WildeWood Farm, Inc.

One of the questions we get asked constantly during summer is:
“Should my child start with lessons or horse camp?”

In my experience, I strongly prefer beginners start with camp whenever possible. 💛

Here’s why: horse camp gives us four full hours each day to teach, practice, and build confidence. Riders receive far more one-on-one help from counselors and instructors, more hands-on horse time, and far more repetition than they would in a traditional weekly lesson.

In many ways, one week of horse camp contains the equivalent of about five weeks of lessons — and often even more because the learning is cumulative each day instead of spread out over months.

Every rider is carefully paired with a safe, well-trained horse appropriate for their level and personality. We focus heavily on:
🐴 Safety
🐴 Correct position
🐴 Horsemanship
🐴 Confidence
🐴 Kind, respectful communication with the horse

We do not teach “tricks” or shortcuts. We build real riders in a patient, encouraging environment for both boys and girls.

And camp is also an incredible value. Camp is $100/day, while individual lessons are $80 each pay-as-you-go. The amount of learning, horse exposure, and confidence-building children gain during camp is tremendous.

Please share

There is something powerful about spending full days immersed in horses, animals, nature, friendships, and hands-on learning. Riders progress quickly because they are living it — not just visiting it once a week. 💛

And yes… there is still room in camp for last-minute additions! 🐎

Camp isn't just for kids! Adults are welcome too!


www.wildewoodfarm.com for registration

Baby the Bull 💛🐄

If you've been following along with our cow stories, it's only fitting that the first introduction belongs to Baby.

Although calling him "Baby" at this point requires a considerable amount of imagination. 😄

Baby is a Charolais bull who arrived at the farm as a four-week-old calf in terrible distress. He was so dehydrated and starving that I wasn't sure he would survive his first 24 hours.

I put him on a bottle and began feeding him several times a day.

One bottle at a time.
One day at a time.

Slowly he began to rally. His eyes brightened, his strength returned, and before long it became clear that Baby had no intention of giving up.

In fact, he seemed determined to make up for every meal he had ever missed.

Today, Baby weighs approximately 1,800 pounds.

The funny thing is that he still seems to think he's the little calf we brought home years ago. He wants to know what's happening, who is visiting, and whether he should be involved.

The answer is usually no. 😄

One of the most important lessons farm life teaches is that even kind animals deserve respect. Bulls are powerful creatures, and familiarity can sometimes make people careless. I love Baby and appreciate his gentle nature, but I never forget that he is a bull.

Good fences matter.
Good handling matters.
Paying attention matters.

Most days, Baby can be found eating, supervising pasture activities, and generally being pleased with himself.

But when I look at him, I don't see the giant bull standing in the pasture.

I see the tiny calf with little chance of survival, eagerly draining a bottle because he wasn't quite ready to quit.

And every time I see him, I'm reminded how much can change when someone is willing to give an animal a chance.

Even if that animal eventually grows into 1,800 pounds of opportunity for poor decision-making. 💛🐄

A few weeks ago, I wrote about how the children at the farm changed the words to Old MacDonald Had a Farm.

Around here, it has become:

"Our Ms. Hannah had a farm, E-I-E-I-O..." 💛

Many of you have followed along with stories about the horses, ponies, goats, chickens, and other assorted characters who call WildeWood Farm home. But today, I'd like to introduce another group of residents who often live quietly in the background of farm life:

The cows.

Now, when most people think of cows, they imagine peaceful creatures standing in green fields thoughtfully chewing their cud while contemplating life.

Sometimes that's true.

Sometimes.

The cows at our farm are less of a herd and more of a collection of very distinct personalities who happen to share a pasture.

Over the years, I've learned that cows are far more intelligent than most people give them credit for. They learn routines. They recognize people. They remember where feed is stored. They know exactly when dinner is late. And they have opinions about almost everything.

Strong opinions.

Some are sweet.
Some are suspicious.
Some are brave.
Some are dramatic.
Some are convinced they are much smaller than they really are.
Others are convinced they are much larger than they really are.

Much like people.

One of the things I love most about farm life is that animals constantly challenge our assumptions. We think we're bringing home "a cow," but what actually arrives is an individual with preferences, quirks, habits, and a personality all their own.

The longer I live around animals, the less I believe in "just a horse," "just a goat," or "just a cow."

There are only individuals.

And our little cow herd is full of them.

