Update From Summer Camp at Pony Farm

Dearest Moms and Dads and PF Families,

Whew………the rain has stopped and all the kids are on the right horse and in the right group. That is a real feat with the puddles and mud! Your kids have been terrific and good spirit abounds at camp. They were such troopers yesterday riding despite the rain that it is a nice reward today to ride under cloudy skies. Tomorrow promises to actually be sunny and bright.

Also, I am happy to report that we have had not one drop of homesickness. Everyone is so spunky and fun. I just went around to each room to check on how everyone was getting along. In every single room (this being rest hour), I saw happy kiddos that were forging good solid friendships. I thought you all would like to know, especially first time parents. Card games, finger knitting, letter writing, listening to music, chatting and gentle reading were the activities at hand during this quiet time in the middle of the day.

This afternoon they have each selected from among 8 activities. The most experienced two groups are having a jumping lesson now that the rings have dried out and been raked. They went on a trail ride this morning to give the lesser experienced kids the drier rings. The other kiddos are going to do the agility course with the farm animals, or vault which is gymnastics on the moving horse, or Natural Horsemanship, or “Time with your Horse”, AKA braiding, trimming, brushing, painting their hooves with glitter, or grazing them with picture taking galore, or a walking trail ride for the littler ones, and finally bareback riding in the ring. Each kiddo has selected her favorite one of these activities and they are soon to be off doing this.

Tonight, the girls are going to do a Fashion Show by Decades. They work very hard to dress up like many of us did in the 60’s. They love this and all are so creative, judging from the Bag Skits of last night.

Wednesday will see more lessons and a whole raft of other activities. They are gearing up to do either a Treasure Hunt or a Hunter Pace (depending on riding levels of experience) on Thursday morning so lots of trail rides will be offered. We also will have the Pony camping trip on Thursday night. We have the menu planned, the tents at the ready, and the kids signed up….and the food bought…S’mores being a definite staple of the food! So, we are gearing up for that and also for the many other things that will be offered here at the farm so that the kids who don’t want to camp are busy and happy!

So, I end as I began, by saying that you have great kids…To the last one of them, they are getting along well…riding well…loving their ponies….hugging their staff and generally having a great week. The time is flying by…Thank you for sending them to us. We are having a blast and even getting over the mud!

Warmly and with a smile, Boo