Pony Farm Blog

Dearest Pony Farm Family Members,

I am in mourning that this is my last blog for camp for the summer of 2009. I can not believe how the summer has flown by. I guess the old saying that “Time flies when you are having fun” is truly true. This marks the 11th week of camp related days…The first week was a national instructor certification week for our camp counselors, as well as for other camps, too. We then moved into a week of Staff Orientation for camp…and then, this is the ninth week of camp itself. So, I guess it is a tribute to the campers and staff themselves that I am still feeling fresh and ready for more. I am truly going to be sad when the last car pulls out of the driveway bearing wonderful kids. I have adored this summer and all of you who have shared your daughters and granddaughters with us. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!!!

Wow, these girls continue to be so fantastically fun. What a great bunch with whom to end the 38th summer of Pony Farm. I swear these kids have not skipped a beat. On that first night of the camping trip, I took the Evening Ride. As I am leading a little girl who was riding bareback on her pony out in the woods as dark descended, she told me that she was a little nervous. I urged her to have courage…and then I realized what a tall order that was…She had arrived not 24 hours ago, and already I had her out on the mountainside, camping in the dark, and on a ride through the woods….Bless her heart, she loved it and did indeed have courage and grit….Not only did she love the whole thing but wanted more!!! So, that is a theme that runs through this whole week.

You all should be so proud of the job you are doing as parents. These girls are spunky, fun, funny, interesting, gutsy and just plain GREAT. The days have been mighty hot so we have done a lot of swimming in both the pool, the mountain pool and the Wilton Falls. It has been just such fun to ride and then swim, to then ride again and then take a dip….Thankfully no one has gotten a ‘tummy bug’ from the heat and we are glad to have fans cooling the air at night…but all is well.

We think you will be pleased with what the girls have learned despite a bit less riding due to the heat. We really hate to ride when the temps get into the mid to high 90’s. With those black riding helmets on and the sun beating down, it is just plain a good way to have a kiddo faint off her pony. As you all know, we are such sticklers for safety that we choose to ride as early as we can manage and then break at the worst of the heat…However, we feel like the girls have really made progress. We hope that you enjoy what you see on Saturday….

Speaking of Saturday, let me just remind you of the plans and timing…FOR THE SATURDAY PARENTS’ RIDING EXHIBITION AND PICNIC, PLEASE ARRIVE BETWEEN 9:30 AND 9:45am. Kris and I will greet you. We will let you know where your daughter is riding. All of her stuff will be packed and on her bed for ease of departure. The actual riding exhibition will start at 10AM. Each senior riding instructor will gather you at ring side to do a verbal explanation of what she has been working on in lessons this week. The Counselors-In-Training will conduct the flat portion of the lesson so you can both see and hear what has been learned. This portion of the exhibition will conclude about 10:45 and we will move to specialties. This is the ‘fun’ and different part of the horsey stuff the kids do at camp…We will have Vaulting, Carriage Driving and courses, as well as Games on Horseback. The kids have signed up for their specialties and will be eager to show off their new skills. They love the different things that we can offer with the facilities we have. This will end about noonish, with the driving taking a little longer as it takes a while to harness and unharness.

If you could bring a picnic for your kiddo and however many people you are bringing, we will provide the refreshments and desserts. We have evolved to doing it this way as we either would have too much food or not enough in the past as we never knew how many people were coming with each family. We hate not being prepared so we settled into doing it this way.

We will also have any expenses that have been incurred, although with the ones that just got here, they did not even have time to do laundry…so it should be minimal. We do encourage you to really chat with the riding staff, Kris and myself to get the ‘scoop’ on your daughter(s) stay. We love bragging on the girls….

Many parents ask me about tipping….Just so that you don’t have to wonder, we neither encourage or discourage tipping for staff….Should you want to contribute to the End of Summer Staff Party and gifts, we would love it and it will make for a better party. If not, please rest assured that no one will ever know or care. The staff is just so happy with it all that either way is fine with us and them….

Now that the logistics are all done, let me say that the two camping trips were just fantastic. I don’t know when I have ever had a more peaceful, relaxed and happy time. The weather was just glorious with the stars twinkling at night, the sun shining through the leaf canopy and the mountain stream refreshingly cool despite the heat. Usually at this time of year, we do not have enough water to slide into the pool off the smooth rocks. Due to the immense amount of rain earlier in the summer, the stream was still nice and full for both swimming and a lovely sound of rushing water. The kids and staff and I all swam lots and lots…enjoying just playing in the water. We explored the creek up and down while the rides were going on. It was just a glorious way to spend extra hot days up in the woods. We did not even have one bug…

The kids all worked so hard at doing the cooking, gathering the wood, setting up and taking down tents. I swear there was not one cross word or one kid that did not jump right in to help with everything from watering the ponies during the night and helping stuff sleeping bags back into their sacks. All the set up and take down was done with smooth efficiency and every hand on deck. It was a real pleasure to do this trip with them.

Meanwhile, ‘back at the ranch’ kids rode and swam, and then rode and swam some more. The only change up was to ride and then do Slip and Slide on the lawn. This is a favorite among the campers on a hot day. The pool was well used too. Capture the Flag, Counselor Quest and tack cleaning also took place. Today, they are doing several field trips and another Trip to the Falls as this is the last full afternoon of camp….Tomorrow, we are wrapping up the summer with a great all Day Picnic Lunch Ride and Drive. The whole camp will either ride or go in a carriage where they will drive to a lovely open field with a picnic. I love these days and it seems like the best way to end a spectacular summer. It is not going to be so hot, so it will be a great way to spend the day together.

Following the picnic ride, we will probably go swimming and then get ready to pack and write our Candlelight Ceremony for our upcoming special dinner and closing ceremony around either the pool with torch light or a bonfire with torch light. I am sure this particular Candlelight will be a real tear jerker as it is so sad to have it all be done for the year. Now, Kris and I will start the planning and preparation all over again for next summer. Camp is truly our favorite time of year, bar none other….

After our fancy dinner, with all the girls dressed in their dresses and their hair all done up pretty, this Candlelight Ceremony will happen. This will be followed by lots of hugging and smiles…and then you arrive.

In case I do not get to see each of you on Saturday, please, please know how blessed I feel that you have chosen Pony Farm for your daughter. With so many wonderful opportunities out in the big world, I am most grateful that you feel Pony Farm is an important part of your daughter(s) life. I hope you feel that you made the right choice…and that it was a great experience for her. I dearly love camp and summertime at Pony Farm. After 38 years of doing Pony Farm, I really realize that it is my life’s work. I can not imagine doing anything else. I am as passionate about the quality of the girls’ experience as I was 38 years ago. I sincerely hope you have felt that passion…and commitment to kids. So, thank you again for joining us this summer. I look forward to a strong connection with your daughter and your family for many years to come.

Most happily and sincerely,

Boo