Session Four! - Friday!

It is another beautiful day at Pony Farm! Last night we went to the Cheshire Fair, an awesome county fair that has amazing food and rides. We indulged on the delicious food such as fried oreos, milkshakes, pizza, burgers, italian sausage…. the list goes on and on. The campers also enjoyed the different rides such as the swings, the carousel, and the absolutely crazy zipper. Cheshire Fair is a special place for Pony Farm-ers, even for the alumni! We had a few alumni stop by to enjoy the fair with us.

This morning the campers got to sleep in late… until 8:30! The girls are currently riding in a lesson. This afternoon campers will be picking their afternoon activities. We are going to offer a trail ride, pony dress-up, catch riding (where the campers all have a chance to ride each other’s ponies) and a trip to Budweiser. No, they are not going for the beer! At the Budweiser factory in Merrimack, they have a stable of the Budweiser clydesdales that we go to visit as a field trip. This evening will be smores (yum!) by a bonfire with Boo as she tells some of her famous Pony Farm stories.

Tomorrow will be a Gymkhana, a day of games on horseback! Parents are welcome to stop by between 10:00 and 12:00 to see the mounted games on the flat. We will be doing games such as rock and spoon, sit-a-buck, and dizzy bat. In the afternoon, we will have the jumping portion of the gymkhana. The more advanced riders will have the option to compete in puissance: a high jump competition. Everyone will have the option to do the gambler’s choice. This is a competition to see who can rack up the most points and create their own course. Each jump has an assigned point value and the rider can jump whichever jumps she wants. Some of the jumps are designed to be tough! We will also have an obstacle course version of gambler’s choice for those who don’t want to jump. That evening will be a relaxed night with pizza and a movie. Until next time! -Zoe the Counselor

Session 4 - The Day Before the Fair!

I can’t believe it is session 4 already! This summer has flown by. We are all gearing up for the Cheshire fair tomorrow, a true highlight of the summer. On Monday, the girls all had their test rides to make sure they liked their ponies. That afternoon was a huge storm, so unfortunately swimming and re-rides were cancelled. Instead, we had unmounted lessons in the barn. The campers learned about horsemanship skills such as wrapping, anatomy, and parts of tack. That evening we had bag skits. These are silly skits using random objects.

On Tuesday we had lessons in the new lesson groups. All the girls have found their pony match. That afternoon, the girls who are doing the away show prepped by giving their ponies a bath and cleaning tack. The other campers chose between a trail ride, driving, vaulting, or helping give pony rides to the day camp. Tuesday evening was casino night for the non-showing kids. We played a crazy game of spoons and other board games. The campers who are showing packed for the show and did last minute preparations.

Today the show kids left bright and early for Furnace Brook Farm. The rest of the camp are currently having lessons. This afternoon will be a big trip to the falls. The falls are waterfalls that are located just a few miles from camp. It is currently a heat wave in New Hampshire so the cold water will be very refreshing. This evening is a Pony Farm tradition: personal scavenger hunt. This is a special Pony Farm trivia game featuring teams who run to answer questions about the farm, horse knowledge, or even sing a song for points. You have to see it to believe it!

Tomorrow will be morning lessons. However, we will be doing barn chores during afternoon activities in order to prepare for our 4 PM departure time for the Cheshire Fair!! This is an amazing county fair that we are lucky enough to be able to experience. We will be there for dinner as well as evening activity.

Until next time! - Zoe the Counselor

Session 3 - Friday: Guest Blogger Zoe

Hello again, this is Zoe the counselor reporting on the 2nd week of session 3. Session 3 is coming to a close and we have been having so much fun! On Tuesday, we had a gymkhana, which are games on horseback. Each rider competed for points for her boy band. In the morning we had relay races, such as egg and spoon, sit-a-buck, and dizzy bat. In the afternoon, the girls participated in gambler’s choice. Gambler’s choice is an obstacle course or difficult jumping course in which the girls have to make their own unique course and collect the most points by completing the jumps or obstacles. This can be very tricky!

Wednesday was a special day since we finally got to swim with the horses! This is the first time this summer we have had the opportunity to do this activity. The girls had a lesson in the morning and swam with the horses in the afternoon or vice versa. That evening, the girls did their final lip synch for our special guest judges. All the dance moves were amazing! New Kids on the Block and Beach Boys ended up having an exciting dance-off due to a tied score. In the end, the Beach Boys ended up taking home the prize of Connolly’s ice cream. All the other teams had prizes as well☺.

Thursday was a normal day, with lessons in the morning. Afternoon activities were practicing their “specialties” which are the activities they will be presenting to the parents on Saturday after their short lessons. In the evening, half the camp went camping at Boo’s house. Boo has a wonderful house with a lake to camp by. The rest of the camp stayed home and did a fun horseless horse show. They also participated in a new game created by the counselors: Musical Spoons. It is a cross between horseless horse show, musical chairs, and spoons.

