Horse Camp Fun

Rachel and Jenna have begged to go to horse camp for years. They know that horse camp is a reality because they remember that when they were little (six)

Josh went to horse camp.



I was sure it would never happen—horse camp x 2 was just financially out of reach. And then in the fall there was a groupon for 1/2 price horse camp. I was pretty sure we’d never find a better deal than that, so we bought them for the girls’ BIG Christmas present. They had to be used by April, and I promise you there has not been a week since the beginning of January that they have not begged to go to horse camp the next week. If they’d had their way they would have gone as soon as Cindy Lynn went back to Idaho, and they would have frozen the whole week. I made them wait until the weather was going to be decent and until there were a few other girls going for the week as well.

In the end it worked out perfectly. (Except for the driving, which as you know almost killed me!) They were excited beyond belief to pack their lunch and snacks every morning and go off to spend the day with the horses.

The farm also had lots of other animals. Guinea hens, which roam around and eat ticks. (Yum.) Turkeys, which roam around and show off their plumage.



(I promise you the turkey’s heads look just like Darth Vadar’s head in the final Star Wars, when he finally takes off the mask. I’m pretty sure that’s where the makeup artist got his inspiration…)



The farm also had a miniature horse which the girls were enchanted with.



But mostly the farm had horses. Horses, horses, and more horses. I wish I’d thought to take some kind of picture to show all of their (muddy) pastures. Many of the horses on the farm have been rescued from abusive or neglectful situations, and right now they have 95 horses! (That’s a LOT of horses!) The girls each bonded with a horse early in the week and rode that particular horse the rest of the week.

On Wednesday Jared and I dropped the girls off, spent the morning in Raleigh with our friends, and then went back to the horse camp to take pictures when we knew the girls would be getting ready to go for a trail ride. When we got there they were grooming the horses and saddling them.




Rachel was so proud that she had learned how to tighten and tie the girth strap herself.



Here they are ready for their ride.







After they were ready to go Jared and I walked down the road a little to a place that we could see them after they were walking. We were standing near a (muddy) pasture with several horses in it and Jared was grossed out when the one nearest us started, well, relieving itself, and then the one next to it!

Finally the girls rode by, looking so happy.

Horse camp was definitely a success. I’m thrilled that they had this opportunity!