Our goats are free-range and live in family groups on five acres just outside Temecula's beautiful wine country.

The People behind Owlhaven 

Dr. Marie Orillion, Owner

I am an educator with a strong background in data analysis and animal husbandry.  

I love that Nigerians are small, productive, and friendly. I have a passion for education and enjoy supporting my clients as they get started with their first goats or as they work to improve their herds. 

Murrieta Pines

Murrieta Pines, owned by the Allred family, has been partnering with Owlhaven for several years. I'm always impressed by the quality of care that their animals receive and am proud to share genetics with them. 

The Steeneken Tribe

I couldn't operate Owlhaven without the support of my incredible neighbors, the Steenekens. Dad advises me on all things mechanical and helps keep my gate working. The kids, Nic and Natalie, did chores for me when they were little, with Nic graduating to doing installations, like my water lines. Mom, of course, is the sister I never had and the eye in the sky that watches over everything.

My goat friends' farms:

This section wouldn't be complete without recognizing some of my goat friends. They've enriched my goat life in more ways than I could express.
~ Desert Bounty Farm - Yuma, Arizona
~ Desert Hardt Dairy Goats - Yuma, Arizona
~ Tumer Ranch - Temecula, California
​~ Murrieta Pines - Murrieta California

Our Story

Owlhaven is named in honor of the owls that have lived on the property. Today the farm is home to a breeding pair of barn owls and a great horned owl (or two). 
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My first project was the pollinators garden, which is planted with California natives from chaparral and desert regions. When I was consulting with the landscape designer, I asked about the feasibility of naturalizing the acreage surrounding the house with wildflowers. My goal was to create beautiful, natural landscapes that required minimal maintenance.
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She gave me a one-word answer, "goats." Then she explained that the best solution to my weed problem was to purchase a couple of goats. So, I did my research, decided that Nigerians were good pets, and made my first purchase.

I was hooked!

​I began studying the genetic data available from the American Dairy Goat Association (ADGA). After years of frustration with show ring fads and the lack of performance data in the Arabian horse world, I was excited to discover an industry that took a scientific approach to herd improvement. 
I've had my share of false starts. When I started, standard breeds had extensive data to help with decision making. However, Nigerians were a relatively new breed and only a limited number of herds participated in both linear appraisal and milk test at the time. Many herds that were successful in the show ring didn't do either, or did them inconsistently. This made it difficult to make informed decisions. Consequently, during the early years I found myself disappointed during linear appraisal and milk test and had to make difficult rehoming decisions. 
Things changed in 2014. This was the year that I added Dill's BF Diamond Rio and SG Proctor Hill Farm Pistol Annie to the herd. In 2015, their doeling Owlhaven DR Rowdy Rose was shown in a class of 22 kids, by an inexperienced handler, at the highly competitive Chino Show and placed second. 

I was also rewarded by feedback from a breeder for whom I have tremendous respect, "Look at those beautiful legs! A bit open at point of elbow, but otherwise such a stunner!"
I'm grateful that Rose's owner decided to show her. It gave me much-needed and unexpected encouragement. 
Rio's daughters began to freshen in 2015, and I knew that I had made the right decision. Rose's first freshening udder was gorgeous. Now I just had to wait for her to mature and build capacity. In December, the farm had a second breakthrough with the addition of SG +*B Algedi Farm MB Manuka Honey (Nuke).

Nuke and Pistol Annie started my "A" doe line, which has become more correct and productive with each generation. In 2025, their descendent, Owlhaven A Waikiki was the star of linear appraisal, with Owlhaven CU Alexandria also receiving strong scores.
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Leia and Sunny, shown by David Harrison's (club president) daughters
In 2017 the farm had its first small foray into the show ring, taking two bucks and three doelings. All placed within the top three in their classes. In the senior kid class, Owlhaven MH Sun Shower (first picture) and Owlhaven MH Buddleia (second picture) placed first and second, respectively, in two rings. In the final ring Sunny fought her way around the ring, placing third, allowing Leia to move to first place and eventually win Reserve Grand Champion Junior Doe. 
The farm also received news that an Owlhaven bred buckling, Owlhaven MH Heat Wave was enrolled in the ADGA Young Sire Development Program. The program identified young bucks who have the greatest potential to improve the breed as a whole. He was the only Nigerian enrolled in the first quarter of 2017. The second Nigerian enrolled in 2017 is closely related to Owlhaven's sire *B Cedar View Placido.

​Finally, the farm hosted linear appraisal, with all senior does appraised going 88 and above and two senior does receiving final scores of 90 (excellent).

​The appraiser encouraged me to enter the show ring, stating that Owlhaven goats were competitive with anything in the ring today, nationally.
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Castle Rock Ice Storm, dam of Owlhaven MH Sun Shower and Owlhaven MH Heat Wave.
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Owlhaven's three retained 2017 Manuka Honey daughters - shown by LVDGA President Harrison's daughters.
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Alia shown by Laura Roe
2019 Update:
My "A" doe line starting to shine. Owlhaven MH Sugarland's 2018 Placido daughter, Owlhaven P Alia, took Jr Champion and Best Junior in Show, winning her dry leg in her first and only ring. Congratulations to her owner Laura Roe of Hyalite Farm and Holistic Veterinary Resources​! Photo of Alia is courtesy of Laura Roe, who shared that she is much more level than the photo suggests (lol). 

I retained Alia's littermate, Owlhaven P Adele, who turned out to be an exceptional brooddoe.​

2020-2021: The COVID Years

In 2020, Castle Rock Farm was destroyed by fire. To help Sarah and Andy rebuild, Owlhaven fostered fourteen of the surviving does. The does arrived in September and were bred to either Sierra Aspen PS Panache or Owlhaven B Ojai, an SGCH Castle Rock Owl's Clover son. The does were returned to Castle Rock the following spring, with the exception of two doelings purchased by Owlhaven, Castle Rock Sun Hat and Castle Rock Ice Jam. I am honored and grateful to have the opportunity to support these wonderful friends who have contributed so much to the development of the modern Nigerian dairy goat.


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Cielo - shown by Reilly Cochrane
That May I made another small foray (3 goats) into the show ring. Owlhaven P Cielo swept all three of her junior kid classes at the highly competitive LVDGA show, going first in all three rings. She didn't take the Championships because, according to one judge, at eight weeks she was simply too young to compare her to the older kids. Cielo is sired by Panache and out of Lil Miss B Haven Charmed. Charmed placed third in the yearling milkers class, despite being in an admittedly awkward developmental stage.

Cielo and Charmed represent a new dam line that traces back to the great show and brood-doe, SGCH Wood Bridge Farm Hocus Pocus 2*M 02-02 VVEE 90. Charmed's dam, Lil Miss B Haven Bewitched 3*M (2019 ADGA Nationals 8th Place Yearling Milker) also joined the herd in 2021.
In July we were finally able to participate in linear appraisal again. Adele did very well, despite still being heavily pregnant, scoring VVEV 88. Later she freshened with a gorgeous and productive udder, earning her permanent place in the herd. Owlhaven R Allure, owned by Desert Bounty Farm, scored 90 with an Excellent for her mammary system! 

2022: A Return to the Show Ring

Owlhaven had a great show year in 2022, bringing a small handful of goats and consistently placing in the top of the lineup. Highlights included Leia going first place aged doe in 4/5 rings and Ice Jam easily earning her dry leg.

2025 Linear Appraisal

My "A" dam line shone during the 2025 Linear Appraisal, with Owlhaven A Waikiki scoring VVVV 87 and receiving strong praise from the appraiser and Owlhaven CU Alexandria earning a strong score of GVVV 86. Both were first fresheners.