This morning (Friday), the girls are currently riding in their final lessons. This afternoon will consist of packing and swimming in the pool. Finally, tonight will be candlelight. Candlelight is a special Pony Farm tradition in which the girls write something special to share with the camp around a campfire. We have had letters to ponies, poems and even songs.

I speak from all of the staff in saying that although we look forward to seeing the parents on Saturday, we are not excited to see all the campers go! It has been an awesome 2 weeks with such a close-knit group of girls. I hope to see them all next year!

Session 3 - Guest Blogger Zoe

Hello, this is Zoe Bennett writing a guest blog post for the first week of the 3^rd session of camp. I am a senior staff member who came back after many years away. I was a camper for two years, as well as a CIT and senior staff member. Pony Farm is still my home away from home!

This week at camp has been filled with tons of fun activities. On Monday we finished horse matches. With only 25 campers, we have lots of horses to choose from. However, there were only 2 re-rides in the afternoon (wow!). The rest of the camp swam in the pool and played with the small animals. The miniature horses were taken around an obstacle course and the goats happily grazed on the lawn of the homestead.

                This session in camp we have another Pony Farm Tradition called “Battle of the Boy Bands”. The camp separates into 5 teams, each named after a boy band. The teams this year are: NSYNC, Backstreet Boys, Jonas Brothers, Beach Boys, and New Kids on the Block. Many activities are used to calculate points for their boy band. Some activities include barn clean up, dress up days (e.g. facial hair day or Princess Leia hair day) , and evening activities. Monday night, the campers divided up into their boy bands and participated in bag skits. The goal of the activity is to take random items from a bag and make up a skit about it. Some of the skits are extremely funny!

Tuesday was Pajama Day, which meant that by wearing their pajamas to barn chores, the girls could earn points for their boy band teams. In the morning we had lessons with the staff. For the afternoon activity, the girls chose from the options of free ride – where each girl learns how to school her horse or pony on her own, driving, or a quiet trail ride. For evening activity, we played the chocolate game, which is a game which consists of eating large quantities of chocolate. We also had a snipe hunt, which is an old Pony Farm tradition. Did you know snipes love peanut butter? ;)

Today we sent nine kids to go the away horse show at Furnace Brook Farm. All the girls had a great time and came back with a large amount of ribbons! While they were away, the rest of the girls had lessons. The lesson I taught did some jumping without hands and other fun exercises. The horse show girls were back by afternoon activity. A few kids stayed back to do catch riding, which is switching horses with your friends. The rest of the camp went on a trip to the falls. The falls are waterfalls that are right around the corner. The weather was hot, and the water was extremely cold! Tonight we have personal scavenger hunt: a type of trivia game that involves running and some singing. This will also be for boy band points.

As you can see, we have had an extremely busy week! It will only get busier, since this Sunday we have a home horse show. Camp Parents: Please stay tuned for an email about when to arrive to watch your daughters ride.

