Testimonials
Jill Taylor
I purchased Delta's Darling as a 3 year old from Pura Vida Farms in January of 2021. I was a but anxious about this as I'm in my late fifties and was questioning myself if a youngster was the right move, but I was not finding any older horses that were really appealing to me. I met Darling and was pretty much hooked the moment I laid eyes on her. She has THE BEST temperament. Sweet, calm and cooperative. Ellen and Katelyn were great about reassuring me that she was easy and calm, while acknowledging that she is still young and she has and will have "baby" moments. Now we're 18 months in, she has been a total dream and I just can't believe how lucky I am! Everyday I'm so excited that I get to work with a horse that is gorgeous, has so much talent and is such a pleasure to be around... The team at Pura Vida was easy to work with and really gave me the time I needed to ride, spend time and get a real feel for the right match. I LOVE this horse.
Kat Green
Kwinn is a 2019 colt that I purchased from Pura Vida Farms. Kwinn’s sale ad said that he was the barn favorite because of his friendliness and confident manner, and that he was safe to be handled. Well that is exactly what he was! He is a handsome, well bred, amateur friendly Hanoverian colt by Qredit out of a mare by Graf Goetz. Kwinn has beautiful “daisy-cutter” hunter movement. Ellen and Jerry free jumped Kwinn for me, and he jumps great! I continue to be impressed with Kwinn’s great brain and talent everyday which is awesome since I am backing him myself! I adore my beautiful boy and I’m excited for his future as a show hunter.
Kayla Bloomer
I got my GRP, Sneak A Peak, from Pura Vida Farms earlier this year. I had such a great experience working with Ellen and Jerry. He is a wonderful young horse; he came to me with solid beginner training, great ground manners and the sweetest personality. Ellen was wonderful to work with and allowed me to keep him at her property a few extra weeks while we waited for our stall to be ready at our barn. Everyone at Pura Vida was so welcoming and helpful. I could not have asked for a better place to find my next riding partner!
Erika Senna
I purchased my Westfalen German Riding Pony filly, Moonstruck PVF (Moe), as a weanling from Pura Vida Farms in 2021. I was in the market for a talented, young pony/small horse prospect and Pura Vida had a number of options. Speaking with Ellen on the phone, I knew immediately this was a person who 1) knew horses, 2) wanted to find the best horse for the client, and 3) could be trusted. She very quickly pointed me in Moe’s direction, and before you knew it, I had Moe vet checked (clean bill of health and clean x-rays) and purchased. Ellen allowed me to keep Moe at Pura Vida until she was a bit older, and the weather was better. When it was time for Moe to get on the transport truck, Ellen sent her with Ulcerguard! This is a breeder who cares about her horses, before she sells them, and after. If I were looking for another horse, I’d first check with Ellen to see if she had any that fit the bill! I have since recommended Pura Vida to friends. Moonstruck is a gorgeous filly with lovely movement and came to me in her yearling year with plenty of handling. Now at 3 years old, she’s just been started under saddle, and has exceeded all my expectations in terms of being level-headed and game for new things.
Martin Douzant
I first met Ellen at a show where I handled a few of her homebreds. I immediately noticed the quality of her horses and was intrigued by her program. Shortly after I visited her farm and learned that her broodmares have a mix of dressage and jumping lines. This made sense since I look for horses that are good movers that can also jump, and her horses fit the bill.
Since that first visit we've had the pleasure of training and selling a few of her horses, and I ended up purchasing two of her horses, Ruben and Lad, for myself. It's been an exciting partnership so far, and I can't wait to see where we go from here.
Cashell Jaquish
I recently purchased Lincoln as an unbacked three year old from Pura vida Farms. I had been looking locally for almost 2 years for a young all around sport horse, one who could do some eventing and had nice enough gaits to potentially work on my silver medal. This as it turned out, proved to be difficult. So based on a dear friend’s recommendation I contacted PuraVida, she had purchased her upper level dressage horse from Ellen as a weanling over 20 years ago and had a great experience. If I ever do this again, I will start at Pura Vida. Ellen and Jerry were so knowledgeable about the bloodlines and were so welcoming, they treated us like family. There were many high quality, thoughtfully bred horses that fit my description and my price range. The most amazing thing was all of the horses from foals to adults were friendly and sought out people. It was obvious that they had been bred for their temperament as well as their performance and had been handled regularly and properly. Being veterinarians, Ellen and Jerry gave me confidence that Lincoln would have no surprises on the PPE and and he passed with flying colors. Ellen and Jerry are passionate about their program and helpful in the entire process. A few days after the pre-purchase exam, Lincoln was on the trailer to me and the shipper said that he loaded like a 13-year-old. He has been the sweetest, most confident and easiest young horse over the past two months. I look forward to seeing what his future brings, Thank you so much Pura Vida, you helped me make the perfect match!
Karin Noelle
It might’ve taken 30+ years….but I finally got a Barbie dream pony!! This pretty girl is just as sweet and sensible as she is stunning! I can’t wait to see what the future holds for us!
Danielle Sintoni Dressage gave her a great foundation, and Pura Vida Farms, bred such a perfect girl!
Sam Kerr
I recently had the pleasure of purchasing a horse from Ellen and I couldn’t be happier with the experience. From the moment I arrived at Pura Vida Farms, I was greeted with warmth and professionalism. Ellen is incredibly knowledgeable and took the time to understand what I was looking for. The horse I purchased is wonderful. Not only is she beautiful and well-trained, but she also has a gentle and friendly temperament. It’s clear that she has been well-cared for, well trained and very much loved before coming into my life.
The entire purchasing process was smooth and transparent. Ellen provided all the necessary information and documentation, making me feel confident and secure in my purchase. She even offered for me to stay at her farm to ensure my introduction went smoothly and Ellen has offered follow-up support at any time in the future.
I highly recommend Ellen to anyone looking to buy a horse. Her dedication to the well-being of her horses and her commitment to customer satisfaction is truly commendable.
Thank you Ellen for helping me find my perfect best friend!