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Home horses find a
owners feel secure leaving beloved equines with staff at boarding facility. stor y by Kar l W illiams
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estled in the heart of western Shawnee, complete with 16 acres of wooded trails adjoining Shawnee Mission Park, sits Twin Mill Farm, a horse-boarding facility with centuries of history dating back to the Louisiana Purchase. “Being closer to the city or suburbs, further in, and having that access to places to ride is fairly unique,” says Courtney Nelson, who took over the farm from her parents in 1996. Her husband, John, became involved a few years later. The property has had an equine focus since the 1960s when Virginia Hamill and her husband, Dr. Robert Hamill, purchased land that had previously been a dairy farm. Chip and Becky Newcomer, Nelson’s parents, then bought the horse-boarding site in 1990. The wooded trails, Nelson says, are among the facility’s main draws.
p h o t o g r a p hy b y K e v i n A n d e r s o n
It also features a cross-country course and a plethora of artwork, largely designed by Nelson herself. Nelson’s father taught her to weld, and the horse wall that can be seen on top of a retaining wall is her creation from 1995. Its intent was to “create a dynamic fence overlooking the pasture,” according to the farm’s website. The pieces on display throughout the property add to the interest for people walking, driving, or biking past the farm, Nelson says. “It’s fun community outreach, and something we love that we can share with people around us,” she says. As of mid-August, 31 horses were boarded at the farm. Owners are from Shawnee, as well as other Kansas metro cities, including Lenexa, Overland Park, Kansas City, and Parkville. “We’re all busy, and sometimes it’s hard enough to find an hour or two to see your horse and, if
