Friday July 29th, 2011
Dearest Camp Families and Friends of the Farm,
It is with a happy heart that I write this blog to you. I just finished greeting the kids as they came in from their morning ride, and then had the pleasure of having lunch with ‘your ladies’. I had a blast. They are so full of fun and talked non-stop about each thing they were doing, and all about their ponies. To the last girl, they are awesome kids. I love being with them and just being around their great energy.
The staff has also truly enjoyed them this week. The girls have worked with the teachers to find just the right match to ride, making good observations and never being whiney or demanding. They are having a terrific time with all the camp favorites during the evening activities, and then they are ready to slip off to bed without one counselor having to call out “It’s time to be quiet…..I have asked you four times already!” We wish we could keep them for the rest of the summer…or until it was time to start college, and then we would give them back to you!!!!
I know that Becky has blogged a couple of times so let me start in the middle of the week. The kids all had the right mounts by Wednesday so we were excited to offer them a special clinic with Anne Geoghehan, a well-known and respected teacher in Sherborn, Ma. Although I had never personally met her, her reputation as an amazing teacher, trainer, rider and competitor had preceded her arrival. She was everything her reputation said….and better. I just loved her and her teaching style. I felt I had a new “friend” in the horse world. We enjoyed her input so much that we have already planned to have a weekend clinic with her next spring where all the camp staff and CITS would come to learn how to teach even better, feel out the new horses, and generally learn how to teach a solid, effective group lesson. I don’t know who was more excited about this….me, Anne, the kids or the staff. It was a total success and a great way to get some more feedback on how we can make camp even better….As you know, we are always striving to do a better and better job for our families and horses!
After the more serious clinic, on Thursday, half the group did riding lessons in the morning and the other half went swimming with the horses, and then switched in the afternoon. We are so delighted by our new pond to swim the horses. It is about 3 miles down the road so it is easy to ride to while we take the rest of the kids in the car. This is a lovely big secluded pond that has recently been put into conservation easement so they welcome us to come. We are hoping to go camping there too next week with some of the kids who want to go. We would take about 6 larger ponies so everyone could ride one way or the other. These are the kinds of things that I love seeing the kids do because they are not possible to do in so many more suburban or city areas. From my childhood, I remember the all-day rides with a picnic lunch around my pony’s neck, the overnights with my pony and my friends with their ponies…all the ‘fun’ stuff with horses. I do hope we are creating life time memories and friendships for your girls.
Today, the girls did a whole day of Gymkhana Games, both morning and afternoon. These games are part of what they call “The Battle of the Boy Bands”. It is a week-long competition that includes about half riding activities and half evening events, all that accrue points to the winning team. It is make up of one rider from each riding group, so people gather points for their team regardless of level of riding skill. They all dress in the same color shirts and have their ‘logo’. For a farm tour today, I did have to ask that the two tour guides washed off their mustaches, the identifier for the “Boys to Men” group!!!! They are too funny.
The games included all the usual fun ones with things like Bobbing for Apples, Sit a Buck, Dizzy Bat, etc. The new one introduced that I had never heard of was “Pudgy Bunny” where they had to shove two big marshmallows in their mouth and then say “Pudgy Bunny” before they could weave back through the poles in a relay. Everyone came in dirty and wet from the apple bobbing, but happy from head to foot.
After lunch, they were going to do Gambler’s Choice and the High Jump. Again, these are events in the competition. The newer riders will do obstacles and the more experienced riders will have a course set up in other rings. The level of difficulty determines the number of points that can be earned. The riders have to gather as many points as they can in 3 minutes. It is exciting to watch for sure. Meanwhile, the other favorite event is the Puissance or High Jump. Two jumps are set with a correct distance to help the horse or pony get to the second jump in stride and in balance. The second jump gets higher and higher until either the rider, the teacher or the horse say “No thank you, that is too high”. It is such a fun and exciting event that it is really one of the camp favorites. I am sure they will choose it to show you for the Parents’ Exhibition on Saturday’s pick up.
Tomorrow’s big event if that they will be doing a Hunter Pace. They will ride a 5 mile loop and try to do it in the optimal time….not too fast to be scary and not too slow to be boring. They are again all dressing in the same color outfits to be identified as a team….Following the Hunter Pace, which is carefully supervised by staff of course, they will also be judged on cooling out their horses and correctly putting them away after a long ride. Following a late lunch, they will do the usual rest hour, and then have the final event which is Stablemanagement. They will be scored on how well they do their barn chores, including things like safety, team work, attention to detail and elbow grease….then the scores will all be added up and prizes given out for the week of the “Battle of the Boy Bands”…..So fun!
Sunday will offer sleeping in, organizing rooms and laundry, swimming, playing with the small animals, arts and crafts, special treats and snacks and….of course, preparing for the Talent show on Sunday night….a big event with much serious practice on the part of the girls. We often have up to 24 or 25 acts….It is quite a show of silliness, talent, fun, agility, music ability, and dancing. I love the Talent Shows as it always makes me realize just how many miles you as parents have driven to take lessons of one kind or another. These kids sure do have talent. It is fun to see it come out at the Talent Show.
Well…I have gone on too long. The staff always tells me that a blog should just be a few paragraphs, but it is such fun to let you know what is happening here at Pony Farm that I know I get carried away! I’m sorry!!!!!
I hope you are having a great week and are looking forward to a relaxing weekend. Aren’t you glad you do not have to get in the car AGAIN to come to Pony Farm. You, too, can kick up your heels and have some fun, knowing your kids are safe, happy, healthy and totally engaged in everything but the computer and face book! Yipee, thanks for supporting our efforts to get them unplugged. You and they are GREAT.
Stay well and know that we are thinking of you!
Warmly, Boo
PS…For those of you who have asked about Kris Young…yes, she does still work here but only for 25 hours a week instead of 80! She really loves her role at camp and loves doing some of the fun ‘non horsey’ stuff and not being here 24/7! In fact, she is just about to move to my former Cottage so she can still be a part of the farm family. Thought you would like to know!
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