Horse Find a Home

story by Karl Williams | photography by Kevin Anderson

Nestled 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.

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 you’ve got to drive an hour to get there, (it) turns into an all-day event,” Nelson says.

Sally Simonsen got her first horse, Buck, when she was 16, and he has been a mainstay at Twin Mill. Now 26, Buck, with the exception of the four years Simonsen attended college in Colorado and Buck went with her, has been a consistent presence in Shawnee.

“I think I had found (Twin Mill Farm) on the internet just looking up boarding barns. … Courtney has always been amazing,” Simonsen says. “She’s great. I’ve boarded at other boarding facilities and feel like no one takes as good a care of my horse as she does.”

Margaret Shelby has boarded horses at Twin Mill off and on for two decades, having met Nelson and her mother, Becky, through a friend.

“Becky and Courtney were amazingly helpful and encouraging,” Shelby says. “Becky is gone now, but I feel her presence whenever I’m there, often just a fleeting moment, but I say, ‘Oh, there’s Becky.’”

Despite being in more of an urban area, Shelby says Twin Mill Farm feels like it’s in the country.

“You can really see the sky,” Shelby says. “I live in Waldo, so I don’t get to see ‘big sky’ at home. But at the same time, if you want to, at Twin Mill you can wander up among the trees in the woods on the trails and feel very secluded indeed. It’s really a great barn for all kinds of rides.”

Shelby currently boards her horse, Peanut, at the farm.

“A young rider from the barn had gone to college and wasn’t getting to use him much, so I started riding him,” Shelby says. “My own boy had to be retired due to an injury, so I had nothing to ride. He is fine now and enjoys his retirement; he’s just not rideable. So Peanut was great in that he was already at Twin Mill, everyone knew him and his history, and he was and is super sweet and easy.”

The draws for Simonsen are the atmosphere and the property connecting to the 1,250-acre Shawnee Mission Park and its equestrian trails.

“It’s been wonderful,” she said. “I boarded at probably four or five other places while I was in Colorado and no place came even close to Twin Mill.”

In addition to caring for horses, Simonsen says a group of riders often get together to go horse camping or ride together on the property.

“It’s kind of given (me) a second home out there,” she says. “It’s given me a great group of friends, someone who kind of shares that common interest.”

For Shelby, that kind of common interest goes beyond just riding.

“The night, several years ago, I had to put my gelding down, Courtney was my rock,” Shelby says. “It was among the worst nights of my life, but I remember Courtney being there, making sure I understood what all the veterinarians were telling me. It was a long, awful night but she stayed with me. That’s the sort of people they are.”

Nelson and others have modified the property over the years, partly due to changes in weather patterns that expanded the floodplain. Amenities also include a lighted sand arena and a round pen for training.

The farm, according to Nelson, also has moved toward a “pastureboard facility.”

“We have and continue to spend time beautifying our area,” Nelson says.

Thirteen breeds of horses are currently boarded at Twin Mill Farm: Andalusian; Arabian; Haflinger; Kentucky Mountain Horse; Missouri Foxtrotter; Morgan; Paint; Quarter Horse; Saddlebred; Tennessee Walking Horse; Thoroughbred; Trakehner; Warmblood

The main barn features hay storage, a tack room, indoor and outdoor wash stalls, crossties, and a hitch rail.

The east barn features five stalls, grain and hay storage, and deep eaves that offer shelter to pastured herds.

Lighted sand arena, including a covered portion for all-weather footing.

Round pen for controlled training.

60 acres of private trails that connect to Shawnee Mission Park.

Cross country course.

Twin Mill Farm Horse Boarding Stable, 19109 Midland Drive, Shawnee, KS 66218; 913-708-4849; email: TwinMillFarm@gmail.com; www.TwinMillFarm.com