AlleeBubba Farms

Dirty wood shavings and horse manure are piled in a large, brown wheelbarrow; green
and red forked rakes lean against the stall doors, 10 of which line the wooden barn. The dirty
shavings that didnt make it into the wheelbarrow are spilled across the cement floor.
Unannounced, a black rooster chases two clucking black hens into the barn, his wings beating up
the mulch, theirs tucked as they run like a plane preparing for take off.
In a pasture on the east side of the barn three chestnut horses graze. Their ears prick up at
the racket, but they nonchalantly continue eating. The early morning mist rises out of the tall
dewy grass as the stable hands empty the wheelbarrows into the large compost pile behind the
barn then head to the tack room. Lockers encircle the room; inside each locker saddles, brushes
and bridles tuck away. Three tables stand in the middle of the room; though cleaned every
evening, sweaters, brushes, socks, coats and peppermints lay strewn across the tables.
Wendy Austin Sellers and her husband Bo Sellers own the 100-year plus barn,
AlleeBubba Farms. Currently there are 12 horses, around 20 lesson students, free-range
chickens and numerous events; the farm is full of personality, life and grandeur.
Almost every morning Wendy, otherwise known as the barn mom, walks down to the
barn from her white house with green shutters. She breathes a sigh of relief as she walks through
the white picket fence, smells the fresh air, and feels the slight breeze that hovers around her
barn. God has blessed me, and I am a steward of this land, she says. She offers her all to her
barn, and her barn family.
Located at the top of the hill in Glen Grove neighborhood in Concord, North Carolina,
AlleBubba Farms is named for Wendys oldest horses, Allee, who passed in February at the age

of 27, and Bubba, now 27 who had been together for 17 years. Every morning after being let out
of his stall, Bubba would wander into the stall of his special lady Allee (whose full name was
Alezan). He didnt want to live without her; she put up with him. Bubba is a tall, dark red
Russian Arabian with a black mane and tail. He is the last foal of his sire, an Arabian worth 3
million, which earned him the title Grand Finale, and rightly so. Wendy says riding Bubba feels
like riding a rocket with wings. Alezan was short and red; back in her prime, she seemed to
float. It was like flying, Wendy says. Dont get me wrong, I love all my horses, but those
Arabians hold a special place in my heart. AlleeBubba Farms will greatly miss and always
remember their dear old Allee.
Along with giving multiple Western and English lessons, Wendy offers a monthly 4h
camp, where she leads 10-20 young children in planning events, cleaning out the barn, eating
snacks learning about horses, and playing games.
One of her students, Sarah Naughton says, My therapist is at the barn, Skip! Her mom,
Lesa says that AlleeBubba Farms provides a great environment for young children. It is an
educational and positive atmosphere. Wendy teaches them from beginning to end. She teaches
all her students the basics of catching, grooming and leading to the advanced jumping and
galloping. Wendy is also very patient, she lauds. The moms have referred to Wendy as a
saint for handling up to 20 young, excited girls.
One of these girls, Kendall Herrick, rides a young red Arabian named Sobaska, also
known as Cricket, a high-strung Arabian with golden eyes and mane that sparkle as she throws
her head and prances. As a rescue, she arrived malnourished, terrified and untrained. Cricket is
not the only rescue horse; Midnight Bliss, otherwise known as Midnight found a home there. In

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the summer, the sun bleaches her black coat to a dark auburn, but in the winter, her black coat
sharply contrasts the white blaze that runs down her nose. Both were rescued from abuse or
neglect, and both are now cared for and loved at AlleeBubba Farms. Someone should call the
Humane Society on me, Wendy jokes, as her lesson students feed Skip, Cricket and Midnight
apples after an afternoon lesson. My poor horses are just so neglected.
Because of her great care, five boarders happily board their horses at Wendys barn:
Spencer, the 4-year-old, skinny and clumsy off the track thoroughbred, Chief, the 23- year-old
chestnut grandson of famous show- horse, Impressive, Roxy and Summer, boarded by sisters,
another chestnut and a palomino, and Parker, a gentle, paint gelding.
Almost every day Teresa comes out to bring Spencer a peppermint. Although she doesnt
always ride, she always comes to see him and clean his stall. She laughs as she says, I like to
clean his stall. I know it sounds weird, but I do.
As Teresa and the stable hands clean the barn, Chief wanders around the stall lot looking
for leftover breakfast grain. Wendys dad, Kenneth Austin, otherwise known as Grandpa, makes
his daily midday visits to the barn and laughs with a glimmer in his blue eyes as Chief knocks
over the wheelbarrow. Grandpa helps every way he can; he brings shavings and grain, waters the
chickens and ducks and clears the manure piles. He always gives a hug to the girls and jokes
with the stable hand boys.
The Pyle girls, Kaylee, 13 and Cashlee 11 spend hours at the barn. With their blond hair,
colorful leggings and patterned shirts, they groom in the barn lot, jump in the arena, ride in the
neighborhood, and race in the pasture. I like to be with my friends and spend time with my
horse, Kaylee says.

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The horses, boarders, workers and riders bring joy and personalities to the barn.
However, AlleeBubba Farms provides entertainment in more ways than one; she also has
chickens and ducks. Over 100 chickens cluck and scratch in their pens. The workers joke that
they are like mini dinosaurs as they step with their tiny legs and shove their upper bodies along,
pushing from their necks. Many times, the boarders and lesson students have helped Wendy
catch the chickens so she can sort them into their respective homes.
The sun begins to set on a warm summer evening as students, parents and stable hands
stand in the barn after feeding the horses their evening grain. Listen! Wendy says about the
horses as they chew their grain and shake their buckets. Isnt that the best sound in the world?
Wendy shuts off the barn lights as the horses softly nicker, the parents drag their children
home, and the horses, exhausted from a full day, fall asleep. In the morning the sun will rise,
manure and hay will gradually spread throughout the barn, and the chickens will come running
into the barn lot once again, bringing with them the clutter and excitement of another day at
AlleeBubba Farms.

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