The clacking of horseshoes, neighing from stalls, kids swarming around, and the radiant smell from the barn are all to be expected at Twin Gates Farm. Owner Darcy Newman welcomes the chaos and knows exactly how to handle the scene.
Newman, a local horseback riding instructor, paves the way for people of all ages to learn how to ride horses, all while teaching the importance of hard work. Running her program ever since she was sixteen years old, she has grown a “family” of young horse lovers.
“I want to inspire my kids to have goals, and try to reach those goals,” Newman said. “I’m hoping that I am instilling a feeling of trust, a feeling that this is a place that they can come to when they’ve got trouble. We have a lot of emotional stuff going on and I’m hoping that having this barn conserves the purpose of people coming and keeping it a drama free environment to just come and hang out with horses.”
Newman reflects on the significance of trust. She hopes that her barn can serve as a place for lessons not only in riding but also in behaviors.
“I’m trying to help my kids learn how to be honest,” Newman said. “Around horses, you can’t tell a lie. Sometimes it’s easier to tell a lie than to be honest, but when it comes to horses, you have to be honest right up front.”
As a long-time rider of Twin Gates Farm (TGF), senior Callie Dillon expresses her gratitude towards Newman for providing her with opportunities and “fueling” her passion.
“I owe a lot of my success to Darcy,” Dillon said. “My favorite thing about her is her overall will to go out of her way to help people. She cares about people she hasn’t even met before. She’s always finding ways to do more for her community and I admire her dedication to teaching younger generations how to be part of their community and how to work hard for what they want. She pushes kids to pursue their dreams and she is always there to cheer them on.
Dillon also shares how her childhood, like many others, has been heavily influenced by Newman’s teachings.
“She became sort of like family to me,” Dillon said. “She taught me so much, how to manage time, how to work hard when nobody is watching, how to stay humble, and most importantly, to be patient. She’s encouraged me to continue on a path with animals and to help teach others.”
Newman has not only made herself a role model for her students but has also incorporated her environment into the lives of many, instilling so much within them.
“Twin Gates Farm is so special because of the atmosphere that Darcy has created,” Dillon said. “She makes it feel like more of a home than a farm. The people there are like family to me. It’s not about just riding, it’s about learning discipline, passion, patience, and dedication.”
Another one of Newman’s pupils, freshman Emily Souza, shares the passion to work with horses and she speaks of her appreciation for Newman.
“[Darcy] encourages all of her students to take the next step and be better than before,” Souza said. “She believes in all of us and wants to see us improve and succeed. She makes it obvious that she cares about everyone she meets and wants us all to be the best version of ourselves. Darcy has done an amazing job of creating a healthy and fun environment that makes everyone feel welcomed and loved.”
The multitude of people Newman has brought together has created the closest bond due to not only riding, but also sportsmanship between horses and students.
“I try to teach the kids to think of something good before they make it something bad,” Newman said. “I like to lead by example. [I] teach the kids to learn by doing the skills, and then have them get in there and get dirty. I have to teach every person differently because we all learn differently, and we all have different things that we are going through. I think my students have opened my mind and I’m not so rigid.”
