Session Wrap Up Information!

Monday July 14th, 2008

Dearest Pony Farm Families, One and All,

I surely hope you all had a good weekend. Everyone here joins me in sending you our best. We sure are having a great time and hope you are too!

We were delighted to see so many of you at our horse show this weekend. Thank you all for being so gracious and helping us to cheer everyone on at the show. We were thrilled to have such good weather. We also were pleased to have a good turn out. We want to hit the ‘happy medium’ with having enough riders from other barns so that the campers don’t have to compete with each other but not have so many that our kids get lost in the shuffle. I think we hit that middle ground nicely with this show even if it did go on until 6:15PM!!!

For those of you who did not attend, we missed you but completely understand and it was NOT a big deal to not have you here. We surely took extra care of the 10 plus kids whose parents didn’t come with hugs, ice cream and extra cheering. We had three kiddos who did not want to show. They were so cute helping me plant the front entrance of the farm the night before the show. They were tickled to make it look nice for the rest of the summer. On the show day, they were given official PF shirts to look spiffy and they helped me to announce, gave out ribbons, served as assistant Ring Masters and generally were of good cheer. We sure hate to force anyone to show is she doesn’t want to compete. There is plenty of competition in the larger world that is they don’t choose to do that when they are here, it is fine with us!

For those who did show, everyone seemed to have a terrific time. We did have one or two ponies who were less than thrilled with the ‘venue’, but that was taken care of and the girls either understood or got to ride a different pony. Everyone won at least two ribbons so the day ended on a good note. From where I sat as the Announcer, I was most pleased that everyone was safe and in good spirits. I care much more about that than any color ribbon.

Following the show and going out for ice cream or dinner, all the kids watched a movie. The movie was Cool Runnings…a cute movie about a bobsled team from Jamaica. Most of the kids were sound asleep before the end of the movie, having gotten up at 6AM…They always look so dear all snuggled up together with their stuffed animals. I think it is too cute that even the oldest, most sophisticated girls have stuffed animals right next to their make up kits and teen magazines, of course….I love thinking of them still as little kids…Someday I will make a fortune on researching the theory of girls loving horses and animals….between ‘toys and boys’!!!!

Sunday is a day when everyone sleeps in a little. The dear staff do the barn chores to give both campers and horses the day off. Sunday is often my favorite day because we have more leisure time to just be together. The girls also clean their rooms and organize their laundry duffle bags. I also enjoy clean rooms and freshly laundered clothes! We had a yummie lunch and then got to start planning our week and your exhibition….(More to follow on that in terms of timing, etc.). The kids signed up to do the Camping Trip with the ponies (tonight), the All Day Ride and Drive (Friday), Swimming with the horses (Thursday). They also selected the Specialties that they want to show you at the exhibition. Still others signed up to be on the Drill team which is a musical ride done with 10 kids and set to music. It will be the kick off to the Parents’ Exhibition…So, you can imagine that there is lots of planning and discussion about all of this. They also are talking with each other to see what their friends are doing. Heaven forbid that they don’t get to go on the Camping Trip with a friend!

Following this planning and organizing, everyone trooped down to the pool to swim, lay in the sun, read, write letters and play with the small farm animals. The chickens, ducks, goats, bunnies, guinea pigs and miniature horses are truly a hit. The girls are so funny about touching a chicken or running with a goat over a jump. They are lovely with the animals. Every time I watch our farm animals being enjoyed by kids, I make a wish that more kids got to do more with animals. It has such a wonderful calming influence on everyone involved.

The kids then went back to the lodge to have an afternoon snack and begin planning for their Talent Show to be held that night (Sunday). During that time (4 to 6:15PM) most all of the girls came to help me weed the garden up by the lodge. We are growing the winter vegetables there…the pumpkins for the fall family weekends, both to eat and to carve. We are also growing corn, beans, peas, ornamental corn and squash. We are so excited to find the little gourds and squash starting to grow. The weeds had kind of gotten ahead of the weeders, so many hands made light work. Many of the kids remarked that they had never weeded because they live in a city. I am so happy when I am gardening with children. We talk all about life and many stories are shared. We even had some riddles…none of which I was able to get! Mostly, we had fun weeding, watering and fertilizing, organic of course! Today they will get ice cream to thank them for their weeding work.

After dinner, the Talent Show began. We were treated to skits, a gymnastic demo, a lovely rendition of The Star Spangled Banner, a song and two pieces on the piano. It is such fun to see what talent we have in our midst. The kids are so respectful of each other when one of the girls gets up to share her music with the group. I always tell them that I could be locked in a room for a month and not be as good as they are!

We invited the three goats to share the Talent Show with us and then I got to hold the Baby Goat (AKA “BG”) on my lap for Vespers, Good Night Circle and our singing. We are about to get a new rug for the lodge living room so I guess it might be the last time that I can really let the goats come in….but the kids did get a big kick out of it all.
Everyone fell into bed and slept nicely in preparation for the fun filled week we have coming up here at Pony Farm!



The kids want to do everything so it is a bit of a struggle to fit it all in to one week!!!! Today, we have them doing a Gambler’s Choice (jumps with varying difficulties that have point values depending on that difficulty…We give them a 2 minute time to gather as many points as they can to determine the winner.). Other groups are going on trail rides to prepare for the upcoming Hunter Pace….Still other groups are riding in the ring to really get to cantering and jumping. So everyone is hard at work today…

This afternoon, the Pony Camping Trip will strike off with no less than 20 kids wanting to come. Luckily, the tents will sleep that many. The weather is also supposed to cooperate although it sure looks overcast right now. The kids that stay home will be doing the beginning practice for the Drill Team and the other specialties. Tonight, they will do Cascino Night, which is a lot of group board and card games. It is the perfect activity for those not coming for the camping trip night….

