Today we’d like to introduce you to Wendy Hill
Hi Wendy, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
At the end of 2014, our lives were nonstop. My husband Bruce and I were raising our 8-year-old twin daughters in a neighborhood in West Columbia. I was a high school biology teacher and coach, and Bruce was a truck driver for Golden State Foods, working crazy hours. Between school, practice, and swim team, it felt like we were always on the go, and quality time as a family was slipping away.
One night, we sat down and had a heart-to-heart about making a change. Bruce talked about his upbringing on a farm, surrounded by family, where he learned the values of hard work, loyalty, and compassion. I reminisced about summers spent on a horse farm in Charleston with my best friend—some of my best childhood memories. That’s when the idea sparked: We need to move.
We took a leap of faith, joining business partners to purchase a working horse farm in Lugoff, SC. While waiting to sell our home and buy the farmhouse, we moved into a single-wide trailer on the property. At the time, the farm had eight boarded horses, two barns, and several wooded acres with just a few large pastures. But we had a vision—to grow, expand, and create something special. We set five-year goals, and to our surprise, we crushed them in just two years.
In 2017, we brought in trainer Madison Brown and built a team-centered riding school and show program. By 2019, we purchased the farm from our partners, officially becoming the sole owners of The Farm at One Under Lane.
Today, our farm is home to 40 horses, three large barns, and two private barns with a total of 31 stalls. We’ve expanded to 55 acres of cleared pastures and riding areas, surrounded by an incredible barn family. Nearly every improvement—from fences to stalls to arena lighting—has been built with our own hands, through sheer determination and love.
This farm has shaped our family in ways we never imagined. It made us stronger, more resilient, and closer than ever. Our daughters, who grew up learning hard work, problem-solving, and compassion here, are now students at the University of South Carolina Honors College, still riding and excelling in school.
Looking back, that decision in 2014 was the best one we ever made. This farm isn’t just where we live—it’s who we are.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Our journey hasn’t been easy. There have been struggles—financial, emotional, and physical—every step of the way. When we first started, we had to figure out how to maintain our full-time jobs while also running the farm. That meant early mornings, late nights, and weekends dedicated to making improvements. We cut back on luxuries to afford what was needed, often building our own furniture or hunting for secondhand pieces in antique stores. For over a year, we lived without internet or cable, spending nights reading aloud or playing board games together.
There were times we took extra jobs just to cover the cost of hay, and loans were sometimes necessary to get the equipment we needed. Thankfully, Bruce’s background in electrical work, farming, and all around handy work, saved us from hiring out costly repairs. Even with his skills, we faced relentless challenges—burst pipes, flooded roads, fallen trees, and dried-up wells.
When we became the sole owners of the farm, the demands only grew. I would wake at 4 a.m. to feed horses before heading to school, then return in the evening to feed and blanket them again. We then worked to find a balance of number of horses that could help support daytime feeders and we hired help. However, If a horse was sick or injured, I was the one up all night caring for it, no matter how exhausted I was or what the next day held. Over the years, we’ve seen and cared for so many horses, and each one has left a mark on our hearts.
Then came COVID—a time that tested us more than we could have imagined. Within a week, we lost five boarders. The financial hit was devastating, but it forced us to refocus. Instead of chasing numbers, we turned our attention to what mattered most: our barn family. We strengthened our show team, built a sense of community with cookouts and outdoor movie nights, and created a place that felt like home for everyone who came through our gates. And through the gates they came! We filled the spots and expanded again that year.
The hardest part, though, has been the losses. We’ve lost friends along the way—not by choice, but simply due to the sheer time and commitment the farm requires. We’ve said goodbye to barn family who moved on, and most painfully, we’ve lost horses. When you care for as many as we do, saying goodbye is inevitable, but that never makes it easier. Each one takes a piece of my heart, whether they were ours or a boarder’s.
Every struggle has shaped us. Every setback has made us stronger. And despite it all, we wouldn’t trade this life for anything. The farm isn’t just what we do—it’s who we are.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about The Farm at One Under Lane?
The Farm at One Under Lane is a family-owned and operated facility that offers a one-of-a-kind atmosphere—one that feels like home. Whether your dream is stepping into the show ring under bright lights and chasing blue ribbons or simply enjoying quiet afternoons with your favorite horse, we have the team, expertise, and program to help you achieve your goals.
What sets us apart? Our team atmosphere.
Growing up, my husband and I played team sports, and we always wanted our daughters to experience that same camaraderie, discipline, and support. Traditionally, equestrian sports are seen as individual pursuits, but we wanted to change that. With our trainer, Maddy Brown, we created a true team environment where riders don’t just train together—they support, encourage, and show up for one another.
Our show team and saddle club foster that sense of unity. Team outings, horsemanship lessons, and shared responsibilities at competitions bring our riders together in a way that goes beyond the saddle. If one of our riders is in the ring, the rest of the team is on the sidelines cheering them on. If horses need to be fed at 5:30 a.m. at a show, the whole team is there to do it together. From sunrise to sunset, we’re more than just individuals—we’re a family.
We also take immense pride in the care we provide and the environment we maintain. Every detail matters—from the quality of horse care to the upkeep of our facility. You’ll always find one of us out on the farm, whether it’s building something new, fixing fences, or simply straightening up blankets in the barn.
At The Farm at One Under Lane, we don’t just board horses or teach riding—we build lifelong friendships, instill strong values, and create an environment where riders and horses thrive.
Whether you’re looking for top-tier horse care, a riding school that truly invests in its students, or a community that feels like family, we welcome you to experience the difference at The Farm at One Under Lane.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Farming, by its very nature, is risky. So much of what we do depends on factors beyond our control—weather, unpredictable animals, and human error. Anyone who invests in a farm understands that risk is part of the deal. But despite the uncertainty, we took the leap, knowing that hard work, adaptability, and resilience would be our best safety net.
One of the biggest risks we took was purchasing The Farm at One Under Lane. When we started, we were balancing full-time jobs while trying to grow a business in an industry where profit margins are tight, and overhead costs are high. Horse boarding facilities are a major financial risk. Feed and hay prices fluctuate wildly with the economy, but boarders expect stable pricing. Employees are necessary to keep things running, but finding reliable, hardworking people who will care for the business like we do is a constant challenge.
Beyond financial risk, we’ve also risked comfort and stability to chase this dream. Moving from city life to the country, cutting back on luxuries, and working around the clock just to get the farm off the ground was a sacrifice. There were no guarantees it would work—but we believed in our vision and were willing to bet on ourselves.
When COVID hit, we took another major risk by changing the focus of our business. Losing five boarders in a single week was a financial hit that could have been devastating. Instead of panicking, we doubled down on building our barn community, prioritizing team-building, shows, and social events over just filling stalls. That decision meant a financial strain for a while, but in the long run, it made our business stronger, more resilient, and more fulfilling.
At the end of the day, risk is just part of the equation. The key is understanding that no reward comes without it. We’ve learned that success isn’t about avoiding risk—it’s about being willing to take the leap, work through the challenges, and keep pushing forward, no matter what comes our way.
Would we do it all again? Absolutely.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thefarmatoneunderlane.com/
- Instagram: @thefarmatoneunderlane
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1underfarm/