Over the next few weeks, I'd like to introduce you to each of our bovine characters. You'll meet Baby, who grew from a distressed calf into a very large bull who still thinks he's a baby. You'll meet Meg, who firmly believes the world should operate according to Meg's rules. You'll meet BB, the sensible one. And you'll meet little Bessie, our newest addition, who proves that confidence and size have absolutely nothing to do with each other.

Like all good farm stories, theirs are stories about more than cows.

They're stories about resilience, personality, second chances, and the surprising lessons animals teach us when we're paying attention.

So stay tuned.

The cows are ready for their turn in the spotlight. 💛🐄

"Our Ms. Hannah had a farm, E-I-E-I-O..."

One of the most common questions we receive is:
“Can we bring our child by for a quick pony ride to see if they like it?”
We completely understand where this comes from. Horses are exciting, and committing to lessons or camp can feel like a big step. Wanting to “try it out” first makes perfect sense.
However, what many people don’t realize is that a pony ride at our farm is not a quick or simple activity.
To safely give even a short ride, we must:
• Catch the horse from the field
• Groom and prepare them properly
• Tack them up
• Supervise/lead the child while riding
• Untack, care for, and return the horse
This process takes about an hour—the same as a lesson—and requires trained staff, planning, and appropriate scheduling.
Additionally, most of these requests come:
• Last-minute
• On Saturdays (our busiest day)
Unfortunately, that makes it impossible for us to accommodate safely or fairly without disrupting scheduled students and the care of our horses.
And just as importantly—our horses are not “ride machines.” Their time, energy, and well-being matter deeply to us. We structure their workload carefully to keep them happy, healthy, and willing partners.
So what can we offer?
We’d love to welcome you to the farm!
• You are always welcome to visit, meet the animals, and see our environment
• If your child is ready to try riding, we offer a “try-it-out” lesson
This gives your child a real, safe, and positive introduction to horses—with proper instruction and support—rather than a rushed or incomplete experience.
Our goal is not just to see if a child likes it…
It’s to help them fall in love with it the right way.
Thank you for understanding and supporting the care of our horses and the quality of our program.
Ms. Hannah
www.wildewoodfarm.com











Www.wildewoodfarm.com

Some horses are born at the farm and somehow become woven into its story forever. Indy is one of those horses. 💛

WF Independence — “Indy” — was born at our farm in 2003 while I was away touring with Monty Roberts. His mother was a leased breeding stock American Paint mare, owned by my dear friend Ashley Godwin, and his father was our very first premium Arabian Sport Horse stallion, Sir Lancelott (“Blitz”).

From the very beginning, Indy marched to the beat of his own drum. He was independent, unconcerned about most things, and mostly interested in staying close to his half-brother Freedom. The name “Independence” fit him perfectly.

He was started under saddle at the end of his third year and, very reluctantly, I sold him to one of my advanced students with the plan of continuing his training at the farm. But life changed quickly for the family when the new owner’s father lost his job only a month later, and Indy went back home with them.
Years later, when Indy was nine, I received a phone call asking if I wanted him back.
Absolutely. 💛

Since returning home, Indy has become one of our very best cantering horses and a superstar in the flat classes at horse shows. He is elegant, athletic, and wonderfully honest about rider mistakes. If his rider stops paying attention, Indy is perfectly willing to invent a “spook” to remind them to stay mentally present. 😄

Jumping, however, is definitely not his life passion. Indy believes cantering beautifully on the flat is quite enough contribution to society, thank you very much.
After all these years, we mostly agree with him. 💛🐴

www.wildewoodfarm.com
Baby Indy at age 4.

Always start with camp - when possible.

One of the questions we get asked constantly during summer is:
“Should my child start with lessons or horse camp?”

In my experience, I strongly prefer beginners start with camp whenever possible. 💛

Here’s why: horse camp gives us four full hours each day to teach, practice, and build confidence. Riders receive far more one-on-one help from counselors and instructors, more hands-on horse time, and far more repetition than they would in a traditional weekly lesson.

In many ways, one week of horse camp contains the equivalent of about five weeks of lessons — and often even more because the learning is cumulative each day instead of spread out over months.

Every rider is carefully paired with a safe, well-trained horse appropriate for their level and personality. We focus heavily on:
🐴 Safety
🐴 Correct position
🐴 Horsemanship
🐴 Confidence
🐴 Kind, respectful communication with the horse

We do not teach “tricks” or shortcuts. We build real riders in a patient, encouraging environment for both boys and girls.

And camp is also an incredible value. Camp is $100/day, while individual lessons are $80 each pay-as-you-go. The amount of learning, horse exposure, and confidence-building children gain during camp is tremendous.

