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72 SIDELINES JULY 2013
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
By Marguerite Frazier
Mary Ellen Payne has been involved with horses for almost 50
years, and thanks to her great love for equines she has made
every second count. Her personal motto is, “Once you have a love
affair with a horse, you never get over it!”
Mary Ellen, who owns Foxwater Farm in Thomasville, Georgia,
grew up in Miami Florida, and started riding lessons at age
six. “When my father wanted to move our family to Georgia, he
said if I would go peacefully he would buy me a horse for my 11th
birthday. I packed up and was ready to go before anyone else!
My father kept his promise and bought me my frst horse on my
11th birthday. I continued to take lessons and show until I went
to college. I stayed close to home so I could come home on the
weekends and ride.”
Although Mary Ellen has three Masters Degrees, and taught
elementary school for several years, her world continues to revolve
around horses. An accomplished breeder, trainer, instructor,
photographer and entrepreneur, Sidelines caught up with Mary
Ellen to fnd out more about her busy life.
How did Foxwater Farm begin?
While I was teaching school, I lived on a local plantation and
had a horse and small barn. I mostly pleasure rode, as teaching
takes up so much time. My husband John’s daughter owned and
rode Lord Fairchild to the AHSA Pony of the Year in 1997. Our son
and I also rode, and John became interested in trying to produce
more “Fairchilds,” so we bought a bigger place and set about
gathering the best broodmares and stallions for our breeding
program. John would spend hours and hours researching
bloodlines, conformation and athletic ability before deciding what
to breed. We put together 80 acres in South Georgia. Shortly after
we moved in, a family of red foxes would scamper across the jump
feld and stand on their back legs to drink from a water trough,
hence the name “Foxwater.”
How did you begin driving Welsh ponies?
John developed spinocerebellar ataxia and could no longer
ride, so I bought him a driving pony and we have been in the
Welsh Driving business ever since. Sadly, John died a few years
ago, but my son and I decided to keep the farm going. My son is
now a senior at Auburn College and still rides when he comes
home. I currently have 17 riding students and board a few horses
here at Foxwater, with 23 horses on the property.
You also started a business called PonyBeds, how did that
begin?
PonyBeds builds children’s beds that look like jumps. After
John died, I remarried. My husband owns a high-end architectural
millwork business. With the lull in the housing market, I woke
him at 3 a.m. one morning and asked him if he could build me
a bed that looks like a horse jump. He said if I could draw it, he
could build it! Since one of my degrees is in Art I drew away and
PonyBeds was launched. Our signature slogan is “PonyBeds...the
next best thing to sleeping in the barn.” 
What do children like about PonyBeds?
Each of the jump beds has room in the headboard for two
ribbons and six photographs, which can easily be changed by
children. We have 4 standard colors, but custom paint to match
room décor or barn colors. We add monograms, photos or pony
names to the beds. We offer ribbon cubes
and award cubes that hold approximately 25
ribbons. Our nightstands hold approximately
250 ribbons and can be painted to match
the beds. Our tall ribbon cubes hold 500
ribbons. We also make high end tack trunks,
bridle racks, mounting blocks, dog feeding
stations and even a coffee table that holds
ribbons. We will unveil several new products
at USEF Pony Finals in Lexington in August.
For more information on Mary Ellen’s
businesses, please visit www.foxwaterfarms.
com or www.ponybeds.com.
Mary Ellen Payne:
Pony Breeder and Entrepreneur
e
PonyBeds – children’s beds that look like jumps.
Photo courtesy of Mary Ellen Payne
Mary Ellen Payne and Foxwater Amazin’
Photo by Neill Payne