Spring Scout Clinic

Sunday we finished a weekend riding clinic with a very special group of Girl Scouts from the Rochester area. Every one of them was enthusiastic from the start. As we approached safety rules on Friday evening, they jumped right in to learn and share, and we knew right away that their clinic would be a success.

Saturday morning we met at the bleachers, organized for the day, and then tackled the whole horse experience. Riders were matched to horses. Then they learned how to groom, tack up, lead, clean stalls, and ride. Safety rules were practiced so that every rider realized the importance of safety as they moved around their horses and then moved with their horses.

I smiled on Saturday when the scout leader told about one of the girls who heard a horse blow raspberries. The girl's comment was, "This is so real!" I thought about how this time with the horses brings new life to a girl's horse dreams.

In the morning on Sunday, riders shared a gymkhana; in the afternoon, they enjoyed a horse show, complete with a ribbon for everyone.

I will say throughout the weekend, there were a few riders who felt unsure of their balance. Riding horses seemed pretty scary. However, with support from our clinic helpers, they managed well, and look back today on their weekend with pride and real affection for their Sprucelands horses.

Clinic Helpers 2008

These happy, smiling faces are Clinic Helpers. They came to camp this last weekend to run a riding clinic for a Girl Scout troop from Rochester, New York. It was an awesome weekend, partly because we love teaching the scouts about horses, and partly because we thoroughly enjoy just being together.

Our Clinic Helpers are Sprucelands heroes. You hear me say that often. I will continue to say that for weeks and months and years. These are the wonderful young people who introduce Girl Scout troops to horses and then help them through this: their first horse experience.

Clinic Helpers teach safety rules, run feedings, manage ground and riding lessons, instruct classes on horse colors, markings and parts, supervise a gymkhana and oversee a horse show. The scouts of course are thrilled with the fun and responsibilities of the weekend. They model themselves after the Clinic Helpers and leave for home better for their clinic connection.

Lessons Learned

This is Scribbles and Alie. I want to brag about them. Why? Well, let's put it this way. Over the last few weekends, both of them surprised me with what they know.

Alie has been involved with Sprucelands since she came as a camper one summer and after a variety of experiences chose to return as a Clinic Helper in the off season, and then a Counselor in Training. Now Alie is a second year Counselor and a graduating senior headed for college.

Alie and her sister, Kristen, leased one of our horses - Sunrise - over the winter, and Alie took on training that horse as her Senior Project. Her mentor was the owner of her stables in Webster, New York; her project involved ground work, riding, creating a pictoral manual (The Basics of Horsemanship and Riding), designing a power point, and then making a formal presentation of all she learned to her senior class. In fact, she makes that presentation this week.

Anyway, coming here on the weekends, Alie applied her training skills to ground work with Scribbles. Now as background for you, Scribbles moved into Sprucelands last December as a three year old. We were told Scribbles had done trails, but we had no clue about her actual training. She has worked her way nicely into the herd and is adjusted to barn/feeding routines. Well, Alie took her on; Scribbles responded with excellence.

This weekend Alie's sister, Kristen, rode Scribbles in a lesson. So this is where we brag about Scribbles. Kristen discovered that Scribbles walks, trots, canters, backs up, trots ground poles, and turns on the forehand. Scribbles is kind, willing, and eager to learn. Needless to say, we were surprised and delighted that Scribbles is a positive addition to our string of school horses.

So kudos to Alie, Scribbles and Kristen too! What fun it is to watch you work together, apply what you are learning, and reap the benefits of your hard work.

Meet Anna

This is Anna. She is one of the helpers who pitched in at the work weekend to organize the tack room at the end of the main barn. Saddles, bits, stirrups, girths, reins and saddle pads were tackled. I know this was tedious. However, their hard work will make the next steps in our cleaning much, much easier.

I wanted to put Anna's photo on the blog because several of you new campers are emailing Anna. She is fun to communicate with because she so nicely answers your questions about the summer.

What I appreciate about Anna is that she really writes you back, and she will be a good friend once you get to camp. This summer in fact, Anna will be a CIT (Counselor in Training). So she can give you lots of tips about how things work within the daily camp schedule.

Of course, you can also see the summer schedule by looking at the website. Check out www.sprucelands.com/camp_day.html. I think you'll really find this page helpful.

Meanwhile, meet Anna through this photo. She has been coming to Sprucelands for a long time, maybe 6-7 years. I've enjoyed teaching her how to ride in the off season. Then as she matures in her riding, the summer camp instructors like giving her new and different challenges.

One thing we love about Sprucelands you know is hearing how riders mesh their horse experiences with personal experiences 'out there', achieving balance and confidence in whatever they tackle. Anna has been in school drama productions this year, and so she expands her influence and makes a positive difference as she shares her talents in ways that touch many. Good for you, Anna!

Spring Feeding Chart

There is a rite of passage - a symbol - of our transition from winter into spring and then the summer season. That symbol is the update to our feeding chart. Here you see Alie and Tarrah making those updates. It takes much time.

These are the dry erase boards that map out where the horses are stalled in the barns, what they are eating, and how much they get when feeds are dished up morning and evening.

The charts hang proudly in the grain room and are very helpful at keeping us organized. This does not mean the boards are final for summer, but it moves us one step closer to camp. Thank you Alie and Tarrah!

Spring Work Weekend

Two weekends ago we had our first work weekend, and the weather was phenomenal. Just like a summer day: warm, sunny, bugs!

I will admit that Saturday in particular was a day that invited you into the outdoors and then made you want to stay there. Brushes, curry combs, hoof picks, and mane combs were scrubbed. The three tack rooms were cleaned after winter dust had covered everything. Ah-choo!

We started removing cobwebs from the barn. As horses came in for evening feeding, they were groomed. It gave us an opportunity to help them with their shedding out process. And amidst all the hard work, we sneezed and laughed and giggled and caught up on each other's news. What a terrific day! It couldn't have been more perfect.

I appreciate everyone's help - always. We had quite a crowd. You can see Jenn, Tarrah, Katie, Agy, and Alie in this photo. Lots of clinic helpers joined in an effort to earn time toward their free week of camp. Many will be back for more work weekends across May and June. Many donated time out of their busy schedules to support their beloved Sprucelands. With all these hands and cheerful hearts, we should be in great shape come the start of camp.

Grandma Brags

A few weeks ago, I found a sweatshirt in our camp cupboards small enough for my grandson, Brady. So he appeared this week to help me feed horses dressed in his camp attire. Here you see our budding two year old model, showing off a Sprucelands sweatshirt.



Brady's smile is always appreciated and the twinkle in his eye is what grandma calls unforgettable. I'm just like all grandmas everywhere. I love to brag, and I just can't resist showing you how Brady is growing up. He brightens my life. In fact, he is becoming quite the conversationalist these days as he develops his social skills.

In this photo we are sitting on the mounting ramp at the barn. I am entertaining - and keeping Brady safe - while his dad helps the hay man unload bales from the back of the hay truck. "Look, Brady, smile for grandma's camera," I say, and the result is what you have here. Of course, within minutes, we were exploring mud puddles again. Besides the horses, those puddles are always a main attraction.