When Cheri Gillies first saw the land on which her home and horse farm now stand it was so green and beautiful, she named it "Emerald Acres."

She keeps it that way because to her West Kendall's Horse County is an oasis, a necessary refuge from the crowds and noise that are common in most other parts of Miami-Dade County.

Born in Utica, NY, Gillies moved to Miami with her parents when she was 6 months old. She grew up in the "old southwest section," in Natoma Manor near Mercy Hospital, and went to school at Miami Senior High and the University of Miami where she studied education.

Her father, Isadore Berman, who was in the auto parts business, bought the property in 1959 as a weekend retreat. He moved the house, which is Gillies' home, to the present site from S. Dixie Highway and 98th Street, a location that is now occupied, ironically, by a Rooms to Go furniture store. Originally the farm had an eight-stall barn. Now the barn has 32 stalls.

Gillies, who got her first horse when she was 17, has owned the 6.25-acre spread for 42 years. She credits her success to the care and love she extends to the animals.

"I love all kinds of animals -- cats and dogs as well as horses -- and consider myself fortunate to be able to live in a place where I can enjoy them," she said.

"We are one of the largest boarding horse farms in the area," she said. "We've built our reputation over the years for the quality of care which we give to all of the animals entrusted to us. Most of our customers consider their horses to be their most precious possessions. We treat them as such. It is truly is a labor of love."

Among the many notable horses that have been boarded at Emerald Acres through the years was "One Fine Day" owned by Cliff Robertson's daughter, Stephanie. But the horse that won more awards than any of the others was "Haligo," owned by Gillies' daughter, Lisa.

"Lisa, who is now the head of accounting for an advertising agency, was quite a horsewoman as a child and a teenager, and Haligo was quite a horse," Gillies said. "They won the Legion of Merit from the Arabian Association, International Arabian Horse Association's Legion of Honor, plus many other regional and local awards."

There are literally dozens of trophies, awards and plaques throughout her home attesting to Gillies' skill as a horse trainer.

"Although our primary emphasis is on boarding, we have everything necessary to raise and train horses here," she said.

In addition to a fully equipped barn, Emerald Acres has turnout facilities and a large riding area.

A casual glance at her home also reveals an interesting collection of oil paintings created by Gillies' mother.

Serenity and tranquillity are a common theme expressed in many of these paintings. These are what Gillies and her family found when they first established Emerald Acres in this area and that is what she works hard to preserve. She is an active member of the Bird-Kendall Homeowners Association and was an original member of its board of directors.

The neighborhood, known as Horse County is a two-square-mile area of agricultural and rural land located between Bird Drive (SW 42nd Street) and Sunset Drive (SW 72nd Street), Florida's Turnpike and SW 127th Avenue. The association has consistently thwarted the efforts of developers and others from turning the area into just another overcrowded suburb.

Association officials estimate that there may be as many a 5,000 horses in the area and between 150 and 200 horse farms of various sizes.

"We who live in Horse County cherish its wide open spaces and relaxed, natural environment. It's a wonderful place to raise children and enjoy the goods thing in life, and we'd like it to remain so," Gillies said.

For information about Emerald Acres, call Cheri Gillies at 305-274-4474, or visit the farm at 6600 SW 122 Ave.