Today we’d like to introduce you to Paige Wagter.
Hi Paige, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in the Midwest. Competed NCEA Equestrianat Kansas State and then got a job offer from Cargill / Nutrena when I graduated college which relocated me to Washington. I was stir crazy in an office and started teaching riding lessons after work. I even advertised on Craigslist at that point – how sketch! Things just kept growing and lessons at private farms turned into leasing a barn which turned into buying a farm
Which now turned into buying an even bigger farm. Now Burkwoods Farms forever home. We have about 80 horses on farm. Clients horses, sales horses, brood mares, babies and retirees. We are an incredible team that holds the burkwood farm and team
Like Yellowstone type passion. No chest hot irons just yet ;).
We teach riding lessons, board client horses, horse show all over US and Canada, run horse shows on our farm, have a sales horse program, IEA team. We also do a lot of social events together – team bbqs, trivia nights, everyone loves having their bday parties. Bridle showers, baby showers etc. on the farm. It is the most beautiful and peaceful (yet insanely hectic) place. We have a gorgeous view of Mount baker and 70
Acres of trails and pastures. We are a big family- it is a really special place.
We are also unique because we encourage our kids to do the work. We have a lot of kids that clean stalls and help keep horses taken care of. At horse shows most barns have “grooms” that clean stalls, take care of the horse and tack up for riders. Almost all use braiders to braid the manes to show because it is very hard to get the braids to look professional enough. A lot of our riders and myself do all of their work including braiding. That means teens at the barn by 5am for weeks straight sometimes depending on how long we are at a horse show. We are known for that in the industry. Maybe sometimes as a bad thing because we aren’t always as shined as we should be. The girls end up have scuffed boots or dirty breeches because they were busting their butts all morning to get to the ring on time
As prepared as they can be. It’s sometimes more stressful than I want but at the end of the day watching my own daughter earn every bit of her success in the show ring from
Doing the hard and early behind the scenes jobs —- well it makes me
Really proud. I think the kids that do this will always have the highest goals in life. I preach that you can do anything you want to do in life if you work hard enough for it. If your parents aren’t wealthy and you want to ride well here is a pitchfork. Everything is attainable with hard work and learning that at a young age can shape their life for a lot of future success.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Divorce about took me out.
Money is hard. As costs go up I try so hard to not push everything on clients and price people out of being able to keep horses out of the sport. Some how I keep getting lucky and surviving
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I get to share the love of horses with people. We also run a series of summer camps with 150 campers this year. They get to enjoy the farm with all of our funny farm pets – pigs, sheep, goats, ducks , chickens AND ride and learn about horses
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
I think anytime I see a client happy leaving the show ring or after a lesson I feel like I got to be a part of making that happen. Seeing kids love on ponies and cry because they don’t want to leave the farm… ever. We constantly get joking requests to put a bunk house to just leave all the kids that refuse to leave at the end of day. I work really hard. 100 hours a week. I sleep hard proud of what I have made
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Burkwoodfarms.com
- Instagram: Burkwood Farm
- Facebook: Burkwood Farm
