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Thursday, January 05 2017 / Published in General

From Ponies to Panthers: Judy Berens and Panther Ridge Conservation Center

 

Judy Berens and Charlie, the cheetah

By Britney Grover

On TripAdvsor’s list of top things to do in Wellington, the International Polo Club and the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center stand fourth and fifth on the list. The top ranking goes to another animal-oriented locale, with claws instead of hooves — the Panther Ridge Conservation Center. But in a way, horses sparked the creation of Panther Ridge, and for a time even shared the property with the big cats.

Phoebe, a caracal, and Duma, a serval

For founder and director Judy Berens, life has always revolved around four-legged friends. Introduced to riding at a young age, Judy owned and showed horses for many years. She graduated from Vassar College and received an MBA from the University of Miami before moving to Wellington in 1994. Having a large equestrian property of her own enabled her to pursue another lifelong dream: working with large felines.

With the space and means to provide for an exotic cat, Judy began the time-consuming permit process to become legally licensed to own one. Lots of paperwork and over 1,000 zoo volunteer hours later, Judy was fully equipped to adopt Sabrina the ocelot, her first exotic cat.

It was after obtaining her license that the calls began coming in: government agencies looking for a home for confiscated cats, humane societies looking for homes for abused or neglected animals, and more. Judy did what she could, whether it was helping to find a home for each feline or, soon enough, taking them in herself. Judy didn’t have to search for cats in need of help; the need was there, and Judy was in a position to fill it. In 1999, Panther Ridge was born.

Brandy the cougar’s favorite treat is watermelon!

For many years, her property served as home to both exotic cats and Judy’s horses. But as Panther Ridge grew, the paddocks and turnouts became enclosures such as the three-acre habitat of Charlie the cheetah. Cats have come to Judy and Panther Ridge from many different situations. Brandy, an 11-year-old cougar, was purchased illegally as a small cub to be a family pet. As should have been expected, that didn’t work out well and Brandy was sent to a sanctuary on the west coast of Florida, where she was ignored for seven years before that facility closed and she was taken in by Panther Ridge. She arrived scared, shy and so depressed that she didn’t eat for a week. Now, she delights visitors to the Center with her purrs, chirps and curiosity.

Duma is a longtime resident of Panther Ridge. Now 18 years old, Duma is an African serval that has been at Panther Ridge for 16 years. His previous owner left him in a carrier behind a pet store in Ft. Lauderdale with a note asking them to take care of him. Since Duma was very obviously not a pet, the store had little idea what to do with him. Luckily, someone knew to contact Panther Ridge, who took him in immediately.

Macho, an ocelot, high in a tree

Judy’s love for these felines is evident just by talking to her. “When a cat comes here, it’s for life,” she said. She and Panther Ridge are committed to caring for the big cats for the rest of their lives, so they’ll never again be at risk of neglect or mishandling, or in need of a home. “They become part of the Panther Ridge family,” she said.

As a not-for-profit, Panther Ridge relies on donations and money earned from tours to maintain the 17 cats currently living out their lives with customized habitats, diets, enrichment and love. Judy, who calls herself Panther Ridge’s “slave labor,” and her staff and interns who have been carefully chosen for their skill, knowledge and passion for helping cats, give tours of the facility to the public by appointment. Judy and Panther Ridge also serve as ambassadors for the wild conservation of the species who live there by donating a portion of funds received to carefully selected groups working to preserve the cats’ natural habitats.

For Judy Berens, what started as a unique pet has turned into a worldwide influence for saving lives — lives of majestic animals with four legs and claws.

To schedule a tour, make a donation or for more information, go to PantherRidge.org.

Photos courtesy of Judy Berens

 

 

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Tagged under: britney grover, judy berens, panther ridge

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The✨April issue✨ of Sidelines Magazine is here The✨April issue✨ of Sidelines Magazine is here and we are so excited to feature three-day eventer Liz Halliday on the cover! Big thanks to photographer Melissa Fuller for the beautiful photo of Liz and Cooley Nutcracker- Liz Halliday-Sharp - HS Eventing. Liz and her horses have taken the eventing world by storm - and find out how Liz is at the top of the sport as a female eventer! As the horse world gears up for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event 2023, it's the perfect time to enjoy our eventing issue!! We also feature eventer and woman entrepreneur Frankie Thieriot Stutes, who is not only an eventer, but also runs Athletux and FRANKIE CAMERON handbags and accessories. And don't miss our eventing story on Robert "Bobby" Costello, who will be leading the US Eventing team to the 2024 Paris Olympics- and US Equestrian has named Bobby the eventing technical advisor/chef d'equipe!! Liz, Frankie and Bobby all have GREAT stories - don't miss any of them and don't forget to get your tickets for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day event! We are also excited to introduce you to hunter-jumper rider Casey Lorusso Smith, who is not only a talented rider but also a psychotherapist and incorporates horses into her career. If you are up for adventure, then read the story on dressage rider Priscilla Baldwin who certainly doesn't let any grass grow under her feet! We also head to the west coast to catch up with hunter-jumper trainer Jim Hagman of Elvenstar Farm, we feature beautiful art by equestrian artist Tammy Tappan, and we get to know Miranda Jones and her family. Miranda is not only an attorney who spends a lot of time in the courthouse, but she's a rider and spends lots of time riding, and is joined by her daughters also! We are excited to feature Stephanie Lightner in our Unbridled column, and don't miss our columnists George Williams, Robert R.L. Jacobs and Margie Sugarman! It's a great issue - and you can read it online, but don't forget to go to the website and order a subscription and get every issue delivered to your mailbox!! Enjoy this issue and enjoy the ride: Link in bio!!
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Marie Meyers has been around the world because of Marie Meyers has been around the world because of dressage, but it’s her farm in Moorpark, California, that has captured her heart. The farm and the business that thrives there represent Marie’s lifelong journey—a journey made up of good friends, spectacular horses and relationships made to last.

Marie was raised in Southern California, and spent her childhood playing just about every sport under the sun, but she didn’t discover riding until she was 14 years old. “I loved animals so much, so I started taking lessons. I did jumping at first, but I was very bad at that, for sure!” Marie laughed.

After some time, Marie moved on to take lessons at Foxfield Riding Academy and began riding dressage. “I fell into dressage by accident,” Marie said, “At the beginning, I thought it was extremely boring, but then I got hooked. By the time I graduated from high school, I had plans to travel to England to work for Franz Rochowansky, a former head of the Spanish Riding School.”

In 1988, Marie’s hard work paid off, and the pair was selected as alternates for the 1988 Summer Olympic Games. “They didn’t take the alternates that year, so we didn’t go to Seoul, but the experience, the training and the European Tour afterwards set me up for the 1990 World Equestrian Games in Stockholm, Sweden,” Marie said.

In addition to having success representing her country, Marie was busy with her life—marriage, a business, teaching lessons and clinics. 

Learn more about Marie in this month's edition of Sidelines Magazine. Click the link in our bio for more 🦄

📸Photos by Lindsey Long Equine Photography, www.lindseylong.com

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We are starting a ‼️new series‼️ here on o We are starting a ‼️new series‼️ here on our socials where we share some of the lovely stallions, and their breeders featured in each month's magazine. Our first feature on this #STUDSunday is...

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Contact Cheryl Maye at (703) 431-9096 for more information
https://www.mayeshowponies.com/more-info/stallions

You can find ALL of the stallions featured towards the back of the magazine in the equestrian gallery. Keep a look out EVERY Sunday for a new handsome STUD muffin🧁 and don't forget to subscribe to get your very own edition of Sidelines Magazine, the magazine for horse people, about horse people 🦄

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