Listening to and learning from horses —and ponies too.
Offering camps, lessons, and equine-assisted learning.
The Farm
Paper Birch Farm, located in Anchorage, Alaska is home to small herd of four horses. The horses live together in a semi-wooded paddock paradise/pasture track with access to water, hay, and shelters. The farm offers private lessons and other learning opportunities to students ages 6 and up.
The Herd
Lido a bay Holsteiner gelding born in June 2010. At 17 hands* he is the tallest horse at the barn. He enjoys scratches on his belly and rolling in the sand. He also loves meeting new people.
Noodles is a Haflinger pony who loves taking deep breaths with his human friends and listening to the ukulele. He likes hearing people sing and will probably come stand next to you and sigh if you sit under a tree and sing, especially if you sing The Gambler. Noodles is 13.1 hands tall, was born in approximately 2009, and has a flaxen (blonde) mane and tail.
Honeybee is a buckskin mare born in May 2016. She is mostly a Cleveland Bay horse but she is also part Quarter Horse and part Thoroughbred. She stands 16.1 hands and changes color from dark grey to golden brown each spring. Some of her favorite things are ear scratches, meeting human babies, feeling branches on her back, and playing catch with a rolling barrel.
Pumpkin is a chestnut mare with a large white blaze. By far the fluffiest horses at the farm, she is also the smallest, measuring just below 9 hands. We estimate that she was born in approximately 2008 so she is also the oldest horse in the herd. Pumpkin enjoys having her withers scratched and can often be found patrolling the barnyard.
*Horse math: 1 hand = 4 inches
Can you tell who is who? Answer available towards end of FAQs.
About
Instructors
Regan Brooks is a former science teacher and nonprofit director with a lifelong love of horses and the natural world. She earned her MS in Botany from the Field Naturalist Program at the University of Vermont, is a P.A.T.H.-certified ESMHL (Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning), and is currently a graduate student in UAA’s MSW program. She’s been adoring horses and riding since age four and has mostly learned from eventing and dressage instructors. None of her bad habits are their fault.
Regan’s kids, Nia and Teo, also ride and work at the farm. Nia teaches private lessons when she’s home from college and both Nia and Teo support camps and provide care for the horses.
Influences
Teaching at the farm is influenced by the instructors who have taught us, both in-person and virtually. We encourage interested students to check out these teachers’ learning resources and ask questions if any arise.
Horsemanship and riding influences reflect participation in Connie Colfox’s Eohippus program, Tristan Tucker’s TRT Method, Daniel Dauphin’s Bit Course, and Mary Wanless’ Rider Biomechanics Certification program. Other learning and inspiration comes from the work of the Polyvagal Equine Institute, Karen Rolf, Josh Nichol, Warwick Schiller, John Masterson, Wendy Murdoch, Sally Swift, P.A.T.H. International, the US Pony Club, and many others.
In-person human instructors we’d especially like to thank include Carolyn Schultz, Mia Yellin, Lesley Zacharias, Sarah Jackson, Juliane Dykiel, Erin Downey, Tom Davis, and Mary Brust. And the best scratches and treats go to our equine teachers with extra shoutouts to Banker, Mrs. Brown, Jade, Nancy, Ermine, Jinx, Ace, Fiona, Shiloh, Pepper, the other Pepper, and the original Pepper too.
What programs and services do you offer?
Private instruction:
Equine-Assisted Learning Sessions, ages 6-100
Riding & Connected Horsemanship Lessons, ages 6-80
Group programs:
Fun on the Farm Camps/Day Sessions, ages 7-13
Mindfulness & Horsemanship Sessions, ages 14-100
Interested in something else? Please reach out and let us know. Although we can’t promise there will be time to take on new project, we always enjoy learning about new possibilities.
What is Equine-Assisted Learning?
Equine-Assisted Learning refers to any area of human learning that incorporates equines. Because of the engaging and sensitive nature of horses, their involvement in learning can amplify a student’s focus and capacity to practice new and existing skills. Additionally, horses’ responses to the body language and intentions of humans can help humans access new understanding of themselves. At Paper Birch Farm we offer Equine-Assisted Learning that supports personal development, mindfulness, and skill-building for individuals and small groups.
Do you offer Equine-Assisted Therapy, Hippotherapy, or Therapeuitic Riding?