Session Two - Friday Evening

Dear Moms and Dads, and other Camp Followers like Grandparents and Relatives!!!
I always love it when Becky asks me to write a blog to you all. It makes me step back from the hectic schedule of the farm and reflect on what fun we have all together.  John Denver did not know what he was talking about when he wrote “Life on the farm is kinda laid back!”  He had never seen a day at Pony Farm!  We sure have something going every single minute.  No bored or lazy kids here!
Yesterday morning dawned muddy but sunny.  After the torrential downpours on Wednesday, good weather was a welcome relief.  The kids were such good sports tromping through the mud and puddles to catch their ponies. They even worked to dry out all the equipment from the soggy horse show.  I reviewed ‘the troops’ at barn chores and much to my delight, every kid said that she had a blast at the horse show.  That is a true testament to the kids and the staff!
Despite being a little tired, the kids were ready to ride again…Where do they get that kind of energy?!?  The riding lessons for the campers who had attended the show were ‘flat’ lessons, meaning no jumping. The rest dug into their learning with gusto.
Following a yummy lunch of their favorite Mac and Cheese with extra cheese (and salad of course!), they went off to rest hour to gather energy for an action packed afternoon.  The activities to choose from ranged from Pony/Mini Spa Day, a Gunner Gold Rush Hike up Temple Mountain with Becky, Bareback riding in the ring, Catch Riding (where everyone switches and rides each other’s pony or horse!) and carriage driving.  The driving seems to be a big hit this year.  Unbeknown to the campers, the driving team had a plan to drive them up to Connolly’s Dairy Farm for a special treat of homemade ice cream.  Armed with 16 kids, two pairs of ponies and three carriages pulled by single ponies, we were off. Sadly, a pin on one of the harness fell out and my crew had to unhook and lead the pair home. Gratefully, nothing bad happened as a result of this equipment failure.  The kids and I drove in my car up to Connolly’s for ice cream and to meet the other driving contingent.  Delicious ice cream was enjoyed by one and all on a sunny summer afternoon. What could be better!
This cadre of activities was followed by snack time and feeding the horses. Then the “Ultimate Barn Team Challenge” was on!!! Each barn competed for the cleanest, neatest and most well swept & raked barn.  Kris was the judge and a prize of Dunkin Donuts was awarded to the winning barn.  Everything looked so much better after this team challenge.  It was certainly worth a dozen donuts!
A Ship Wreck Dinner followed with each camper being given some kind of cooking implement as their silverware. Amid great laughter and gaiety, they had to eat with spatulas, whisks, serving spoons and forks, etc.  This crazy dinner was followed by a rousing game of Capture the Flag.  Two teams mustered lots of hutzpah to be the victors.  A nice Good Night Circle followed where everyone remembered the best parts of their day and sang the good old favorite camp songs.  They tip toed off to bed for a solid night’s sleep.  A good day was had by all!
Today was a pristine day of sun and cool, lovely breezes, in short, a perfect day for riding.  After the morning meeting and room clean up, with each room in hot contention for being the cleanest winning room, the girls went to their riding groups.  I had the fun and pleasure of walking around to see each group with a board member and a special guest of the farm.  I saw such good riding, happy students and careful, clear teachers.  It was such fun to ‘show off’ our farm family of two and four footed treasures!
This afternoon the girls had to choose between vaulting (gymnastics on the moving horse) on Avalon, an 18 hand Belgian; a peaceful trail ride; Pair Jumping in the ring; and a Free Ride where the girls planned their own practice of new skills or polishing their horse’s work under the watchful eye of an instructor.  Because the trail ride was such a big seller, we ended up splitting the gang into two groups.  I am writing this while they are finishing up their afternoon, getting snack and beginning barn chores.  I am about to go down to be with them for showers, dinner prep and the evening.  Our big game tonight is Counselor Quest.  This is a fav as each counselor plans where she is going to hide in the best place.  Kids who ‘find’ the various staff members get points, with the most points for the most counselors found wins.    We will then follow this with Goodnight Circle, during which time, we will talk about why we love the United States of America.  We will sing patriotic songs as we prepare for the 4th of July!
Tomorrow we will all gather and go to the Temple 4th of July Games on the town ball field. This will entail ribbons for all ages with crazy, silly foot games. This culminates in an Egg Toss, followed by a Fire Hose tug of war, with the losing side being soaked with the fire hose!  With lots of sunscreen, rides in the old fashioned Fire Truck called Annabelle,  and a wonderful cookout with the Temple Fire Department, good old fashioned fun will abound.
So, I hope that your 4th of July is filled with fun and delight.  May you eat delicious food and be with friends and family, knowing that your children are well tended and loved here at Pony Farm.
With more adventures to come in our 2nd week of Session 2, I am happily sending greetings across the air waves to you all.
Cheers and with a smile,
Boo!!!

Session Two - Wednesday: Life is Good!

Dear Camp Families,

It was so wonderful to see all of you on Sunday.  It was like a reunion with friends!  I just love having so many returning campers!  The campers that were new to camp, have taken to camp like a fish to water.  You wouldn’t even be able to pick out the new ones because they have been welcomed whole heartedly and fit in so well!  It is a joy to have them here!  Almost like the gang is back together!  Life is good!

On Monday we did our trial rides and had about 6 campers do re-rides.  I think we have everyone on the love of their life, in the form of a pony, that is!  On Monday afternoon we painted ponies, because why wouldn’t you!  We did a slip and slide, played with small animals, went to Budweiser, and did re-rides!  On Monday night we had bag skits.  Kris, our General Manager and former camp director, was with the kids. (I was in a staff meeting, not nearly as much fun as bag skitsL)  She posted on Facebook, that after 32 years of Bag Skits, she still doesn’t know what room does!

If you don’t know what Bag Skits are 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.

Tuesday was a BEAUTIFUL DAY!  We rode in our riding groups in the morning and did our afternoon activities!  Many of the campers were getting ready for the show last night, so the rest of the camp had a Casino Night scheduled, but opted for a horseless horse show instead!

It is Wednesday and pouring rain!  We have 20 campers at an away horse show.  It is never a dull moment at camp!  Our other 15 campers are at different stations in the barns.  We have a leg wrapping station going on, how to take a bridal apart and put it back together, naming the parts of a horse with Annie and she is being labeled, but is a good sport about it.  (Annie the horses, not the human.)  We also have a trivia station!  This afternoon we are going to have Know-Down Show-Down on all the info they have learned so far!  And there will be candy involved…mainly because we NEVER have candy at camp and anything to help make a rainy day better is a good thing.

Boo will be writing later this week and we all know how she is the better writer of the duo!  In the mean time you can follow our activities on Facebook.  Here is the link if you need it - https://www.facebook.com/ponyfarmsummercamp?ref=hl

Best,

Becky