As a husband (Paul) and wife (Kristen) team, they run a small family farm in Pamplin, Virginia, where they produce some of the best puppies and Tennessee Walking Horses on the market today. They have been breeding dogs since 2011, Kristen has been riding, driving carriage, and showing Tennessee Walking Horses since 1985, has been training TWHs on her own since 2002, and has been breeding TWHs since 2018. They are looking forward to standing their blue roan stallion, Threat of Blue Delight HJ (a.k.a. “Levi) for breeding services to the public, in 2025.

About our Dogs…

An Australian Shepherd named “Cali” started it all. She was Kristen’s first Aussie, and she fell in love with the breed. Kristen started breeding Australian Shepherds in 2011, and has kept some of Cali’s offspring to breed. Kristen then added Doodles! Breeding Aussiedoodles starting in 2018 added another layer to the excellence the farm offers. Paul and Kristen got married in 2021 and since added two Golden pups, to begin offering Golden Retrievers and Goldendoodles in 2024. All of the dogs are genetically tested and have had their hips checked and cleared (no hip dysplasia). They breed only the best females, who meet breed standard, and they search for only the best stud dogs to cross them with (who have also been genetically tested and had their hips checked and cleared). They do not sell to puppy stores, have no interactions with “puppy mills”, do not overbreed their females (one litter per year only), keep all dogs living in their home as family members, and truly seek to keep prices in a reasonable range, so all families can afford quality dogs. The goal is to ultimately connect families with the puppy who has a personality that best fits them, so they have forever homes. At 4 weeks of age, due to focused study of their puppies, they can tell you what the puppy’s energy, talkative, and submissive levels will be as adults. All of the puppies of Hope and Joy Acres come with a health guarantee contract (ask to see it), are kept indoors until they go to their new homes (no risk of parvo), are exposed to their other dogs/cats/kids/normal household activity, started on puppy pads, have received deworming 4x and have received their first puppy shots. Come meet their pups, or contact to get text videos/pictures or MarcoPolo videos of puppies you are interested in. They also take deposits on any future litters, contact if interested.

About our Mares and Foals…

Kristen has a passion for breeding foundation lines of Tennessee Walking Horses. She breeds only TWH mares who have a true, correct, 4 beat running walk, are sturdy built with solid bone structure, short backs, straight legs, have a nice slanted rolling shoulder, good feet, are intelligent, who are easy to train, and are calm. There are no “modern” or highly bred Walker lines, such as Pusher or Generator, on the farm. Paul helps take care of the farm and horses and has made himself right at home in farm life. The goal is to connect buyers with horses/foals that are the best personality and skill level, so they have forever homes. They are very honest with buyers and if they do not have what you are looking for at that time, they will connect you with other quality and honest Tennessee Walking Horses trainers and sellers. Contact with questions about any available horses and foals!

About our Stallion…

Hope and Joy Acres is proud to present Tennessee Walking Horse stallion, “Threat of Blue Delight HJ” (a.k.a. “Levi”), a blue roan stud with a true, correct, 4 beat running walk, who is sturdy built with solid bone structure, straight legs with about 7 inches of over stride when flat walking, a nice slanted rolling shoulder, short back, is intelligent and easy to train, and is calm with a very sweet and cuddly personality. This excellent stud is expected to mature to around 15-15.1 hands. Here are his bloodlines on Allbreedpredigree.com (click here). Levi will be standing for public breeding in 2025. Please contact for more information, pictures, and video of Levi. You are also welcome to come and meet him, starting in the summer 2024, when he breeds his first crop of foals with the mares of Hope and Joy Acres.

Hope and Joy Acres - We are grateful to God for every good gift He has given us!

“And now, here’s what I’m going to do: I’m going to start all over again…I’ll turn Heartbreak Valley into Acres of Hope.” Hosea 2:14-15

“Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:8-9