Paper Birch Farm does not currently offer Equine-Assisted Therapy, Hippotherapy, or Therapeutic Riding. We encourage those interested in Equine-Assisted Therapy, Hippotherapy, or Therapeutic Riding to check out these local businesses and organizations:
Equine-Assisted Therapy of Alaska, Anchorage, AK *Closed summer 2025
Birch Grove Therapeutic Riding Center, Eagle River, AK
Backcountry Therapeutics, Palmer, AK
STRIDE, Southcentral Therapeutic Riding Inc., Wasilla, AK
Aurora Equine Therapy, Wasilla, AK
Do you lead trail rides or rent/lease horses?
We do not lead trail rides, rent horses, or lease horses. However, the Anchorage Horse Council has a great list of farms that might be able to connect you with trail rides, rentals, or leases.
Do you have a working student program and/or do you offer scholarships?
Yes, opportunities are available for both working students and scholarships. Additionally, we enjoy working with local nonprofit organizations and community groups.
Please contact us if you’d like to partner with us or learn more about Working Student or Scholarship opportunities.
Working Student Program: Interested participants and/or parents/guardians 14 years and older, may be eligible for our working student program.
Scholarships: If you or your child are interested in participating in any of or programs but costs are prohibitive, please note that a limited number of scholarships are available.
What disciplines and levels do you teach?
Our Equine-Assisted Learning sessions are open to individuals of all levels, from complete beginner to experienced horse person.
Our Riding & Connected Horsemanship lessons are best suited for beginner adult or youth (ages 6 and up) students. However, we occasionally have options for more experienced riders as well. We focus on helping students understand and practice clear and fair application of the aids while developing an independent seat. Students learn principles of training and communication in order to understand and be better understood by horses. Saddles used in riding lessons are either, a dressage saddle, a jumping saddle, or a bareback pad. We teach students to work with horses using both R+ (positive reinforcement) and R- (pressure and release) training.
We do not have any Western saddles available and do not teach any Western disciplines. However, our groundwork is influenced by some trainers from Western disciplines.
What are your goals and core principles for teaching and training?
Our goal is to have “yes” be the answer to these three questions for both students and horses:
Do they feel safe?
Do they understand?
Are they motivated?
(With thanks and credit to Connie Colfox.)
We also seek to follow Warwick Schiller’s Principles of Training.
Where is the farm?
Please see your registration conformation email for our address. If you don’t see it there, please reach out for address info using the form below.
Do you have recommendations about what students and/or camp participants should wear?
Yes, we do! Thank you for asking.
A raincoat (in spring, summer, or fall) or a warm, snow-proof jacket (in winter)
Rain pants or snow pants
Comfortable boots that can get wet
Weather appropriate clothing that you don’t mind getting dirty (warm hat and gloves or mitten essential in the winter)
Helmets: You can bring your own ASTM certified riding helmet if you have one that fits well and is in good condition. However you are also welcome to borrow one of ours. Loaner helmets are all certified and have kept in good condition. We have several sizes available.
Footwear: We encourage participants to wear boots with a heel (doesn’t have to be a big heel) and flexible ankles. If this is not an option, we do have special safety stirrups to accommodate riders without heeled boots.
What to expect when you arrive on the first day of a day camp?
For camps, please check your order confirmation email to confirm what day(s) you’ve signed up for.
Please plan to arrive a few minutes before the start time so you have time to park and find your way to the barn.
Parents/Guardians please plan to stay for about 15 minutes after the start of the first lesson/session or day of camp to review safety information and sign any additional releases necessary for participation.
What else should day camp participants bring?
A water bottle
Lunch (full day programs only)
Participants will be able to wash hands before eating but, for extra caution, we encourage participants to bring food in packaging that reduces the risk of dirty hands touching food.
A willingness and interest in learning about and from the horses.
Who helps you keep the place running?
While our family provides most of the care for the hroses, we could not do this alone. We’re grateful to the buisnesses and individuals who help us keep this place running. Those include but are not limited to: Dr. Kaiser and team at The Mobile Moose, Corbin’s Chorin and Handyman Services, Joel Ringler, Farrier, Alyssa Inch/Sound Strides, Haus Handiwork, and several awesome folks who help with mucking and feeding. From 2022-2025, Paper Birch Farm was also lucky to have a partnership with Sarah Jackson or Remedy Ride Equestrian, and her two wonderful horses, Remy and Onyx.
Who’s who in the horse photos above?
Left to right (or top to bottom): Noodles, Pumpkin, Lido, Honeybee
Any additional questions?
Please reach out using the form below. Looking forward to being in touch!
FAQs
