Listening to and learning from horses.

The Farm

Paper Birch Farm, located in Anchorage, Alaska, is home to a 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 is 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 13.2 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 horse at the farm, she is also the smallest, measuring just below 9 hands. We estimate she was born around 2008, making her 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 the end of the FAQs.

About

What programs and services do you offer?

  • Connected Horsemanship

  • Experiential Learning with Horses

  • Fun on the Farm Camps/Day Sessions

  • Mindfulness & Horsemanship Sessions (private or group)

  • Interested in something else? Please reach out (below) and let us know.

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 is interested in participating in any of our programs but costs are prohibitive, please note that a limited number of scholarships are available.

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.)

Other guidelines include Warwick Schiller’s Principles of Training.

Where is the farm?

5531 E. 112th Ave., Anchorage, Alaska 99516

Do you 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 as of 2024 (may reopen)

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 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 it fits well and is in good condition. However, you are also welcome to borrow one of ours. 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 the first day of camp to review safety information and sign any additional releases required for participation.

What else should day camp participants bring?

  • A water bottle

  • Lunch (full-day programs only)

    • Participants will be able to wash their hands before eating, but for added caution, we encourage them to bring food in packaging that reduces the risk of dirty hands coming into contact with food.

  • A willingness and interest in learning about and from the horses.

Who’s who in the horse photos above?

Left to right (or top to bottom): Noodles, Pumpkin, Lido, Honeybee

Any additional questions?

Please use the form below to reach out. Looking forward to being in touch!

FAQs

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