EASTHAMPTON — Since 1972, the Raucher family has taught generations of people how to ride at Heritage Farm. On Tuesday, the last of those lessons took place as the farm is about to be sold.
“I think it’s time to do it,” said Douglas Raucher.
Heritage Farm is under contract to be sold for approximately $750,000 to Christine Pratt of Wagging Tails Pet Resort in Hadley, and is set to become a pet-boarding facility.
On Saturday at noon at the farm, everything that the business owns will be sold at an auction run by Donald Raucher, one of the five Raucher siblings and a professional auctioneer. Tractors, trailers, a Dodge truck, a plow truck, jumps and medical equipment are some of the items that will be sold.
“Everything that a horse farm would need,” said Diane Raucher Miller, the only woman among the five.
Miller said that, of all the siblings, she is the most involved with the farm, and that it’s too big for one person to run.
The 30-acre farm has two barns, an indoor ring, several outdoor riding arenas, riding trails and a farmhouse.
“We all grew up here,” Miller said.
Miller, who has long been the farm’s head riding instructor, said all her brothers have a connection to horses. David, who lives in Montana, buys and sells horses, as does Dennis, who lives in Missouri and whose wife runs a lesson program. Douglas, meanwhile, who lives in Hatfield, works as a horse dentist and is also a horse show judge. Donald lives in Florence, and maintains many connections in the equine world.
Their mother, Marie Raucher, died in January 2017. Their father, Jerry Raucher, died in 2003.
At its peak, there were 50 to 60 horses on the property, sometimes as many as 100. And at the peak of the farm’s horse dealing business, 800 to 1,000 horses were sold by the farm every year.
Miller said there were about 30 to 35 horses at Heritage Farm for most of this year. All of the horses at Heritage Farm have found new homes, with several of the horses going with Miller to the Southampton home she shares with her husband, Brad Miller, and their two children.
Miller said it was important to make sure the horses were sold to the right people.
“They’re my co-workers,” she said of the horses. “They each have their own personality, and they each have their own style.”
Miller said that what she will miss the most about Heritage Farm are the children they taught there.
“All the kids,” said Miller, choking up. “Watching them grow up.”
“Too many to mention,” Douglas Raucher said.
Miller said that from the time her mother was teaching, “generations” learned how to ride at Heritage Farm. Mainly English-style riding was taught there.
Amy Perrier, 40, took classes at Heritage Farm when she was a young girl. Her 7-year-old daughter, Khloe, was one of the people taking the la
“I thought that this place would be here forever,” Amy said. “I just can’t believe it’s being sold.”
Khloe started taking lessons at the farm when she was 3.
“It’s definitely sad,” said Khloe’s father, Kevin Perrier. “Khloe really loved it here.”
“I’m going to miss Heritage,” Khloe said.
Another person who is going to miss Heritage is Amy Moran. She and her 10-year-old daughter, Lien Powers-Moran, were also among those who took lessons Tuesday.
“I’m devastated,” said Moran, who learned to ride at the farm as an adult.
Lien said the horse she will miss the most is Mater, who “has a steady trot and canter.”
Khloe’s favorite horse is named Tuna, while pony Little Boy Blue is one of the horses going home with Miller. Little Boy Blue first joined her family when her children were little.
Caitlin Robinson, whose aunt married David Raucher, grew up spending summers at the farm. She also worked on the farm as general stable help, taking care of the horses and riding them.
“It’s just sad,” Robinson said. “Our horses didn’t ask for this, and our barn kids didn’t ask for this.”
Barn kids at Heritage Farm took lessons and did work on the farm, involving themselves with every aspect of horse care. Miller said many of them have used the work ethic they learned there to be good employees no matter where life took them.
The Raucher family moved from Long Island to Easthampton when Miller’s brothers were in elementary school; she was born in Hampshire County.
She said her parents met in Brooklyn through their mutual love of horses, when he was selling horses and she was riding them.
“They were in the same barn,” she said.
Although her father came from a “relatively well-to-do” family, she said that growing up he only wanted to hang out with his grandfather, who delivered frozen custard in Coney Island via horse.
Miller said her father’s niche in life was horse dealing, while her mother was the riding instructor.
There was always a family atmosphere at the farm, she said, and all 14 grandchildren of Jerry and Marie were exposed to it growing up.
“It was a great place to grow up,” said Douglas Raucher. “We raised some really good kids here.”
“We just put a lot of pride into everything,” he said.
Miller’s 10-year-old daughter, Erin, was at the farm Tuesday with her mom.
Asked what she’d miss about being there, she said, “Everything. How we’ve had so many horses here. The indoor ring, all the fields, the wonderful trails to go up to the orchard.”
Robinson said she wishes the farm could have stayed an equine facility.
She also said that if any of those working at the farm could have afforded it, they would have bought it and kept it as it is.
“I’ve nailed every board in this place,” she said. “That tractor, I can make it dance.”
Bera Dunau can be reached at bdunau@gazettenet.com.