For us stalwart souls who are, we will head out with all the gear and the food this afternoon. The site is about 3 miles away, just close enough to be safe and just far enough in the woods to feel like you are ‘away’. We will take food for dinner and breakfast, with lots of stuff for multiple S’Mores for sure!@ We also take hay and grain for the 5-6 ponies and horses that we take. We pick these troopers with care as one camping trip this year all but one of the horses came home!

A quarter of the girls ride up to the site on the mountain, a quarter do an evening ride, another quarter a morning ride and the last group rides home. We also can swim at the mountain stream and go exploring like mad…It is the perfect site and we love going. Even my dogs, Martin and Oscar, go with us. I can’t wait to go to sleep with the moon shining bright, the fire burning and the creek rushing. What a was to doze off.

We will come home mid morning and they will swim here at the pool after unpacking. The rest of the girls will have ridden and the drill team will have practiced again. They will then all start practicing their Specialties for YOU! They will then go to bed right on time as they will be doing the Hunter Pace on Wednesday….

This is a big event at camp. We divide the girls into 6 evenly matched teams of riders from each riding group. Each team will have someone from the most experienced group #8 and the second most experienced group #7…These girls will be the Captain and Co-Captain for their team. They will all dress alike and make their plans for how to ride the Hunter Pace. Great strategy making goes into this.

The girls will ride at a safe pace over a five mile loop. It is all dirt roads. With careful explanations ahead of time, each group decided where to walk, trot or try a canter. All the girls know only to go as fast as the slowest rider feels comfortable. Staff members will cell phones and cars are spaced out around the track to serve as support people and to make sure everyone is doing well. The girls ride the ride without a staff member leading but there are staff members carefully spread out every little while.

The team that comes in closest to the Optimum Time with all members feeling comfortable and the horses relaxed will be the winner. We will have two sets of prizes and lots of input as to will be the winner.

Following the rather lengthy morning ride and later lunch, the girls will all gather to really clean the tack. We often skip this important detail as there is so much to get ready before a show. We will oil and really clean up the tack so it stays nice. That night, the girls will have their Counselor Quest….a hide and seek kind of game where each counselor hides. The amount the counselor is ‘worth’ is decided ahead of time. Kris, as Head Counselor, is worth the most points and knows the best hiding places. Counselors-In-Training are worth lesser points and so on. Again, the team that gathers the most points by finding the most counselors wins the game…Great glee surrounds this game.

Thursday morning the final practicing for your exhibition will take place with all the counselors. We will then go swimming with the horses…hopefully the weather and water will collaborate to make this possible. This is the all time favorite camp activity. For new parents, do not worry as I am there to help lead in each and every horse, making it as safe as humanly possible….That night we will do Charades, my favorite…With actresses like these, we can not help but have a blast….

Friday will be the popular All Day Ride or Drive….We will pack a picnic and off we will go into the wild blue yonder…I love this day. We will even go to the local store to get ice cream. Some day I want to ‘drive through a drive through’ with a carriage but not this time! Those who stay home will do a Gymkhana, or games on horseback….Both will last into the afternoon and everyone will enjoy a picnic lunch. We will then pack the rest of that afternoon and get showers for our closing night Candlelight Ceremony. More to follow on that….

I better get to the point of the last day so you all can plan….It will be a Parents; Exhibition. You can plan to arrive by 9:30 or 10AM. The girls will be all packed and ready to ride. The exhibition will begin with a Drill Team at about 10:15. We will then send you to a ring to watch your child ride. You will meet her instructor as the Counselors-In-Training conduct the lesson. She will explain what the riders are doing and have been working on for their session. She will be happy to answer any questions. We are proud of what we teach the girls in two short weeks so we hope to let you know what we have been working on and what will come next in her riding progress. These lessons will end, where appropriate, over a warm up couple of jumps. She will then proceed to her Specialty. We will be doing Bareback Trail, Natural Horsemanship, Cones Carriage Driving, Vaulting (Gymnastics on the moving horse), the High Jump and two Outside courses. In short, you will see quite a variety of events, one of which your daughter will have chosen and practiced.

After the riding, driving and vaulting has finished, we will have the girls untack, cool out and do the noon feed. During that time, Kris will check you out and settle up any bills your daughter has incurred. You will also be able to see and maybe purchase the Horse Portraits taken during this session. They are unusually good!
We ask that you bring a picnic for your family and your camper. We will provide drinks and dessert. We will all join together on the front lawn and/or living room of the lodge and chat. This is the perfect time to really find out how your daughter did and ask any questions of the staff…We will sadly say good bye to this gang…with a tear in our eye as they are terrific. We will have camper addresses for each girl. You can plan to depart sometime around 1:30 or 2 ish…no hurry to leave but we know you are probably on your way somewhere exciting.

I hope this helps you to plan you time and know what we are up to this week. Never a dull moment around this here farm. John Denver (who none of the campers even know!!!!) wrote “Life on the farm is kinda laid back”…Little did he know about Pony Farm…Each day is filled will all good stuff….and good kids…and good horses…and good staff, all of which sure makes my job a breeze…

So off to the camping trip I go…much to my delight. Someday I will be too old to sleep on the ground, but for now, I just love it.

Stay well and thanks for loaning us your daughters.

Mostly Fondly,


Boo