Please share

There is something powerful about spending full days immersed in horses, animals, nature, friendships, and hands-on learning. Riders progress quickly because they are living it — not just visiting it once a week. 💛

And yes… there is still room in camp for last-minute additions! 🐎

Camp isn't just for kids! Adults are welcome too!


www.wildewoodfarm.com for registration

Sometimes the children choose. 💛

Doodlebug came from the rescue in Ohio where I teach. She had been owner surrendered after weaning a baby — they said she’d raised many foals over the years. Like many broodmares, motherhood had simply been a big part of her life.

She was 14 years old and carried a few unique features that made her unforgettable: she was missing her entire left ear, had a wry mouth, and somehow still carried herself with complete confidence.

We discovered very quickly that keeping a bridle on her was going to require creativity. The first time she shook her head and the entire bridle slid right off, we all just stood there blinking in surprise. 😄

The kids and I had gone to look at horses for the lesson program, and Sebastian immediately fell in love with this delicate12-hand pony. I tried very hard to talk him out of her. After all, he will outgrow her quickly, and she certainly wasn’t what I had in mind.

But he almost never begs for anything.
This time, he did.
So Doodlebug came home.

At first she was quite tricky to catch, but once you actually had her, she revealed her true nature: sweet, gentle, kind, and had more trained than we originally expected.

Since she didn’t answer to her old name, we renamed her "Doodlebug" after one of our favorite children’s horse books about a rescued black pony. Somehow, the name fit her perfectly.

And maybe that’s the funny thing about horses. The ones we least expect sometimes quietly work their way straight into our hearts. 💛🐴



Www.wildewoodfarm.com

🐴🌿 A Morning at Camp (as told by the animals…) 🌿🐐

The horses noticed it first.
“Campers are coming,” one of them said, flicking an ear toward the driveway.

The goats had already figured it out, of course.
“They always come this time of year,” one said, standing on something it definitely wasn’t supposed to be standing on.
“I call dibs on being brushed first.”

The chickens didn’t say much. They just scattered dramatically, as if something very important was happening.

The barn cats stretched, blinked slowly, and settled in like they had planned this all along.
And then the kids arrive.
Some come ready to ride.
Some come ready to meet every animal on the farm.
And some aren’t quite sure yet… but leave knowing a lot more than when they arrived.
By mid-morning:
• Someone is proudly holding a lead rope for the first time
• Someone is brushing a horse like they’ve done it forever
• Someone is laughing at a goat doing something ridiculous
• And someone is realizing they’re braver than they thought

There’s dirt on shoes.
Hay in places it shouldn’t be.
And stories already forming before lunchtime.
By 12:30, the animals are ready for a break…
…and the kids usually are too 😊
Then it all starts again the next day.
Horse camp.
Farm adventure camp.
Or a little bit of both.
The animals will be ready.
(Especially the goats.)
💛🐴🐐
From Ms. Ms Hannah Writes










First week of camp was a blast! Week two starts on Monday - there is room if you'd like to join us.
www.wildewoodfarm.com

WildeWood Farm is quietly looking for a very special horse. 💛🐴

We are searching for a kind, sound lesson (or future) horse that would enjoy a steady, useful job teaching intermediate riders.

Our ideal horse:
🐴 Safely jumps small x-rails to about 2’ (willing to train)
🐴 Gentle and kind-minded
🐴 Comfortable working once daily, approximately 5 days a week
🐴 Happy living outside in beautiful pasture settings with other horses
🐴 Enjoys having purpose and interaction

Breed is not especially important, though we are not looking for Thoroughbreds simply because our farm environment does not lend itself well to individualized feeding programs. Our horses live outside in large fields and thrive in a more natural herd setting.

Size - be able to comfortably carry a 120+ lb. rider.

We would especially love to find a horse whose owner may no longer be riding but would like to see their horse continue having a meaningful, loved, and useful life helping teach the next generation.

Many of our very best lesson horses came to us this way — horses needing softer work, consistency, purpose, and people who appreciate them deeply.

A good lesson horse changes lives every single day. They build confidence, courage, patience, balance, and joy in children and adults alike. The truly great ones are worth more than gold. 💛

If you know of a horse who may fit this description, please send us a message. Donation situations are preferred, but above all, we are looking for the right match and the right heart.

Through our 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we are also able to provide tax receipts for donated horses valued up to $4,999 without requiring a formal appraisal.

Our horses receive topnotch care. Vet/farrier/chiro/dentist referrals available.



The farm is in Cu***ng, GA (about an hour north of Atlanta).