In December 2024, Ryan and Hayley Brooks bought Pomme de Ridge Horse Camp & Campground from Sharon Elwood, an avid horsewoman who founded the business with a hope and a dream with her husband, Lonnie. Looking for a way to spend more time at what she enjoyed most, Sharon came up with the idea of Pomme de Ridge, a way to share the wilderness paradise with people like them—horse lovers and riders. The nearby Conservation Commission trails and tranquil beauty offered a perfect complement to the private trails she and Lonnie mapped out. Having accomplished their goals, and eager for more time to relax and ride, Sharon and Lonnie decided it was time to pass the torch—but not just to anyone. After much prayer and sifting through potential buyers, one young, energetic, horse-loving couple seemed an obvious answer.

Of the two, Hayley brings more horse experience to her role at Pomme de Ridge Horse Camp & Campground. Not only was she raised around equines, but she was a trainer for Todd Crawford Performance Horses (Todd is NRCHA's first $2 Million rider—if you know performance horse training, then you know the name), for three years. Hayley has also worked as an equine trainer, trail guide, and boarding specialist for other resorts and ranches. Today, Hayley is the proud owner of Exceptional Equines, LLC, dedicated to creating a solid foundation in colts and bringing out excellence in older horses through experienced training. If you ever get the opportunity to watch Hayley train, you will understand why some say she truly is a horse whisperer. The results are almost inexplainable.

Ryan first fell in love with Hayley, but quickly also learned to share her love of all things horses. Previously a hard-working leader for a Fortune 500 construction company, Ryan brings his dedication to doing a job right, research and data-driven decisions, and doing your best to take care of customers to Pomme de Ridge Horse Camp & Campground. If you're an early riser, don't be surprised if you don't see him up before sunrise feeding or mucking stalls for their lead horses. Or he may simply stroll the main pathways of the campground with a cup of steaming joe in hand, ensuring everything and everyone looks like they're peacefully nestled as they should be. One of the reasons

Ryan and Haley have no desire to turn Pomme de Ridge Horse Camp & Campground into a BIG business or corporate monster. Their dream is to keep it true to its character: with scenic overlooks and trails for relaxing horse rides, story-telling, laughter, and maybe a few songs around a crackling campfire, and to offer people the rare opportunity to still enjoy some soul-soothing starry nights. Ryan and Hayley simply want to make enough to stay sustainable and raise a small family in the great outdoors, teaching the next generation the joys, benefits, and wisdom that comes from caring for nature. They hope you and your family will join them soon.