Greetings from the Lyden Family!

I’m Rita, the captain of a six-person team of outdoor-loving, horseback-riding farm hands. My team has a very unique dress code consisting of overalls and flannels, Stetsons and Ariats, and of course spurs, bandanas, and canvas vests. Workout routines include hay-stacking, stall-cleaning, and hours on horseback. We play in all weather - torrential downpours or skin-blistering sunshine - and in all seasons - from “I think I’m melting” July to “I think I’m frozen” February. But despite the rigor of the farm lifestyle, not a single one of us would exchange it for anything in the world.

When you see my two little girls comfortably interacting with animals ten times their weight, or my boys zipping around on the tractor and mower, or my eldest daughter and I tossing around things most women can’t lift, you might be surprised to learn that we’ve only been living on this dream-come-true farm since 2018. That’s right, August of 2018 marks the month of our family’s move to this magical place. At the time, I could not even imagine all that was in store for us. Yes, I know time flies, but looking back at how recent that August is, I feel as if I’ve entered a time warp. It feels like we have been living the farm life forever! The past years have been chalk full of highs and lows, fun and work, learning and teaching, and best of all, new and cherished friends - both the kind with two legs and the furry kind with four. 

Oak Top Hill is not just a horse farm. It’s not just a country property with a barn. It’s a home. It’s our home - the home of my family, of the horses, and of the horse owners and riders who pull up our driveway. New friends and old, all are welcome to Oak Top Hill!