Dearest Moms and Dads, and all other Pony Farm Friends & Families,
I am happily writing to say a great big hi from Pony Farm. Your ladies are all well and happily settled into their life here on the farm. It was a surprisingly smooth beginning, due in most part to the fact that you have bequeathed us great kiddos. It also helps to have so many who stayed over from last session….or who have returned again and again to camp. With us knowing their riding levels and hopes for their stay with us, it is a pleasant way to kick off the session. All the head teachers, Kris, I, and the riding staff, and kids feel like they are on the right horse or pony, and in the right group. The weather has nicely cooperated with it being cool and overcast. We did get a little rain today, just enough to help the gardens without making it sloppy in the rings. For those of you who were with us last year, you will surely remember that we had over 18 inches of rain to deal with during the first two sessions…that is no fun for man, woman, child or beasty! This year has felt like a piece of cake.
We did indeed do the Bag Skits, as promised, on that first full night of camp, Monday evening. They seemed particularly great this year. I love it when the kids actually plan ahead and bring some props with them to make the skits even more special. This seems like such a great way to get everyone ‘loosened up’ within their rooms, and then get them collaborating on doing something fun and frivolous in their lives…I am all about fun and frivolity….I think many of us are working so hard to make our stake in life, do a good job by our families, and help our kids ‘get and stay ahead’ that we sometimes forget the simpler things in life which really are just plain fun and silly. Trust me when I say that your girls were silly that night. Not one homesick tear was seen, and all tipped toed off to bed after riding twice and doing barn chores. For those used to sitting at desks, these are active days for sure!!!
Yesterday dawned lovely. I even snuck out of my little Cottage to take some early morning ‘misty’ pictures as the sun was peeking out over the tree line.. A deer was doing her last grazing on the far edge of the field in front of my house but she was too far away to get a good picture. She did help me remember how deeply blessed I am to be here on this farm, enjoying your children….and appreciating such a great staff who truly care about their young charges.
Speaking of wonderful staff, I am sincerely impressed by our core of teachers this year. They are eager riders. They begged me to go off and ride some of the newer camp horses and get them going a little more smoothly in preparation for the horse show instead of sitting on the couch watching bag skits…a much easier job! With their weekly staff lessons and lots of riding on their free time, the horses are coming along beautifully. It is such fun to watch the changes in muscles and development of necks & hindquarters as the horses get fitter and fitter. It is like a little miracle that unfolds for me each day.
Yesterday, the girls did the final ‘look see’ to make sure that they were correctly placed on the right mount and the right class. The teachers and assistants were divided up now into coaching groups so that everyone can begin preparing for the show. So far, it seems that all the girls want to show on Saturday. Each class had a lesson of real skill building. The coaches seemed pleased and began considering which divisions in which to place each rider. It is no mean feat to get 48 girls here on a Sunday afternoon, and have them dressed, pressed, clean and in the right classes….not tooo easy, not tooo hard within 5 riding days. So, they spend a lot of time speaking with the girls and getting it done right.
Sadly, I missed the afternoon activities yesterday due to a doctor’s appointment. Much to my dismay, my asthma is acting up again, despite all sorts of good doctors and medicines. I went for a check up and they found that I had a partially collapsed lung on one side and some pneumonia on the other…..Darn, this is not what I want to have happen. They swore to me that if I kept in my air filtered house for a day or two, it would blow over so I can be at the horse show…..Therefore, that is exactly what I am doing. I am in total touch by phone and email…..plus, camp is in super hands any way. I can really help organize the show and get all those details done for camp that I let go because I would much rather be with the kids and horses….So, I am already better with the antibiotics and should be rearin’ to go by show time or before. Please worry not about your daughter as she is in terrific hands and I am only a few yards away!!!
I did have to miss Personal Scavenger Hunt last night however….not much of a loss to me as I NEVER know any of the questions….The staff gathers up all questions about the newest “Hottie” movie star or singer…the best summer reading books or the latest TV diva. They then pose the questions in teams and whoever can run up the fastest gets to answer the question by singing, dancing or imitating the ‘star’ of the day….I fear that you, too, would not know the answers quickly enough either! It is a big hit and one most eagerly anticipated. Believe it or not, the staff spend time on their free time coming up with the questions or categories….Again, good clean fun under the stars.
