Dearest Pony Farm Families,
It is with a happy heart and a big smile that I write this New Year’s letter to you all. I surely wish you the best in 2010. I also hope that you will be with us in the coming year…whether it be for our upcoming Summer Camp Open House next weekend…or our special adult “Women Only Weekend” in January, or our new Winter Camp in February or winter an spring riding lessons or shows or family weekends or clinics or trail rides or family weekends ….or summer camp. Whew, the list just goes on and on!!!! We surely do a lot of fun things here. It makes me so excited for the New Year to start so we can do a lot of these things together. Mostly, we want YOU to be here at Pony Farm!!!!
We are especially excited to be getting ready for our Summer Camp Open House on Sunday January 3rd from 1 to 4PM. This open house is the perfect opportunity for new, potential camp families to see the farm, get a feel for the spirit of Pony Farm, meet some horses, staff and campers, get a tour of the whole farm and get lots of answers to questions about how camp works. We welcome all new families and hope to see you from 1 to 4. You do not need to pre-register for this open house. Just look at the directions on the website and come on out to Pony Farm!
Our Holiday season here at the farm was so special. We started it off with our two Mother Daughter Weekends in early December. What a lovely group of moms, daughters and even some grandmothers we had…Wow, we rode, drove, made cookies, sang, read stories, exchanged traditions, rode some more, ate some more and just truly had a lovely time of it all with good weather to boot. I happened to mention that I was doing a party for veterans who were just returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. I explained that these men were struggling with re-entry into civilian life due to the tough economy. The idea emerged that the kids would go through their closets and find old ‘gently loved’ toys, games and books so that the veterans’ kids would have a better holiday. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine the generosity of these campers and their families….The boxes and bags started arriving. The idea then spread to two basket ball teams who were looking for a service project…and then to a girl scout troop. What an avalanche of presents.
With Santa giving out presents at the party, having been brought up to the lodge by a horse and cart, we were able to provide a huge Christmas for 15 families….plus another 10 who were not able to come…Then, we passed out the rest to other veterans’ families through two other veterans’ counseling centers….In total, our Pony Farm lesson, camp and ‘friends’ provided a fabulous holiday to over 65 families who would not have had anything under their tree…Now, that is the kind of spirit the farm has!!!
Our holiday then continued as we brought our farm animals to a local church for a truly living crèche…The donkey, Duncan, the two sheep, Morgan and Megan, the goat, Ears and Punch, the mini were a huge hit….Thank you, Pony Farmers, for training them to be so good! They were just perfect.
Christmas was made perfecto by the snow that fell and the beautiful weather. Seeing the horses and ponies all snug in their blankets and out frolicking in the snow banks is such fun. I love our four footed friends!
I also love having everyone get the farm ready for the Open House for camp. It will sure look different than when the campers actually get here with the grass all green. However, I do love meeting new perspective campers and their families. It will be such fun to dream of summer and the newly painted jumps out in the rings! So, as I close this first blog of 2010, let me say a heartfelt thanks for being such an important part of life here at the farm. May our paths cross soon and often. I look forward to seeing you and enjoying horses, being in the country and outdoors with YOU!!!
Happy New Year to YOU!!!
Warmly and with excitement,
Isabella (Boo) Martin, M.Ed.
Founder and Executive Director
Master CHA and NARHA Instructor
ACA Certified Camp Director
