Sunset Maple Farm

11/01/2024

Tiara says, when life gives you lemons…..eat a cookie! Emmie's Edibles

10/29/2024

Emmie's Edibles an Apple a day keeps the vet away 🤣

10/19/2024

Takes my breath away and warms my soul every year! I love these sunset maple trees and I love fall!!

10/08/2024

Another one of our angels has her wings. Sweet Tinker came to us in July with her baby Tonka from Scoop ‘n’ P**p Farm ready to retire from breeding and start her final chapter as a spoiled goat loved on by all. Tinker was goofy, sweet, loving and an amazing mama. She even took our new hermaphrodite baby goat who came to us on the same day with no friend under her wing. She loved her herd, she loved all her visitors and she loved her baby unconditionally, even when she was sick she gave her all to Tonka. Although her health began to decline, she fought her little heart out every step of the way. Today it was just too much. Today Tinker runs pain free as the sweet angel she is.

07/14/2024

Nothing better than an alfalfa, electrolyte smoothie mustache on a hot day!

06/30/2024

Yesterday, June 29th, was Princess Tiara’s 10th birthday. Looks like someone partied a little too hard last night!

06/26/2024

When you party all night with your friends, you just need a soft bed to come home to so you can pass out!

06/01/2024

7 years ago today I brought this angel home. Gracie is the horse that started this insane journey and it has been quite the ride ever since. I love her to pieces and can’t wait to see what else she inspires me to do!

Happy 7th Gotcha Day Grace La Mare.

03/26/2024

The world lost a super special unicorn yesterday 😢

Yesterday we said goodbye to our unicorn Gnocchi. Our hearts are heavy and souls are crushed as we grieve her loss. Gnocchi had nothing but love in her heart and she brought every person (adult and child) and animal she meet peace and joy. Gnocchi was an event favorite and we know her loss will be felt by so many.

Rest in peace sweet angel. You will always be loved and never forgotten 💕

03/11/2024

Any of my friends and family have any kiddy pools laying around they would like to donate to the pigs, goats and ponies at Paws, Hands & Hooves. We need the hard plastic type, not the inflatable ones. The turtle and lobster type sandboxes work as well!

02/04/2024

Now offering blowouts! Book your appointment now, space is limited. 🤣 Brittany Baloun

07/30/2023

Hello friends & family! I am having a back to school Pony Party in August and would like to have school supplies available for our participants. If you can help with a cash or supply donation I would greatly appreciate the support. Items needed are notebooks, folders, binders, pens, pencils, pencil cases, rulers, scissors, markers, crayons, glue, backpacks, lunch bags/boxes, water bottles, etc. Walmart and Amazon electronic gift cards sent to [email protected], Venmo donation accepted or supplies (to be received by August 15th) mailed to

Paws, Hands & Hooves
C/o Sunset Maple Farm
910 N IL Route 23
Marengo, IL 60152

07/11/2023

Anyone looking to get rid of patio or outdoor type furniture. I am looking for 2 smaller tables and a few chairs (4-6) that will be kept inside but in an open barn and used for writing at or coloring at. Gnocchi & Sweet P are putting in reading nooks and we need to furnish them!

07/05/2023

Happy 4th of July from the Paws, Hands & Hooves Pony Professors! The ponies have had a little time off from our busy June and the 4th of July holiday (always a little stressful for the horses). But we want to make sure you all know about our 2 July events:

1) Story Hour Saturday July 15th 2:30-4. This month’s story hour will be connected to SHARK WEEK! We will read Clark the Shark, play some games, do a craft and snack on some chum buckets! No charge to participants for this activity. Registration is required so ensure we have enough snacks and craft supplies!

https://www.pawshandsandhooves.com/saturdayafternoonreadaloud

2) Open House Monday July 17th 10am to 12pm. Our open house is set up with many literacy and math stations, a read to a horse station and a craft. Most families come right at 10 and stay until the end but it is designed to come and go as you please. Registration required to ensure age appropriate activities are available for our participants as well as having enough craft supplies! The cost is $10 per child between the ages of 2 & 18. We accept cash, PayPal & Venmo at the door.

https://www.pawshandsandhooves.com/homeschoolopenhousesignup

06/27/2023

Fancy enjoyed a visit with Oakley. Oakley, however, isn’t real sure what kind of pony she is! 🤷🏻‍♀️

06/12/2023

Less than 1 week left until our birthday bash BOOK DRIVE!

If you’re curious about equine assisted learning and what we do at Paws, Hands & Hooves come check it out.

Registration required so we can plan enough activities, food and refreshments.

REGISTER HERE: https://www.pawshandsandhooves.com/birthday-bash

06/08/2023

This little, ankle biting, walking BLT, demon of a little pig pig is 4 today!! And we just LOVE her sassy, bossy little self 💕 (sorry there are only 2 pics, it’s really hard to get good pictures when you’re being chased down for snacks!)

06/04/2023

It’s time for a PONY PLAYDATE!!

Who? 6 spots available for kids ages 9-15. Coordinate with your friends or meet new people

What? Helping the ponies with a couple craft projects. We’ll have some time to hang out with the ponies and learn how to groom and handle.

Where? Right here at Sunset Maple Farm in Marengo

When? Thursday June 15th 10a to 2p (bring a lunch)

This activity is free of charge! First come, first served.

06/01/2023

Please help this up and coming program bring the power of horses and learning to every child in need!

Paws, Hands & Hooves is looking for corporate and individual sponsorships for some of our programs! We are a small business for profit company on a mission to provide equine assisted literacy and math programs for children in grades 1 thru 8 at no cost to the participants. But we need your help to accomplish that goal.

Upcoming Events needing sponsors:
7 remaining summer fun literacy and math camps sessions. Each session costs $300 per participant or sponsor the whole session $1800 for up to 6 participants.

Monthly story hour. Cost per event is $500. Includes story time, snack and refreshments, craft project or other story related activity and time to mingle with the ponies. Open to 25-30 participants.

Individuals can sponsor in honor or memory of a person or event which will be shared in all advertising and at the event.

Corporate sponsors can have their company tagged and logo posted on all advertising along with recognition at the event.

We are happy to have multiple sponsors or partial sponsorship for any event!

Many more opportunities available.

Message us on FaceBook or email [email protected] for more information or if you’d like to receive a sponsorship package.

05/31/2023

Best. Mom. Ever! Brittany Baloun

05/15/2023

Star light
Star bright
I wish I may
I wish I might
I wish to have this wish tonight.
Please let me have a giraffe neck so that I may get my own breakfast off the food cart when the barn owner is simply moving too slow!

05/12/2023

Prayers for Bissell that he feels better and can get back to his mouse & bird hunting soon!

04/29/2023

Happy 15th Birthday Oakley Gator Baloun!

Oakley: Hey, it’s my birthday! Where’s my mom?”

Me: “she went all the way to Kentucky to shop for your birthday presents (stress on the plural). Here’s a cookie until she gets back!

Brittany Baloun you better not make a liar out of me or we’re both dead! 🤣🐊🤣🐊

04/17/2023

We had so much fun today at Paws, Hands & Hooves first homeschoolers event!

04/15/2023

Paws, Hands & Hooves website is live!! You know what that means??? May book club and summer fun camp registration is open!

Today a reader, tomorrow a leader. Today a reader, tomorrow a leader. Advocating for young readers since 2018.Headquartered out of Sunset Maple Farm in Marengo, Illinois, Paws, Hands, & Hooves improves young readers’ lives with programs tailored to meet the unique needs of each child. Our progra.....