This morning, despite moderate rain, Kris and crew decided that they should ride again and get ready to sign up for classes after the morning lesson. This afternoon, with thunder and lightening predicted, they are entering the classes by each group. Kris, Karen and Chelsea will check over the staff and kids’ picks and the entry blanks will officially go to get entered tomorrow. We should be able to send you the estimated time of your child/ren’s riding time so that you can plan your travel schedule accordingly. We do say this is our best guess as we never know how many to expect from other barns. We are generally pretty accurate. We also love having time to chat as we wait for classes.
Here are some show logistics for your info….The show itself starts at 9AM. We will have coffee and muffins for you…Your daughter will be all dressed and pressed to ride. The show goes on pretty much non- stop all day long. Please park in the Lodge and Homestead parking areas, preferably off the grass, so that the visiting trailers can park in the lower field. We expect that the show will wrap up mid- afternoon. Do not hesitate to bring a bathing suit and go for a dip…or use the swing set for younger siblings…We do ask that you do not let your other children ride your daughter’s pony, as we sure don’t want an accident while we are focusing on the show. Also, you are welcome to bring dogs, but please do keep them on a leash.
Our food concession truck friends are no longer able to bring their lunch wagon to serve visiting families and outside competitors. Sadly, our longtime friend Sandy is in the final stages of cancer. So, as much as we will miss them, we will be serving burgers, veggie burgers, hot dogs, ice cream, desserts and watermelon up at the lodge. Your camper ‘eats on us’….However, we are asking that you help defray your cost of your food by making a donation to our money jar….We are working hard to earn enough money to buy a brand new miniature horse harness for our littlest mini Pizazz. He was our rescue baby three years ago. He is now ready to grow up and be a big boy with his own harness….The total price is reduced by a great sale from $325 for the entire harness to $269…It is a biothane harness…just what he needs to be safe, learn well and start ‘pulling his own weight’ around here. It will be such fun to get him driving…and have all four miniature horses be able to be enjoyed by one and all. Wait until you see the other one’s driving for your exhibition. If someone gives over $50 toward this harness, it will also be a tax deduction for you….So, help us get good food for you, while working toward the purchase of a great new harness for our little man. Your kids can even help get him started driving….now all we need is the harness!!!!
As I go on and on about the horse show, do let me make one thing very clear….should you live far away, or be on a fun trip, or need to work, PLEASE DO NOT WORRY THAT YOUR DAUGHTER WILL BE THE ONLY ONE WITHOUT SOMEONE AT RING SIDE. We will take extra good care of her…She will be well coached…and we already have a fun evening planned in your absence. We will, if you have given written permission in your camp forms, allow her to go out for ice cream with a friend or two…or even dinner. She just must check out with Becky or myself before she leaves to make sure we have the appropriate permission. The other fun thing is that we will shortly post pictures of the show up on our website….or You Tube, so you will not miss any of the action. I love the blend of high tech with the fun of getting gritty in the show ring…and cooling off in the pool….so, a little something for everyone.
Sunday will be a peaceful day for all. We will put away all the ribbons, clean up our rooms, gather laundry, play cards and have a sleepy brunch. I also bet we will have lots of tales from the show. On Sunday afternoon, I have promised them the Ice Cream Trough…more on that after the fact so that you don’t think I am a derelict camp director….Lots of time to play with the farm animals, swim, bring out the baby chicks, replant some garden stuff that will produce second crops later on…and make a great big yummie salad out of what we have grown so far. I also hope to hook up the carriages and take them on a real farm wagon ride. As you can probably tell, Sunday is my favorite day with the kids because we get to do some of the more ‘farmy’ kind of things. I am hoping this Sunday to also make butterfly houses and bat houses….plus set up the baby chicks better for night time….So, as the girls are planning their Talent Night acts….we will all just enjoy being together and relaxing by the pool and on the farm.
The evening will end with our Talent Show, complete with MC…I adore seeing all the great talent that your kids possess….You sure have given them a great start in life by providing such a diverse set of skills. I do wish you could be a fly on the wall for these nights under the stars and around the bonfire.
Next week will be devoted to the other parts of riding…..a camping trip, driving carriages, natural horsemanship, vaulting, an all day drive or ride, a Hunter Pace….jousting and broom polo being new requests, culminating with swimming with the horses….so the riding and horse fun will not stop with the show.
We hope you are pleased that your child is under our care. We all send our best and with great wishes that you, too, are having some good summer fun and relaxation. Ain’t life grand!!!
Most warmly and with a great big smile!!!!
Boo and the whole Crew!!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment