If you're craving a break from the noise, traffic, and fast pace of everyday life, Daisy Field Farm may be just the peaceful escape you’re looking for. Tucked away in a quiet mountain setting, the farm invites visitors to slow down, hop on a horse, and see the land through the eyes of a family that has lived and worked there for generations.

Owner Mick Mertz has deep roots in both horses and farming. His connection to the land and animals was passed down through his family. “My love for horses didn’t start with me,” Mick shared. “It came from my family. It was just like in the genes, because my grandfather was an old-timer who never gave up the horses. He loved them so much he kept them after the business died and he farmed with them. Then my dad continued the tradition. He loved horses. He farmed. He lived like they did in the 18th century. We grew up farming with horses, and it was just part of our lives.”

Although Mick once tried other paths, college and different careers, the pull of the farm was too strong to resist. “It was like the natural thing. I fell back into the horse business,” he said. “Then 51 years ago, I met my wife Judy and somehow, we got really lucky, and she found this little piece of ground. We started with the horses almost immediately, but we used to drive all the way to the resorts in the Poconos to do our business. But in the meantime, all those years when we were traveling around, this was always the center of our lives. We raised three kids here. They all followed the family instincts. They loved the outdoors, loved the horses. All instinctive horsemen, instinctive outdoorsmen. And we all love nature, love horses, and that’s what we do.”

Today, Mick takes great pride in the family he’s raised and the values he’s passed down. His grandsons now help run the farm and lead tours, continuing the legacy as the third generation.

One of Mick’s grandsons, Aiden Mertz, reflects on what it was like growing up on the farm. “Growing up on the farm was, you know, an amazing experience,” he said. “My brothers and I were very free-ranged, and we really got to enjoy all the benefits of growing up here and working here. I mean, we’re so pleased every day to be able to get up and work with each other.” Aiden speaks with pride about the sense of responsibility and connection to the land that his grandfather taught them. “My grandfather always instilled that in us. You grow up with wildlife literally all around you, sometimes in the house even. It gets very exciting. You learn how the world actually works rather than all the materialistic stuff going on. You have to do what matters. You have to take care of stuff. You really build a sense of responsibility, getting up and taking care of something else every day. And having my grandfather here as a role model is definitely the biggest inspiration. He’s by far the hardest worker I’ve ever met, and trying to live up to that is something I strive for.”

That same commitment is what fuels the family's dedication to preserving the land. “In one way or another, the farm is always going to be open land, dedicated to wildlife and animals,” Aiden said. “I don’t think it could ever be anything else. It has to be this way.”

Daisy Field Farm also makes it a priority to welcome guests of all experience levels. Aiden explains, “It’s great to just share that little connection with nature. I mean, obviously we live it every single day, but it’s nice for somebody who doesn’t have the same atmosphere that I have to come experience this, even if it’s just for a short little while. It’s something that everybody should experience.”

For Mick, the beauty of the farm isn’t just in the horses or the landscape, but in the life it has provided. “The whole package is just a wonderful environment, between nature and the horses and family,  it’s paradise,” he said. “Not everybody is fortunate enough to have this kind of life. So, I am really pleased with the way things have turned out.”

At Daisy Field Farm, it’s not just about riding horses. It’s about slowing down, taking it all in, and feeling part of something timeless. The Mertz family isn’t just sharing their horses, they’re sharing their home, their story, and a way of life that’s become increasingly rare. And for anyone lucky enough to visit, that experience is one they won’t soon forget.