, and we decided it would be best for her to get some extra love and attention. One of our farm friends offered to take Sugar home and let her live in her bathroom. After spending a few days there, Sugar became our most social cow! She loved people and being spoiled. When she returned to the farm, she was extra friendly and became everyone’s favorite cow to cuddle! Waves of people would come to the farm just to see Sugar; she became TikTok famous after only one weekend! To this day, Sugar walks right up to the fence when someone approaches, ready to greet and get some chin scratches. Some say that Sugar has a special “moo”. Next time you visit the farm, stop by the Canopy pen to see Sugar and listen for her moo!

Meet Windy — Our Gentle Giant  Windy is a 15-year-old black and white Paint mare, standing proudly at 15 hands and weighing around 1,100 pounds. She joined the Hunt Club Farm family on August 18, 2024, and has quickly become one of our most beloved horses. Known affectionately as our “gentle giant,” Windy has a calm and loving personality that makes her a favorite among both campers and staff. She spends most of her time with her barn mates Cinderella, Madison, and Maria, often seen grazing or relaxing side by side in the pasture. Windy truly shines during summer camp, where she helps young riders build confidence and learn the fundamentals of horsemanship. She patiently allows children to groom, bathe, and lead her, and is always happy to give them their first experience of riding on their own. Whether she’s teaching campers, spending time with her friends, or simply enjoying a peaceful afternoon in the field, Windy embodies the gentle, nurturing spirit that makes Hunt Club Farm such a special place.