Once everyone got a plateful of food, our ceremony began. This is the time that our riders get certificates that show their progress in our riding program. Most riders move up one level, but there are always a few surprises – like Laina James who moved from Beginner Rider – Level 2 last year to Novice Rider – Level 3 this year! Way to go Laina!

The highlight of the event is the presenting of the Grand Champion ribbons. The scores of the riders who participated in the Giddy-up Go Horsey Show in August are tallied after the show. Each rider is awarded points based on their placement in the class and the number of participants in that class. Then, the top six riders are presented with their Grand and Reserve Champion ribbons at our Awards Ceremony.

This year our Champions were:

Grand Champions - Callie, Nora, Rylee, Morgan

Way to go riders!

Our volunteers - Gloria, Eva, Callie, Riley

Next we honored our volunteers. Our therapeutic riding program and our Scout sessions could not take place if it weren’t for our dedicated volunteers. We thank all of you for so generously giving of your time to our facility and supporting our programs.

Cathy Capozzo - Dessert Cook-off Winner

The grand finale of the day was selecting the winning desert. Congratulations to Cathy Capozzo for her delicious dessert – Green Slime! Cathy received half the entry fees for the Cook-off.

We get a lot of groups at our place and everyone can’t ride at the same time. We do set up stations where the kids can groom horses or do other horse activities, but, getting them out of the barn and enjoying nature was high on my priority list.

This weekend, I got my dream. Last year a Scout, who rode at our farm many years ago, approached me for his Eagle project. He wanted to know if there was anything special I needed done that he could do to earn his Eagle. I didn’t have to think about it more than a second – create a sensory trail for my kids. And so the project began. Checking out the area, coming up with ideas, all the planning and preplanning that goes into one of these projects. Then, I got the call – We are ready to put it in! Up until now, I didn’t see any parts of the project, I simply trusted that this young man would put together a sensory trail that would fit the bill. And he did.

Let me take you on a tour of the great, no make that spectacular sensory trail that is in our wooded area -

Enter here

As you enter the sensory trail, the welcome sign greets you. The map of the trail is displayed as well as some key information for the six stations.

I was very impressed when I saw the icon that showed “you are here”

If you look closely at the map, you will see that our Pretty Pony Pastures logo is the icon for “you are here”. Very clever!

Walking down the trail, go right when you hit the
fork” in the road. This takes you to station 1 – Seasons.

Here you learn the average temperatures for each season. Thermometers are strategically placed, pointing in different directions to show that the actual temperature may vary based on whether the thermometer is in direct sunlight or not.

Each station is layed out similarly – a sign with information and an activity that can be performed. One of the great things is the activities are suitable for and can be modified for the age and ability of the children.

Here are some of the highlights:

Leaf puzzle - can you put the leaf into the correct place?

Each leaf is identified when you remove the puzzle piece.

Native birds in the trees

At our barn, ground tying is one of the skills that we insist our horses learn. It’s not hard to teach. Most horses would rather stand than work, so we use that to our advantage.

Last week, I was so pleased to see two of our green horses just standing while their young trainers walked around the arena. Not only did the horse stand while the young lady moved away, but, each of the young ladies were able to circle the horse, then the arena, with the horse only moving her head to see where her leader was.

Talk about establishing a bond! The girls were very proud of their horses as well. Carrots for everyone for a job well done!

The Program Aids receive so much in return. First, after a few sessions, we see such a difference in their self-esteem and confidence.

Grooming with Brownies

Even though every PA is an experienced rider and handler, taking on this responsibility means that they have to focus on being in charge of the horse the entire time the scouts are present. For some, this is the only place they are told that they are in control and responsible for another person. The parents and leaders of the scouts often remark about the great job the PAs do both in handling the horses and working with the riders. We always pass that information to the PA, especially if they were out of ear-shot when the remark was made. They have the realization that they can do something; they are experiencing success.

Every Scout group that visits our facility is divided into patrols or small groups of three or four participants. While one group rides, the other one to three groups participate in other horse activities that are pertinent to their badge or patch. Each group has a PA assigned to them. This PA takes on the role of leader, explaining and teaching the group one aspect of horsemanship, from grooming to parts of the horse to how to care for horses. Now the PAs are practicing public speaking as well as peer-to-peer mentoring.

We have had several reports from the parents of PAs. The PA’s teachers have commented on the growth of the PA in the areas of leadership and speaking in front of the class.

The best part is the PAs are doing something they enjoy, not realizing how it is preparing them for their future.

At our farm, we appreciate the time our volunteers take to work with our riders. We all have seen different ways the horses have made improvements in the lives of our riders – increasing muscle tone and coordination, gaining confidence by controlling a 1,000 pound animal, and just having fun.

There have also been positive improvements in our volunteers as well. Blood pressure lowered, weight loss, increased confidence and finding a new joy in living.

As Tom Brokaw once said, “It’s easy to make a buck. It’s a lot tougher to make a difference.”

So to all the volunteers, men and women, young and old, who take the time to make a difference in the life of someone else, we, at Pretty Pony Pastures, salute you.

Michael and his coach

Michael, one of our riders has been part of the Special Olympics ski club for several years. This year his parents were very proud of him, winning two medals in the Winter Special Olympics last month.
Besides the cross training that skiing and horseback riding have – building core muscles, strengthening leg muscles, building confidence, and a sense of satisfaction, both also help increase mental awareness, especially focus. Both sports require that you know where you want to end up and focus on getting there.
In our riding classes, we frequently weave cones or poles, taking points off if the horse/rider steps on a cone or knocks over a pole. So the slalom run in skiing isn’t much different. Focus on getting between the poles as quickly as possible.
We also do trail classes, where the riders follow a pattern of turns and obstacles. Michael’s dad said that Michael was the only one to complete the run correctly. The other skiers missed the last 90 degree turn at the end of the run.
Good job Michael!
And when Michael returned to riding after our winter break, I could see that he had more confidence in steering his horses as well. Looks like cross-training horseback riding with skiing is a great way to go.

