Session Two Happy Update

Monday afternoon June 30th, 2008


Dearest Pony Farm Families,

I hope that this blog update finds you well and happily enjoying your summer. We were so glad to see many of you at the horse show on Saturday. It is always fun to chat and catch up. It was a great day, despite the weather. For those of you who were not able to come, let me get right to telling you all about the show.

Saturday morning dawned gray and foggy. The weather report was for intermittent showers and possible thunderstorms. We were all praying that it would hold out for the day. Because everyone was all shined and ready, the only thing to do was mush forth and hope for good weather. We lucked out….While I can not say it was a bright and sunny day, it did not rain on us. We were all saying how nice it was that we had no dust and it was pleasantly cool. We were also glad that we had decided to move the show to the rings with the best footing. So, in fact, our prayers were answered and the weather held out for us. Hooray!

So, with the courses set, the tack clean, the hair done up in ribbons and the show clothes passed around as far as we could stretch them, we were ready. The campers and staff got up at 6:15AM to feed their mounts and organize the barn for the day. Each group of riders had a coach and a counselor in training. They all had carefully worked out the entries so they knew what classes they were in and what the order of go was to be. The kids all seemed pretty darn “cool and collected” when I met them for breakfast.

While many of the campers had shown extensively, a number of them had never ever competed. It was so dear how the bigger or more experienced ones were helping the newer ones. That is what camp is all about! Plus, I must say that the staff was spectacular. They had truly entered each child in the right division and were right there to help in the schooling areas and at ring side. The team approach really worked well. I was so proud of both kids and staff!

Two kids had decided not to show. They were given the choice to have a lesson or to help with the show as “ring crew”. One chose to go with her mom and the other stuck by her job all day long. All of the ring crew got to have Pony Farm shirts….Ruby was particularly thrilled to have her PF shirt and froze all day long so she didn’t have to cover up her ‘staff shirt’ with a sweatshirt…It was pretty darn dear of her to be so determined to look like a staff person at such a young age! Camp is in good hands with these young ones coming along!

The schooling and early preparation got wrapped up and the show for the littlest ones got going promptly at 9AM…The other bigger ring took a little longer due to warm ups and the judge getting lost….a show organizer’s nightmare! All was nicely underway by 9:20.

I was the Announcer and general show commentator….I am not nearly as good at Howard Kosell, but I do try to keep everyone moving along, safe and in good spirits. I loved seeing the kids ride and cheering them along. We had a number of other barns from here in NH, as well as Massachusetts, so there was good competition. We like to have outside riders because it feels counter-productive to teach the kids all week to collaborate and then at the show to ride against each other. Luckily, we had just the right amount of competition so each rider could feel like she had done well when she won a ribbon. Also, outside competitors did not feel like it was a show only featuring the PF campers…so, all was well in terms of number of riders.

However, we did have several divisions that needed to be split in two, and even into three sections. We want to make sure it stays safe for the kids while giving everyone a good chance at a ribbon. For lots of our campers, this is the only time they ever show so we like to have it be a good experience.

To everyone’s delight, every single camper got at least 2 or 3 ribbons. Many of our kids ended up being the Champion or Reserve in their division. To the staff’s credit, they really had entered them in the appropriate division…neither too easy or too hard. I was so proud of the staff as it had been quite a challenge with the weather and getting the final horse matches. With the inevitable occasional lame or sore backed horse, they did a terrific job…as did the campers. It was a great show and it sure seemed like everyone had a wonderful time, including the parents and grandparents who attended.

The show ended just after 5:30PM….That makes for a good but long day for everyone. I am always glad that we don’t have to then load up all 48 horses and travel homeward, only to have to then do barn chores…That is the benefit of being the host show!!! With everyone pitching into take care of the horses, the day ended well.

The campers went up to the lodge for showers to warm up…and then to a yummie dinner and a movie. I am not sure how many kids actually made it through the movie but it was pretty cute seeing everyone snuggled up together in the main room at the lodge watching a movie in their PJ’s and sleeping bags….Favorite stuffed animals were tucked under most of the arms, proving that these kids love to still be “kids”!!!

