By Laila Edwards
Portraits by Samantha Parkes
Before Hayley Walston could even walk, she was riding horses. “My mom put me on a horse before I could walk, but I started truly riding when I was 6 years old, while living in the Middle East,” she said. From dressage beginnings to a jumper barn where she rode ex-endurance horses, Hayley quickly identified her love for jumping. Now 11, she’s jumped into a life filled with horses, entrepreneurship and a passion for supporting worthy causes.
Currently based in Virginia, Hayley competes in the Medium Children’s Pony division with her pony Candy Factory, affectionately known as Minty. According to Hayley, Minty “loves all things food and will do anything for a treat.” Thanks to her mother, a lifelong rider, Hayley grew up around horses and was taught the importance of horsemanship and quality horse care from a young age. “Now, my mom loves being Minty’s grandma and supporting me and my riding,” she said.
Hayley is wise beyond her years. As a result of being diagnosed with both celiac and Hashimoto’s disease, she has learned to be hyperaware of her choices and well-being. “Sometimes it’s hard for me to see my friends eat foods that I can’t, but I know I have to stay healthy for myself and Minty,” she said. Confident and proud of who she is, Hayley radiates her positivity. “I want other kids to know that just because you have celiac, or any other disease, you can still have fun. Being different is being beautiful.”
And there’s more. Over a year ago, Hayley harnessed her entrepreneurial spirit and started her own business: Hayley’s Painted Pony Pens. After realizing the need for pens in the equestrian industry, Hayley began creating them in her own unique way. With the intention of helping to raise money for her competitions, Hayley has surpassed her goals and not only pays her horse-show fees, but she also donates to an organization that is close to her heart.
Having lived a full life already with so much more to come, Hayley remains humble and grateful. “The best thing about my life is no doubt going to the barn five days a week or more. I also love my parents, my twin brother, Hunter, and, of course, my business for everything it has done for me,” she said.
Who are you currently training and showing with?
I train with Ann Garnett-Wheeler at Rose Mount Farm. I love showing, and showing with Minty makes it even better.
Tell us about your health issues and how you handle them.
I have two autoimmune diseases: celiac and Hashimoto’s disease. I found out I had celiac when I was 8 and became aware I have Hashimoto’s this past year. Hashimoto’s makes me very tired, so I like to sleep a lot. The good thing about Hashimoto’s is I can eventually take medicine for it, but there’s no medicine or cure for celiac disease. Because I have celiac disease, I can’t eat, drink, or put anything near my mouth that has any form of gluten in it.
Gluten is not just wheat; it’s in so much so I have to be really careful. For example, did you know chapstick has gluten? When we go to horse shows, my mom brings all my food because I can’t eat from the food trucks unless they serve gluten-free foods and are very careful with cross contamination. One crumb of gluten will make me sick and unable to compete.
I don’t want celiac to stop me from showing or playing with my friends, so I’m OK with not having certain foods—like donuts or macaroni and cheese. My mom always tells me that being different is good, and that it’s OK to be different. I know my friends like me for me, and they help me feel included even if I can’t participate in everything they do.
When did you start your company and what gave you the idea?
I started my company in January 2024, just before my 10th birthday. My mom saw someone post a beaded pen online. Instantly fascinated and curious about the products, she did some research to see if anyone in the horse world was making anything like it. After seeing that the industry was lacking something similar, she asked me if I would want to try and make some pens. Being the huge crafter that I am, of course I said yes! Once my mom got the first set of supplies, I was hooked and started to make them in my room. Now that the business has taken off, our dining room is no longer a dining room, it’s my office and workspace. I’ve added many themes and styles to the pens and even expanded to other products. I added pencils, keychains, book markers and seam rippers.
What do you like about having your own company?
Having my own business is really fun, and having done it at such a young age brings me a lot of pride and joy. It has given me the ability to travel to so many prestigious shows in the past year. In addition to the proceeds that go towards competitions, I donate to a cause that is very important to me: The Children’s National Hospital in Washington D.C. I also enjoy being a vendor at horse shows and local craft shows because I get to interact with a lot of people and make new friends. Above all else, though, I love the smiles I’m able to put on people’s faces because of my business.
What is your goal for Painted Pony Pens?
My goal for Painted Pony Pens, as it continues to grow, is to hopefully open a storefront. I want to keep positively impacting the people that love our products, and most importantly, I want to keep donating to the Children’s National Hospital and other organizations to help kids with celiac disease like me.
How and where are you selling your products?
I mainly sell all my merchandise through my Instagram and Facebook accounts, but I am also a vendor at local horse shows and events when I can be. My parents help run my social media, so when you message me, it will most likely be my mom talking unless I say, “Hi it’s Hayley.”
What great things have happened because of your business?
So many great things have happened to me because of Painted Pony Pens. I got to show Minty at WEC Ocala and judge the leadline class in the big ring at WEC before the big equitation class this past winter. I’ve met so many amazing people and retailers that you can find at WEC Ocala, Tryon, Traverse, Kentucky Horse Park, WEF, Oklahoma, Virginia Beach and more. I was lucky enough to be a sponsor at this year’s IEA National Finals and donated 130 pens so that each eighth place winner got a prize. Lastly, I am an official sponsor of the 2025 USEF Pony Finals. I created a special Pony Finals pen and each division winner will get one, and my customers will also get to buy them as souvenirs. I’m very excited about it all.
What are your goals for riding?
I have two big goals for my riding. First, I really want to go to Pony Finals and I’m hoping to get there in the next couple of years. After ponies, my big goal is to do the Maclay Finals—I love equitation, so it would be a dream come true.
What’s the best-kept secret about what you do?
That’s hard: I’m pretty open and don’t have many secrets, but some people might not know that I’m very passionate about playing the violin. I also have a cat named Habibi that my brother and I found at a Starbucks in Bahrain. We immediately fell in love, so we brought her back to the States with us and now she’s like my shadow.
Follow Hayley and Painted Pony Pens on Instagram @paintedponypens and on Facebook at Hayley’s Painted Pony Pens
Photos by Samantha Parkes Photography, samanthaparkes.com
