Dear Pony Farm Moms and Dads…
Let me begin by thanking YOU for loaning us your Treasures…We have had a great week together. They are certainly helping to carry on the Pony Farm tradition with their sweet smiles, cheery laughs, hard work and good willingness to learn. I hope you will be pleased with what they have accomplished in a few short days…They have really tried hard to master so many new skills, including not being Homesick!!! For such a young group of girls and so many new ones who have not been to the farm, the lack of Homesickness speaks volumes about you as parents…Well done in creating such stalwart kids who get along so well.
Despite the threats of tornadoes on Tuesday and the rain on the camping trip last night, we have certainly crammed a lot in this week. As Becky so well documented for you via both her blog and tons of pictures…and a video of a Snipe Hunt on Facebook… the girls have really bonded well. Many friendships were created in a short period of time.
To pick up where Becky left off, yesterday morning the girls all rode in their lesson groups for one more good solid learning time. We have also had each group go out at least once on a trail ride so they can have the fun of not only riding round and round the ring. We think that the natural world and riding up & down the dirt roads helps teach kids how to ride every bit as much as in a ring…maybe more!
Then, with great eagerness, the girls signed up for their Specialties which they will demo for you tomorrow. Much to our surprise 17 girls signed up to drive…an all-time high. It is super that we have lots of ponies who drive so we could accommodate them all! It is quite a brigade!
Most of the rest of the kids signed up to jump…not a surprise! They do love soaring over those rails! For the rest of the die-hard riders, they are doing a mounted Obstacle Course or Vaulting, which is gymnastics on the moving horse. We love having this variety and giving kids the opportunity to try all kinds of horsey things while they are with us. We can’t wait for you to see what they have learned.
Last night we also had the much awaited Pony Camping trip. Due to the possibility of rain, we only took two ponies and camped right near my house. We have a pond with lots of bullfrogs and tad poles, so this provided good evening entertainment while dinner was cooking. Following setting up for bedding down, I told stories about some of the favorite horses at the farm. The girls love these stories much more than any ghost stories especially if it is their first time in a tent in the dark. We ended the evening singing the old camp favorites by fire light and flash light. Everyone tucked in nicely and peace reigned.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the rest of the kids had a mighty Snipe Hunt. We had prepped a house for any captured Snipe. Armed with tubs of peanut butter, the kids smeared the PB on their noses as they crept through the buses in search of the mighty Snipe! After much effort and quiet hunting, alas no Snipes appeared. A good time was had by all with much wild imaginings as to where they would put their Snipe once they got home!
Today dawned rainy and gray, but no one was daunted in the least. The camping trip team had breakfast in my kitchen and got to look at all the pictures of the horses we had talked about in the stories last night. With sleeping bags rolled up and the truck packed, homeward bound we came. We ended up right at the perfect moment to have yet another breakfast of pan fries and yogurt fruit cups. Rooms got cleaned up and off they all went for a ride in the sprinkles so they would be sharp for you tomorrow.
This afternoon will be packing, writing their Candlelight Ceremony reading, organizing for their Specialties, and wrapping up with Slip and Slide in the rain. After barn chores, we will all get clean and dressed nicely for our lovely dinner together. Then, hopefully without rain, we will have an Evening Bonfire and Candlelight Circle where everyone officially reads what their experience at the farm meant to them. Sprinkled in with favorite songs, this is one of my favorite nights of camp. I do like all the dress up and silly games, but I love their heartfelt sentiments even more. It lets me know that the Pony Farm spirit is alive and well!!! Forty four years of Candlelight Ceremonies and we are still going strong…
We are happy to see you tomorrow but cannot believe we already have to give you your children back! Where did the session go???? Please do arrive with your own picnic and ready to watch your kids ride. We will then all eat together and do a wrap up Closing. We even have professional photographs of your kids this session. Do not feel pressured to purchase them. These are surely optional but I think you will get a kick out of them!
Until tomorrow, travel safely and know how much we have enjoyed your kiddos. After all these years, it still delights me that girls and ponies are such a magical combination!
With a big smile and lots of good cheer,
Boo
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