Pony Farm Blog

Dearest Darling Ones, Pony Farm Families, One and All,

I send great salutations from Pony Farm to YOU all. I am so very sorry to not have written you sooner. I especially feel badly for the few new parents as I think it is always nice to hear sooner rather than later about how things are going….But, the honest truth is that we have just been having sooo much fun that I hate to tear myself away from them…Plus, getting them all on the right horses in time for the show, plus having the Cheshire Fair today slightly interrupting the riding before the show, all has colluded to making me not as much sitting at my desk….So, I will apologize once and then go on to tell you how fabulous, fantastic, fun, funny and just plain GREAT your kids are….

Last Sunday went as we outlined in your Letter from the Directors’ which we gave you upon departure on Sunday afternoon. The girls have been such a superior group to get oriented and acclimated. They are just plain easy going, already love each other, and have worked well with us in determining the right horse match and lesson level. The riding on Monday to determine this took place first thing after breakfast and room clean up. The girls were divided into five big groups, each with a Senior Riding Counselor and two Counselors-In-Training. The most experienced of the Senior Staff went around to watch each group and to make the necessary horses switches. With so many returning campers who come from riding programs that we know and know us, this process is much easier than in other sessions with more new campers.

By lunchtime, the vast majority of the kids were thrilled with their mounts (“Their” own pony or horse for their stay!). We thoroughly involve the kids in the decision as to which horse fits well. We try to balance safely, success and excellent learning in the balance. To have the right “level” horse but not be in love with it, just doesn’t work as well. Conversely, having a horse that you adore that can’t jump or is too inexperienced, also doesn’t work effectively. Our goal, which we share with the kids, is that we want them to adore their horse, learn a ton and have a great time doing it, while staying safe and sound. That goal of course is no easy feat in any event, but having good weather has surely been a huge perk this session…..Doing this intricate process in the pouring rain surely leads something to be desired in other sessions.

We all gathered for lunch and the kids who needed to ride again to try a new match were announced. The rest of the girls were asked to come back after lunch and rest hour, dressed to swim and to play with the small farm animals, both all camp favorites for sure. Swim Tests were conducted to make sure everyone was Water Proofed! Again, this was fun because it was hot enough to really want to go swim. Thank you to the Heavens Above for great weather…

With lots of running, jumping, splashing and laughing, everyone at the pool and small animal barn had a great afternoon, while getting to know each other again! The rest of the girls and staff worked hard and well to get the horse matches finalized. They did so with good cheer and gusto. By afternoon snack time, everyone had a great horse and a smile on her face. Barn Chore Teams were introduced and explained, with each girl knowing which barn she was going to join. Again, everyone met the daunting task of taking care of and feeding and turning in and turning out and cleaning the stalls for 71 horses, which is how many we have on site at present….It is a finely tuned machine, this Barn Chore Time at Pony Farm….The US Government and Military have nothing on the PF teams of Barn Chore Kids and their staff….!!!! It is such a pleasure to watch the kids all digging in and helping each other. What a real life experience of collaboration!

Dinner followed cool showers and lots of chatting…This was then wrapped up and Bag Skits, the all time first full night of camp’s favorite….Each room of girls collects 6 items randomly to put into a bag. This bag is then delivered to another room where that set of girls creates a whole skit around the contents of the bag….I usually catch up on my copious emails while they are planning their skits….then speed upstairs to the lodge to watch them ‘do their thing’…and what a thing it was….They were so clever, imaginative, funny, creative and just plain adorable with their funny clothes, accents, speeches and skits. It is a perfect way to spend a summer evening in my book….We all roared with laughter and every room got to know each other better.

This was followed by the more quiet, cool down and relaxed activity called Vespers and Goodnight Circle. The Senior Staff who were ‘on’ that night shared with the girls what make them keep coming back to Pony Farm year after year. This simple ceremony always gives me goose bumps and makes me so glad that they love this farm so much. Sure makes a body want to get out of bed in the morning to make kids this happy! This is followed by Goodnight Circle which is when we all hold hands in a big circle. Kids and staff randomly share something for which they were grateful that happened during the day. It is a great way to make the gratitude and blessings bubble up! This is then followed by our routine of singing two songs and then off to bed. I went around with the staff to say goodnight to each room. We also checked that each fan that was plugged in was safe and secure for the night. It was darn hot in the rooms and we wanted them to be comfortable!

Tuesday dawned again bright and beautiful…A bit hot but just glorious. I may only be thinking that the day was so spectacular because it was three days in a row when it did not rain! But, yesterday was our best weather day of the summer….Cool, breezy, bright sun and no dust…Sooo fantastic for riding.

