Pony Farm Session 3 - A True Confession

Dear Camp Families,

True confession...I have been too busy having fun and hanging out with your wonderful children to write.  It is a rough life I lead, I know!

We have been busy and the weather has been amazing. (You really couldn't ask for better weather!)

We have been going on Trail Rides, Personal Scavenger Hunts, Catch Riding, Vaulting, Carriage Driving, Trips to the Falls and more.

Yup, another Shipwreck Dinner! (Remember that?)

The worm - during Personal Scavenger Hunt
(not sure I could explain this if I tried!)

And then there are horse friends and human friends, happy together!

Now do you understand why I haven't written?

Best,

Becky
Co-Camp Director

P.S. Maybe I haven't been writing, but I have been posting lots of photos on Facebook! You can check out the first batch here:

Post by Pony Farm.

Pony Farm Session 2 - We Have Momentum!

Dear Camp Families,

It is a warm day here in southern NH, and your girls are champs!  They did a beautiful job at our horse show on Saturday! All but two campers decided to show, and the two girls who did not kept busy helping their friends and cheering them on. We had many local riders showing with us well.

Boo expertly braiding Sophie's hair before Saturday's horse show

Ava & Ellie at the show

Sunday, we had fun sleeping in (no morning barn chores!), watching a movie, cleaning rooms and then hanging out at the pool.  We were surrounded by small animals, books, arts and crafts and friends.  The horses always have Sundays off.

Gruffy staying cool on his day off

Monday, we had lessons in the morning.  Choices for afternoon activities were Pair Jumping, Vaulting, Driving, Trail Ride, Swimming at the Falls, or Catch Riding.  The evening activity is Fashion Show, which is like no fashion show you've seen before (OAPF!).

All the ways we're having fun this week!

We have a busy week ahead of us, as you can see from our schedule!  We are camping overnight twice because everybody wants to go!  It is hard to take 28 campers camping at once, so we are going to take two separate trips!

Best,

Becky

Pony Farm Session 2 - Working for the Weekend

Dear Camp Parents,

We have been busy!

But first, I know that I left you hanging about Ship Wreck Dinner.  On a ship wreck dinner night, the campers don't get your typical spoons, forks, or knives.  Nopers!  They get ladles, funnels, serving spoons and tongs, and more outlandish implements.  We like to get creative!  Have you ever seen a camper eat mashed potatoes by sucking it with a funnel? Well, it is a hoot!

On Wednesday night, we played the Chocolate Game and Counselor Quest.  During the Chocolate Game, I always feel like a bit boss in a casino!  There are campers screaming with excitement, yelling for more chocolate bars, dice are being thrown, children are eating chocolate Hersey bars with spoons and socks on their hands, ... you know, typical camp stuff.  It is never a dull moment here!

We have been doing group riding lessons in the morning in anticipation of the show on Saturday morning.

Isa and Princess working on their technique

This week, painting jumps has been a popular choice on the afternoon activities list.

Painting jumps: It takes a village  summer camp.

This afternoon, we are washing ponies, cleaning tack, and polishing boots.  Tonight, we are having a cook out.  Boo is going to talk about show etiquette and possibly tell some "Boo stories." (O.A.P.F.!)

Cleaning Kiddo!

Cleaning tack in the upper barn

Cleaning boots on the porch

We hope to see some of you at the show. First classes are at 9:00. I know all of camp will be up bright and early.  It is a lot of work to get all the children and ponies ready to show!

Best,
Becky

Pony Farm Session 2 - Keeping Busy

Dear Camp Families,

Yay! We passed the swim test!

Session 2 of Pony Farm Summer Camp has started off with beautiful blue skies and amazing weather!  We haven't had a drop of homesickness, which is always nice.

After our trial rides this morning, we had 5 re-rides for the afternoon to make sure every girl is riding the best horse for her. 

During re-rides the rest of the camp take their swim tests and play with the small animals.  We stay pretty busy here at camp.  It is a little bit different than sitting at your desk at school.

Small animal parade

This evening we play bag skits.  It is a fun and funny game!  Each room of campers gets an empty bag and goes to their room and puts 10 items in the bag.  Then everybody comes back out, and we switch all the bags around.  The campers go back to their rooms to make up a skit using the items in the bag they were handed.

Everyone has a certain amount of time to make up their skit, and then it's showtime!  As I said, it is fun and funny - to pick the items in the bag, to figure out your skit, to see what another room did with your items.

Tomorrow night is shipwreck dinner. You just have to wait until next time to know how that one goes.

Best,

Becky
Co-Camp Director

3 out of 4 campers prefer this T-shirt.

Pony Farm Session 1 - Friday Already??

Dear Camp Families (Especially Session One Families!),

Thank you for entrusting your children to us! We have a had a wonderful session! Thank you for doing your job as parents, because you have terrific kids (for real, not for fake), and thank you for letting us as a camp do our job.

Terrific kids such as these three! (P.S. They clean up well.)

I am sad to see this group depart, but I am thankful  they are the way we started our summer.