He took a big blue thing out of his truck, hitched up a trailer to the back, then got on the blue thing and rode it into our paddock. The man’s friends came in, too, and started scooping our poo into the trailer. Oh, now I know why the man is here, we going to have a clean place to live! I said “Hello” to the man and his human friends, but I wanted to meet his blue friend.

I thought, the man got on it, just like the riders get on me, so it must be a horse like me, even if it does make the strangest whinny when the man rides him. When the man got off, I lost no time going over to say hello and check it out. It didn’t move! I nuzzled its big blue head, I tried to push it, but it just stood there. But when the man got on it, it made the funniest whinny I ever heard and moved out pulling the trailer.

I kept trying all day to get this new horse to do something. All the other horses kick at me, or bite me, or at least move, but not him. Then I stood right in front of him when the man was on him to stop him from going away, but he just kept making those strange whinnies and knickers. Finally mom came over and told me to move, so I did. My blue friend left. I think he was nice. I heard one of the man’s friends tell mom that I covered the blue horse with kisses and slobber. Yup, I did. I sure hope my new best friend comes back again!

When we train our horses, we follow the three C’s – Clear, Concise, Consistent. Let me show you how this would work with a simple task. At our barn, we want the horse to stop at a doorway when it is on lead line. It doesn’t matter if it’s the gate from the arena to the barn or the stall door. We want the horse to stop, let the leader through, then the horse walks through when asked.

Clear – Be exact about what you want the horse to do. In this case we want the horse to stop at the doorway. Not just slow down so the leader can get through the door first, not stop three feet or more from the doorway, so the leader has to extend the lead line, but at the doorway. This means the leader doesn’t ask the horse to stop until it is in the correct position.

Concise – How few words can you use when you ask the horse to stop? At our barn, say “whoa.” No explanation, no extra words, just “whoa.” Then the leader’s feet stop moving. If the horse insists on continuing through the doorway, apply a quick tug on the lead line to remind the horse that it’s suppose to listen to the direction.

Consistent – This, in my opinion, is the most important part. We stop at EVERY door, EVERY time. No deviation, ever. In a hurry today, so we skip the stop at the doorway? That tells the horse that the rules do not apply all the time. Horses learn fast. They know which leaders follow the rules and which don’t. Then they try to convince other leaders that the “rules” do not apply to them.

Think about it. Then think about your kids or other people you know or work with. Would the three C’s work with them as well?

Those of you who knew Tom, are familiar with his way of welcoming everyone who entered our barn.  Sometimes I still hear him greeting the riders when they come in for their lessons, even though it’s just in my mind.   So I wanted a way to have his presence felt, even for those who never knew him.

While I was going through some stuff, I saw his boots…they’re old boots…I think he wore them every day for years.  The sides are sagging, one boot can hardly stay upright, but, they’re his boots.  Scuffed, well-used, and comfortable.  Perfect!

Fall arrangement

Christmas arrangement

I decided to put them in the corner by the entrance from the barn to the arena and fill them with flowers as the seasons change.  Look at them as you enter the arena and tell me if you don’t feel that warm welcome in your heart.

And so it was at our place.

People would often ask why us why  were so dedicated to the therapeutic riding program, 15 years as volunteers, then, to start our own program when Tom retired.

Tom’s answer would typically be, “We try to do for others what we can’t do for our own.”  A mysterious sort of answer, but no one ever asked him what he meant by it.

Our grandson, Jamie, has special needs.  In 1987, Tom decided to look into therapeutic riding to see if this was a venue that would help Jamie.  He liked what he saw, and he stayed.  For reasons that I can’t/won’t go into, Jamie – who was four at that time – never did ride in the program.

In fact, when I met Tom in 1988 as a volunteer for the riding program, I didn’t know about Jamie until maybe a year later.  Not that he was keeping it a secret, but, the opportunity to say anything didn’t come up during those riding sessions.

Time past, and although Tom often felt disappointed that Jamie was unable to participate, his dedication to the program amazed me.  Then, several years later after we married and settled on our farm, he was very supportive of purchasing horses, building an arena and starting our own program.  All in hopes that Jamie would have a place to ride.  But, by that time, Jamie became fearful of horses and wouldn’t even step into the barn.

Today, Tom would have been proud!

Earlier this week, Jamie and Tom’s son, Wes, came by to do some work around the barn.  After the work was done, Jamie looked at the horses and said, “I ride.”  His dad and I looked at him and asked, “Do you want to ride a horse?”  Jamie smiled and said, “Yes.”

Jamie's first ride

I told Wes to bring him on Thursday so Jamie could ride in my adult session.

He came and even helped groom the horse.  Then I brought out Tom’s endurance saddle.  “Here, Jamie,” I said.  “This was grandpa’s saddle.  He would want you to ride in it.”  Jamie just smiled.  I’m not sure he understands that grandpa is gone…he never asks about his absence…perhaps he does understand.

Jamie mounted the horse like he’d been doing it all his life, while his dad led him around for the lesson.

Maybe it didn’t happen in his lifetime, but, Tom’s dedication to therapeutic riding has finally come to fruition for his grandson.  I’m sure Tom was looking down on him and smiling.