Sunday morning dawned gray and foggy…again!!!! The kids got to sleep in and get a bowl of cereal until a Brunch later on. The younger kids were able to watch a movie again while the older kids got to sleep longer. Kris selects the movies and watches them with them. I took my own son to the airport to go on a trip to Mexico with our church youth group. While I was gone, all the kids cleaned up their room extra well and gathered their laundry. Upon my return, we all had lunch together….and we started my favorite time at camp….arts & crafts, playing with the small farm animals and gardening….The kids loved jumping the minis…running after the rabbits on their leads….snuggling with the guinea pigs…holding and petting the chickens, feeding the baby goat, grooming the curly goat and the donkey….even clipping one of the Miniature Horses and swimming with the ducks. I just love seeing the kids relaxing and enjoying the animals. It seems like it is the carefree way a kiddo ought to grow up. The world can seem so big and confusing….I just love seeing them happy and at peace. We even ended up doing some planting in the vegetable garden and staking up the tomatoes. Such fun. I kind of feel like it is ‘my day’ with the kids as I am always having to organize riding groups and horse matches and events the other days….I just love being with them on Sundays!

Kris and some of the staff were up at the lodge during this time with the small animals. She had the girls doing bracelets, door signs and posters. Again, I think Kris shares my enjoyment on Sundays as she gets to have the kids ‘to herself’ too. We really look forward to Sundays.

Following these activities, we then let them plan for the Talent Show. This is always a big event at the camp on Sunday night. Some of the acts are funny, some serious and some crazy. I am always amazed when a child can stand up in front of the whole group and sing a song or play an instrument. I couldn’t do that if you locked me in a room all day long! They did some fun ones together, some dancing, and some skits. It was a nice show and it didn’t rain!!! Yipee…

After the Talent Show, we had our Goodnight Circle and all the kids went to bed beautifully. I think they were surely tired by this time. I even slept on the couch until Senior Staff who live in the lodge were back from their day off. It was fun sharing the lodge with the kids.

Today, we once again reshuffled horses and got the riding groups organized. We were planning on having the Hunter Pace. This is always one of the highlights of the session…When we had a number of kids who said they did not want to do the Hunter Pace, we stepped back to scratch our heads. This has never happened before. Usually, the kids are leaping to do the Hunter Pace and all figure out “team” shirts to match. As I reflected on this strange turn of events, I realized that only two of the eight groups had even been on a trail ride!!! Due to the weather and the lightening, we had kept them all close to the barn…..thus, no trail rides….No wonder they were feeling nervous to go off on a glorious Hunter Pace….

So…. we reshuffled the deck again and took the groups who had not yet been on a trail ride out to enjoy the lovely riding areas we have here at the farm. The other two groups rode in the rings and some even vaulted, which is gymnastics on horse back. Everyone came back with big smiles. I will feel much more at ease sending them off tomorrow on their Hunter Pace!

This afternoon the girls posed for their portraits with their horses and again played with the small farm animals…an all camp favorite. They also spent extra time on grooming and reorganizing their barns after the hectic show…Tonight, we are going to listen to my Mom tell her famous stories. I have not seen the staff be as excited about any evening activity as this one. They grew up on Mom’s stories…Such fun!

Tomorrow night, despite the clouds, we are going on our camping trip with the ponies….Thirty two girls have signed up…so I am taking them on two nights of camping with the horses…one on Tuesday night and one on Wednesday night. It is just too many kids to take all 32 at the same time. We will bring 5 or 6 horses and have a ball. I guess my old bones can take two nights on the ground! I do love it all…..

We will set up the three big tents and eat dinner & breakfast out at the camping site. We tie the horses to the trees and bring lots of fly spray and food for the horses….The kids will get to swim and eat and explore and experience the great outdoors with their friends…All just right for a kid…I will write you when we are back and everyone is safe and sound!

Until then, I hope you are well and enjoying some time without your treasure. I also bet you will be glad to have her home again!!! Remember to arrive with your picnic at about 9:30 on Saturday morning. You can plan to leave by about 1 or 2PM….We have lots of great things to show you. If you have any specific questions, do not hesitate to email me…its boomcdaniel@ponyfarm.com .

I do have to let you know that I am not going to be here for the Closing Day….I have a chance to be with my own daughters and my granddaughters for the first 4th of July EVER in the history of camp (37 years!!!)….I am so sorry that it is going to happen on the last day of this session but I could not pass it up. I surely have loved your kids and felt like I saw most of you on Saturday at the show. I will miss seeing them ride that last time but know they are in great hands…All the staff will be here with Kris leading the pack.

So…if you have any last questions for me, please do email me….It is easier to answer you as I will be off camping with your kids rather than being by the phone.

Most fondly and with a big smile,

Boo