Pony Farm Blog

Thursday Morning July 9th, 2009


Dear Pony Farm Parents and Family Members,


I hope your day has started well and that the sun is shining where you are….It sure is here and we are just delighted. What a pleasure to wake up to the sun’s rays gleaming down on us. It just makes a body happy….or many bodies happy!

This will be my last missive to you before you come pick up your treasurers…. We surely hate to see them leave. They have been such Troopers in the weather that we have had…however, in many ways, they have also grown closer. Without the total emphasis each and every day being on riding, it has really promoted friendships and teamwork. It is a fun thing to watch, while I worry about the kids having a blast. The staff joins me working so hard to make every second count while they are here. It is not idle ‘chit chat’ to say that we strive to making this a kid’s best part of the summer, if not her whole year. We truly mean it. However, with the rain falling on their heads day after day, it is a little harder to accomplish! They have been a Camp Director’s dream however. Good spirits have abounded and we have tucked in riding each and every moment that is not pouring down rain or with thunder and lightening!

Yesterday dawned with blue skies and sun, so we quickly decided to reschedule the Hunter Pace that had to be postponed last week. They love this so. I think I described it in my last blog so I won’t go over it again, only to say that they all had a blast and all but the littlest two who were just not comfortable riding at the trot and canter with their teammates, rode off with gusto. The two who did not ride went as important Safety Patrol people with staff. They helped “Judge” the event. I think they felt great pride as they donned their clip boards.

Following a pleasant morning and the computation of the scores, lunch was definitely devoured as the scores were read. After a camping trip and then the Hunter Pace, the time at Rest Hour was well used. It was truly quiet throughout Pony Farm. The staff however had their own riding lesson, which they cherish as their reward for their hard work and good teaching. This was followed by the final event of the Boy Bands Competition which is the Barn Team Challenge….Each barn team, comprised of members of different teams, works to have their barn be the most spotless. The kids and staff always take this most seriously and wow, do the barns look great. It is surely a beautiful thing for a Camp Director to see!

This was followed by another night of Games….some quieter games in the lodge and some fun running games in the Indoor arena…Thank goodness for that arena. Meanwhile, off we set for the camping trip….

We did accomplish the feat of not one but two camping trips….despite the thunder and lightening on Tuesday night and the pouring rain last night. We usually take 6 horses and ponies, 4 tents and lots of food and camping gear up the mountain that over looks the farm. It is a real highlight of the session due to the ponies being there overnight with us, evening and early morning rides, and swimming in the mountain pool, complete with rock water slide. I love it and they love it….

Due to the dire weather forecast of thunder and lightening, we easily decided that was not in our future. So, we offered the trip to be on the lawn by the Homestead and to have the farm animals spend the night with us…and to go to the Waterfall to swim. This had worked like gang busters last session….We cooked up a storm on the fire pit, roasted the required S’Mores and had an equal blast…The kids said they liked it better…

So, my dilemma was ….How can I top that???? It was going to pour rain this week. I felt that I had promised them and HATE letting down kids. So, I put my thinking cap on decided to bring them to my old home…now called the Homestead. I jazzed them all up to cook over the big fire just like in olden times. We turned the lights down low and looked up Campfire Stew on the internet….a blend of modern and olden times…Off we all set with sleeping bags in tow, a few goats and sheep, and a bunny or two, plus my loyal dogs….and the two big Camp cook pots with lids to hang on the Crane of the fireplace. We built the fire as it rained…and cooked hot dogs! Then, we built the Stew in the cooking pot….complete with peas hand picked out of the garden. We also cooked the baked beans. Everyone was so proud of their cooking prowess. It really tasted terrific both times, although the second time, we didn’t burn it so it tasted much better.

Then, off we trooped to visit the workhorse Chip who is 18.3 hands high….that is one big horse, for your non-horsey folks…We were originally going just to visit him but the kids and the staff begged me to ride him. Because I had ridden him 4 or 5 times, as had a number of other folks, I decided to say yes. They were thrilled…that dear Beast ended up giving 18 rides that first night. He was perfectly behaved and the kids just loved it. Many pictures were taken.

The second night, last night, did not fare so well. We tacked him up with ease and led him out to the Indoor Arena. I had never taken him there before but it was getting dark and we had not ridden at all yet. Upon entrance to the indoor, he started shaking and being highly nervous. I right away got the kids up on the ramp and led him myself. I quickly realized that he must have done the draft horse pulls in competition as this was so completely out of character. He kept pulling me to the fall and did not want to leave. I realized that this is where they go to rest after the big exertion of pulling. He was truly afraid and had to have been very roughly treated. I explained it to the kids. We let him just walk around the ring without anyone bothering him. I patted him a lot and just let him relax. We then led him back to his field with him calm and fine once he left the indoor. Needless to say, I did not let the kids ride him last night….The kids were great about it and S’Mores won the day…We then told a ton of fun stories until they begged me to be able to go to sleep….So the day ended well.

They are all off doing fun things in the sun as I write. I for one am going home and going to bed! Two nights of sleeping ‘out’ is hard on these old bones but my heart is happy. I promise to you to offer your kids good, clean, honest, farm fun…that is what we are doing in spades….if not also in the mud!

See you on Saturday. Until then, stay well and rest assured that we are taking great care of your kiddos….

Most fondly, Boo