Painted Maple Farm

06/08/2026

06/05/2026

First hay wagon of the year delivered yesterday! We have been counting down waiting and finally got some!

06/03/2026

Have we ever stopped to appreciate how incredible it is to have a horse that travels well? It's such an important skill, yet it's often overlooked.
Some horses become so attached to their herd mates or home environment that leaving can be stressful, making travel difficult or even impossible.

One of my goals with every horse is to help them become confident—or at the very least trusting—when faced with new places, situations, and expectations. I want them to be able to rely on their training and their person, no matter where they are.
Valor can be trail ridden alone just about anywhere, and Atlas is learning those same skills. In fact, Atlas already travels well by himself and spends most of his rides working independently with me on-site.

These may seem like small things, but having a horse that can confidently leave home, work alone, and handle new environments opens the door to so many opportunities.

05/30/2026

Valor and I have a big announcement for everyone! Between June 14th and June 22nd of 2026, we will be unavailable. We are going to Ft Kearney, Nebraska to partake in the 2026 Pony Express ReRide!!
This has been something I've been wanting to do for a while and the time is finally here. Wish us luck as we embark on the biggest journey yet!

05/28/2026

It’s important to remember that horses aren’t machines. Whether they’re babies, teenagers, or seniors, every horse has a set of basic needs that must be met for them to truly thrive.

Friends. Forage. Fun.

Friends means more than simply being near another horse. It’s sharing space, interacting, learning herd dynamics, playing, pestering, and simply getting to be horses together. Horses are deeply social animals, and that connection is vital for their mental and emotional well-being.

Forage is more than tossing a couple flakes of hay into a stall. Horses were built to move, graze, explore, and search. Fulfilling that need means giving them opportunities to investigate the ground, sort through grasses and weeds, and engage in natural behaviors throughout the day.

Fun looks different for every horse. Some love a job. Some love trails. Some love obstacles, games, liberty, or simply running with their friends. But every horse needs enjoyment somewhere in their life. A bored, frustrated horse can become sour quickly. A horse that genuinely enjoys life and their work? That’s where the magic happens.

When we start meeting the horse’s needs instead of only focusing on performance, everything else falls into place.

05/24/2026

Skye manages to lay in the weirdest positions 🤣

05/19/2026

A good horse is born from more than an arena. They have to see the world 🌎

Atlas had his first off-site trail ride and you wouldn't even have known! He did amazing, as usual 😄 though the signs are a little scary 🤫

05/15/2026

Atlas’ mom came out to ride again today and see all the progress her boy has been making. With the foundation laid, we introduced a little pattern work, and he took it all in stride. This boy is coming along beautifully and is definitely going to turn some heads.