During the two riding sessions of the day, each camper got a formal lesson in the ring where she will be likely to show on Saturday. She then also got to choose during the other activity period, either morning or afternoon, between a trail ride, “Pony Spa Day”, more small animals and swimming, Vaulting and Lungeing. The whole riding and horse time activities went smoothly with kids truly loving their horses. One or two final horse matches were made and I can surely tell you that everyone, to the last child, reports that she “LOVES MY HORSE”….Whew, that is good news to us!

The other big news of the day was that we officially converted to 100% recycling here at the farm yesterday at 2:30PM. This is a personal project of mine that has been in the works since February last winter. It is quite a project to have this many kids living on site, with this many kinds of animals, gardens, manure and composting. The men at the Recycling Center commended us on our first formal trip to the center. They said it was very well done and even chipped in to help us deliver our bags, boxes and milk jugs, to name but a few of the many categories….

We are proud of the 100% recycling effort that has been instituted. All manure is being composted, as is all pre-preparation refuse for cooking, and post meal composting. All in different places and not one thing going to waste. This not only is a savings of about $6,000 for us, but returning over 450 tons of manure back to create better soil. I bet you can see why this has been a huge project and one behind which I am standing firmly….

With part of this savings, and by encouraging kids to not take more than they can eat, we are also on our mark with our partnership with Heifer International. We will be using the money saved by the reduced food waste to buy a heifer cow which is bred. This purebred Heifer will be sent to a third world country in the name of the campers at Pony Farm. I think the kids are really proud of themselves and they work hard to not waste food! A win win for everyone.

So, with lesson groups now organized, horse matches, and the teachers all thinking about what classes the kids should be entered in, it was evening time again. Because some of the kids had not gotten to swim yet, we had dessert at the pool for an evening swim. Another favorite all camper activity for the non riding times is to have my Mom, age 87, come to tell her famous “Bubba Stories”. She has a real collection of farm stories, driving the ambulance during World War II, and riding out West on ranches. She has some hair curlers…The kids hang on every single word. She always says she worries that they remember the stories now better than she does…but she never misses a beat. What a fun evening for me to see kids enthralled by her stories, just like I was when I was their age. Verbal histories surely beat reading something out of a book on a hot summer evening with your feet in the pool, a drooling popsicle in hand and “Bubba” on a roll!!!

Again, all kids went right to bed after Vespers, Goodnight Circle and Singing. Today, we sprang out of bed for a longer riding lesson because today is the Cheshire Fair. Kids plan all year long to attend this. We even meet some of the kids from other sessions at the fair…I am not quite sure why they love the rides, the junk food, the carny games and the mobs of people, but love it they do. I take the quieter ones and we do all the animal exhibits and 4H barns, plus the horse events. There is really ‘something for everyone’ at the Cheshire Fair, and we are not going to miss any of those ‘somethings’!

So, I hope you can catch a glimpse of why I have not been at the computer. Just too much fun. Tomorrow and Friday will be spent on practicing for the horse show, bathing, tack, boots, entering and organizing. For the couple of kids that are not wishing to show, please know that we plan extra special things for them to do so they get the full enjoyment. No one is pushed to show….They ride the same and do other special fieldtrips or activities…or get to swim more…
The staff will be letting me know which classes that the kids will be entering into for the show on Saturday by tomorrow night. We will email this to you all as well as posting it with first names and last name initials on the blog. (Don’t know if you notice, but I never put any one child’s name or identity on this blog…thus, why we do not include pictures too! Internet safety and identity safety is a huge priority and commitment on our part to you and your beautiful daughters!!!)

All parents are welcome to attend the show. We will alert you, to the best of our ability, as to when your child is likely to be competing. Please arrive and park at the Lodge or the Homestead. A concession truck will be on the grounds.

For those of you who wish to take your child out for a meal or ice cream, we have a poster on the lodge wall detailing types of restaurants in our area, complete with map. Please feel free to go out, but do sign out with Kris so she knows where everyone is and when they are expected to return! We like keeping close tabs on our cherubs!

Saturday is definitely the day to come to visit if you have the desire, time and interest…and live close enough, of course….We are not welcoming parents to come visit on Sunday as this is a great quiet day for the kids where we swim, do all sorts of non horsey activities, arts and crafts, gardening and the Ice Cream Trough…plus Talent Show…It gives the kids time to clean up their rooms, rest, relax and enjoy a simple day in the sunshine before the next busy week. Having parents coming and going interrupts this simple peace…not that we don’t love you, OF COURSE! Plus, you can keep your own Sabbath at peace and enjoy the quiet day yourself!!!

So, more to follow but I do apologize that I haven’t written soon. We do so much in a day or two that it is hard for me to keep up….Do look for your email with more detail.

We look forward to seeing you this Saturday or next….Until then, thank you most sincerely for loaning your Treasure to us. We are having a ball together.

Best, Boo