Lessons
New Leaf Farm is a multi discipline facility. We offer Dressage, jumping, or Western riding skill instruction with an emphasis on natural horsemanship principles. We have a variety of lesson horses and ponies here you can use for your lessons or you can trailer in and bring your own horse (coggins required). Contact us for availability as our 4 instructors and trainers work on a part-time basis at the moment.
To fill out our monthly custom lesson package form (and get a discount) go HERE.
Meet our lesson horses/ponies HERE.
Maree Stewart
Maree’s philosophy of horse training is based on learning from the horse. Horses have so much to teach people. They live in the moment. They mirror our emotions. They are the ultimate athletes, and when their trust is earned, they will give their all.
Through consistent, kind, and fair training, Maree helps horses and riders build that trust. She is focused on developing the horse’s mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing. Maree teaches ground skills and riding to build a strong foundation, which then translates to your riding discipline of choice. She trains horses and riders all ages and disciplines. Her primary focus is English riding, jumping and dressage.
Maree has over 20 years of experience riding and training horses. She grew up in Northern Wisconsin and after catching the “horse-crazy bug,” she showed successfully in hunter/jumpers, dressage, and achieved her Pony Club C1 rating. She began studying natural horse training through Parelli Natural Horsemanship at age 12, reaching Level 4 in the program. After graduating college from Loyola University Chicago, Maree spent four years working at Parelli Natural Horsemanship in Colorado, where she learned about horse behavior, training problem horses, and starting young horses. Maree also adopted a young rescue thoroughbred mare while living in Colorado that she has now trained to become a talented show jumper.
Since returning to Wisconsin from Colorado, Maree has enjoyed showing her mare in 1.0m show jumping through local show circuits, achieving high point champion in 2019. She also acquired a Connemara/Arabian cross gelding in 2020 who she hopes to compete in eventing beginning in 2021. One of Maree's favorite philosophies is that you don't need to be a world-class competitor to be a world-class horseman.
Maree is a dedicated student herself who has learned from and been inspired by a variety of top horsemen and horsewomen, including Pat and Linda Parelli, Jessica Jo “JJ” Tate, Sinead Halpin, Tik Maynard, Daniel Stewart, and locally, Peter Rayne and Jayme Nelson. Living in central Wisconsin, Maree is primarily self-taught and is a big proponent of using all the information you have at your fingertips to improve!
She enjoys teaching lessons to a dedicated group of students who are invested in building a partnership with their horses. She also takes horses for training on a limited basis. Maree is based out of New Leaf Farm in Marshfield, WI—a unique boarding facility that offers a track system to support horse health and wellness.
Talya Purdon
Hey Ya’ll!
I’m Talya – mom of 3 littles 16 months through 6 years old. My husband and I live just outside of Pittsville on our 40-acre slice of heaven!
I started riding horses at 3 and haven’t stopped! In my younger years I was classically trained up to Prix St. George level in Dressage, participated in 4-H and many open horse shows, as well as worked at the stable my horse was boarded at. In college – I started Pre-Vet and finished with a B.S. in Animal Science with the emphasis in Equine Management from UW-River Falls. While in college; I fell in love with Reining and the working horse and began my work in that direction. This led me to training/starting several colts for Reining, studying and focusing my riding in that area through school and lessons, as well as working at a very successful Arabian show barn. Throughout college, I spent my summers on a ranch in CO as a wrangler, starting as the Children’s Wrangler and working my way up to Assistant Head Wrangler. While on the ranch; I oversaw the health and training of over 100 head of horses on top of teaching riding lessons to guests from ages 4 through 100 (yes, we had a guest who fulfilled a bucket list item on her 100th birthday to learn how to ride a horse). After college, I started working at a Hippotherapy barn as the horse expert and barn manager. While there; I was part of several therapy session, in charge of the training of each horse, and provided Therapeutic riding lessons to several individuals.
Life had other plans and in 2010 I began my career in healthcare – not to leave the horse world behind however! While living in VA; I continued my training in Reining through lessons as well as taught beginner lessons at a Hunter Jumper barn. My husband and I also farm sat for some dear friends that own a retired war horse and several drafts. This led to us deciding to move back to WI and back to the country. Since moving back; we’ve adopted 3 rescue horses, acquired 2 ponies, and were given my old ranch horse. I’ve started teaching lessons again, and I love watching my students gain confidence and learn valuable life skills as they learn about horses. My goal is always safety first, followed by fun and learning! Many life skills are learned beside and on the back of a horse and sharing my passion for these wonderful animals is a true blessing!
Sylvia Castleberg
Sylvia is one of our junior instructors. She is mentored/monitored by Maree, Angela, and Talya. Don't let her age fool you however... her riding skills are fantastic and because of her age she relates amazingly well with the kids! She teaches foundational basics in horse handling, safety, brushing, saddling, beginning jumping/Dressage riding and other horse related topics. She is accepting students on a limited part-time basis.
Sylvia Castleberg is an elite riding instructor in the Arpin, WI riding instructors directory on NewHorse.com.
Clare Castleberg
Hi! I'm Clare Castleberg. I've been riding for 8+ years, beginning with dressage in the early years and transitioning on to jumping and eventing with Maree Stewart as my instructor. I also enjoy trail riding, bareback riding, and just hanging out with horses. I've used natural horsemanship principles for the entire time I've been involved with horses.
I've also received instruction from several clinicians off the farm as well as attended several competitions.
I teach basic groundwork skills, jumping and dressage, as well as un-mounted skills which include brushing, saddling, catching, leading, and other basics about the horse.
I offer lessons on a limited part-time basis.
I love working with kids and I've been trained in CPR and first aid.
I would love to help your child discover the wonderful world of horses and learn to become a confident rider, build strength, increase coordination, but most of all....have fun!!!