New Hope Ranch is a dream come true for owner DeeAnna Lyke

March 30, 2026, 12:04 pm
Stephanie Zoer

DeeAnna Lyke likes the versatility of the Arabian horse and takes them on cattle drives regularly.

Long before the sun crests the horizon, DeeAnna Lyke is already awake. She enjoys the quiet mornings that are only broken by the soft nicker of horses waiting for their morning feed. Living on a ranch is not a job that a person clocks into, it is a way of life, and for Lyke, it is one she embraces fully.

Lyke was born and raised on a PMU farm by Wolseley by her parents Doug and Roberta Lyke. The farm had 60 horses that were all registered quarter horses or Arabians. Over the years this herd grew to 84 horses. When Lyke’s parents went their separate ways, Lyke stayed with her mom Roberta who remained on the farm.

Lyke loved horses, but especially the Arabian breed. Roberta showed Arabians and soon Lyke went into showing as well. By the time young Lyke was seven years old, she was already training her own horse. She had done all the groundwork and was the first to ride this horse.

The excitement of the farm was when they held their production sale. A month before the sale, fences were painted and yard work was done. “It was a social time with friends,” recalls Lyke.

A miniature pony show is held yearly. Here Krystle Zoer with her pony Tango is judged by Cheryl Smith.

When she turned 13 years old, she began farrier work on the horses. This is usually done every 6-8 weeks. In 2003 she attended Shur Shod School in Missouri and became a certified farrier. She has a large client base but is slowing down in that field of work.

Eventually Lyke bought a small farm west of Stoughton and also bought herself an Arabian stallion with the bloodlines from Kemosabi. “Arabians are intelligent, athletic and beautiful,” said Lyke. The stallion “Ace” is as gentle as the day is long, and Lyke did all the training. Today he is 26 years old and still in excellent health and is used by children of all ages to learn how to ride.

Lyke’s dream was to own a big ranch and be known as an Equine Hub. She sold her small farm when the opportunity came up for her to purchase a ranch by Indian Head. It has two quarters of land, a large indoor riding arena and an old barn that will be fixed up for stabling.

Today she has 50 horses on the property, and 12 of them are hers. She has put up miles of fencing, added outdoor arenas, a warmup pen, and a round pen for training. She has replaced boards on the corrals and teaches lessons.

Not only are the horses her passion, but Working Equitation is as well. She got into this when a friend wanted to try it out and Lyke was hooked. Today she teaches this to a group of riders and holds WEcan shows regularly at her ranch. This form of riding is similar to western dressage, along with obstacle courses. There are many levels that riders can move up in. It is a disciple that unites horse and rider to work closely together.

In the summer, a kid’s camp is held for one week. This gives kids the opportunity to learn and ride horses, ending with a youth horse show.

Lyke offers a wide range of programs on the ranch. My Little Pony is a program for all ages. They pick a pony and lease it for a year. This gives kids that do not live on a farm the experience of what it is like to own a horse.

She has another program called “Barn Rats.” This program is for youth and runs for nine months. It is an introduction to ranch life. They learn about chores, the care of a horse and the farm. They also get to ride a horse.

Lyke’s Riding Academy program is for ages 10 -18. Here they focus on riding. They have a horse they use throughout the program. The youth learn to do drill teamwork, trail riding, and work together in a group.

One of the highlights of her ranch is the large indoor arena that is used every day for lessons.

The last Monday of every month is the Dirty Saddle Club. This is an adult-only club and is a time for horse lovers to come together and have a social. They can ride if they like and it is an opportunity for non-horse owners to have a chance to ride a horse.

Lyke’s days are filled with horse stuff, and she could not be any happier.
This is the life she has dreamed about. Not everyone gets to live out their dreams, but Lyke has a good start. It is her goal to teach people to do better on their horses. She feels there is always so much to learn, and she continues to grow and learn herself.

Geldings, mares, and miniature ponies are housed separately. Here the gelding pen sports a wide range of colour.

Lyke is excited for another year of horse shows, lessons and just the pure love of horses and being able to share that with other horse lovers that come out to the New Hope Ranch.