Sprucelands Last Spring Clinic 2011

This group was ready to go! What wonderful friends they are.

Where has the time gone? Things have been a bit crazy between school and camp. Between recruiting horses and campers, finishing up school projects, completing our last riding clinic for the spring, and getting the facility in readiness mode for camp, I've barely had an inch to breathe. Now it's time to get our blog moving again.

Before sharing news about camp, I need to make a post honoring our last weekend riding clinic because we had an absolute, positive ball with the girls who attended. Many of these girls had been to Sprucelands for prior riding clinics. They brought with them a new bunch and so we all got acquainted or reacquainted, sharing our love for riding and horses and each other.

Of course, while we were having fun, Thunder was ready for a nap!

It was the usual routine on Saturday morning. The girls settled right in to feed the horses, groom, tack up, lead, and then remind themselves about the basics of riding. Those who were back snuggled right into their saddles, sat up straight, looked where they were going and did their own steering. I was so impressed.

Because Sprucelands gives riders such a solid foundation, they build on that each time they sit in the saddle. They are balanced. That is the most important concept. Once a rider realizes that balance is the ideal, then they can do almost anything, and they learn new skills easily.

We did a lot of laughing this weekend. I think this group brings out the giggles in us. When I saw the photo above of Thunder, I decided to share because I know the girls will get a kick out of her big yawn.

Romeo has become a wonderful clinic horse. All his riders are Juliettes!

The weather cooperated pretty well. We did have an opportunity to ride both inside the indoor arena and outside in ring #1. There were some showers that tested us. Didn't make much difference. We smiled through it all and had good rides anyway.

You can see our helpers work hard making sure the girls are safe. You can also see that the girls were riding so well on their own that their confidence is expanding with each lesson. That's such a good feeling. I can't even explain how wonderful it feels that we are teaching so many how to love horses and ride with knowledge about what is right and safe.

And so our spring clinic season came to a close. It was a good spring with wonderful scout troops. Alison tells me we have a solid schedule for the fall too. That gives me and my clinic helpers something to look forward to after camp. Terrific! Horses like to be ridden and we love seeing you here. Thank you all - riders and helpers - for teaching each other life lessons and enjoying the giggle mode. See you in the fall.