I think your girls have learned a lot in this one week, and I hope you notice the changes as well.  Here are a few things that I think they will take away from camp this week.

Perseverance - when your counselors hid really well during counselor quest.  The group that stays together as a team, works as a team, and looks for the counselors until the horn blows will win.  The group whose members give up quickly because it is hard won't find the counselors.

Winning isn't everything. You won't always win every game and that's ok.  The important part is you tried your best.

Great things can come from putting down the cell phones, TVs,  iPods, laptops, iPads and everything in between.  Those great things are called nature, horses, sunshine, friends, and so much more!   

Driving lessons with Boo & George, AKA "learning how to fly with Peaches"

From my perspective, these girls have a lot more confidence in themselves.  I hope you notice these changes and more in your children when you take them home tomorrow.   For these reasons and more, camp is so important. 

Newest members of the Gruffy fan club!

All of us are looking forward to seeing you tomorrow. Your girls have worked hard at their riding lessons and their “specialty,” and they are so excited – WE are so excited – for you to see what they’ve accomplished.

Best,

Becky

Pony Farm Session 1 is Off to the Races!

Dear Pony Farm Camp Families,

Roxy was up bright and early
this morning too!

First, your girls are fabulous!  What a lovely, outgoing, polite group of kids!  There was no home sickness last night as everyone got ready for bed, a sure sign of a great session.  Naturally some of them had a hard time staying quiet until 7:30 this morning.  (But really, who can blame them? I would have a hard time, too!)

It is a gorgeous day here in southern NH.  The sun is out, and it is a little cool. But it's going to warm up in time for swim tests this afternoon. Jordan Reynolds, our Barn Manager, is also a certified life guard. She takes care of swim tests on the first day to make sure everyone can be safe in the pool -- and when swimming the horses, which happens later this week!

Meeting at the big red rock for barn chores

This morning the campers are working on barn chores, and then we will have breakfast.  After breakfast, the girls will get dressed to ride and clean their rooms.  Yes, you read that right. They clean their rooms here!  

We have too many moving parts not to try to stay organized, and that includes camper rooms.  I will tell you our secret to getting our campers to clean their rooms:  We have a competition for room clean up, and everyone in the cleanest room gets Connolly's ice cream.  (Some people may call this bribing, others might call it positive reinforcement.  I just call it smart.)

After they are dressed we will have a community meeting going over how the day will run!  Then we send them down to the barns to get tacked up and test out those ponies and horses!

Best,

Becky

PS Like Pony Farm on Facebook and check out lots more photos. We'll be posting through the week!

Boo's Update

 [Editor's Note: As many of you know, Boo is recovering from injuries due to a fall last month. She's making great strides in her recovery, and emailed us this update.]

The sun is shining bright down here at the Rehab Center where I am getting all strong and ready for the Pony Farm Reunion weekend in June...and for Pony Farm's 43nd summer of camp...my favorite time of year....I am calling my physical therapy Boot Camp and applying every smile and muscle to get better and get back to the farm I LOVE...and you all!!!

I am soooooo sad to miss the Pony Farm Gathering in Natick tonight.  I shout out a thanks and a 'love you' to John and Anet for hosting this fun evening for us.

 I HOPE lots of you show up to celebrate the farm and our 'farm family'.  This was such a super evening last year that I am just so sad to miss it. I will be there in spirit and will be toasting you from afar.  Maybe you all could call me sometime during that night. It would be sooooooooooo fun to hear your voices and make missing it a little easier.  Do take a look at the website for address and details.  Here's to PF Strong!

My entire goal is to get back to the farm and fit & firm for the Pony Farm Reunion weekend (June 6-8). It is so fun seeing the attendee list building...I hope lots more of you join us for this fun weekend of "Grown Up Camp Fun"!!!! Be in touch with Kris and join us for a full weekend of farm, friendship and good cheer.

However, the thing I am long time most excited about it having camp get started. We have a super full camp with great horses and wonderful staff. We could be ready to open tomorrow. With the upgrades to the lodge and the new rings and fencing, the farm is in tip top shape.

One of the other exciting things is that we really worked hard this winter to create a full curriculum for each riding group. Andi and I divided up both the riding, horsemanship and stable management skills that we hope each level can achieve during each girls' stay with us.  We are just concluding with lesson plans, games, activities and obstacle or jumping courses to hone each mounted skill in  a fun, interesting and creative way.  We want to be known as a specialty riding camp that has top flight teaching staff and horses.  We are shooting to have each camper's riding instructor be delighted with the progress she has made when she goes home to her barn.

We have spent hours on this and we will be presenting the results on the Pony Farm pages on our website and on the Opening Day of camp for each session. We will also feature the proud results of each group's progress on the final riding exhibition demo for each session.  We want our parents to be thrilled with the riding and horse ability of their daughters.

So....with lots of time on my hands as I wait for the next therapy session, please email me (bmartin@touchstone-farm.org) and give me your news. I am hungry for news 'of the outside world.'  Hearing from people definitely keeps my spirits bright and happy.

With much fondness, good cheer and a big smile,

Boo