Forrestel News & Photos

The Horse World Expo in Harrisburg, PA

2010-03-03T14:44:00.002-05:00

Dear Friends,

We just returned from Harrisburg, PA where we were exhibitors at the Horse World Expo. Any horse lover would enjoy and learn from going to this event. We posted pictures of alumni campers that stopped by our booth to say hello. First is Amanda, then Megan, Heather, and Alyssa who is holding the March/April issue of Young Rider featuring a story about riding camp counselors at Forrestel. I was really glad to see everybody.

Our next horse show will be the Equine Affaire in Columbus Ohio, April 8-11. That is an absolutely amazing conglomeration of everything that has anything to do with horses. No wonder they call it the "Equine Affaire".

Thanks again to the kids that stopped by our exhibit. Think Spring, it's coming soon!

Mary

Wow! Forrestel Featured in March/April Issue of Young Rider

2010-02-23T12:28:00.004-05:00

That's right! The article is titled "THE BRITS ARE COMING". Our campers will be thrilled to see the familiar faces of some of their favorite counselors. By the way, they'll all be returning this summer. We always boast about our staff and horses. This article makes me so very proud. It's no surprise to me that Young Rider wanted to find out more about our English staff. Make sure read the attached pages and go pick up a copy for yourself. It's a fun magazine to subscribe to.

For all our friends in the Harrisburg PA area, Forrestel will be exhibiting at the Horse World Expo at the PA Expo Center February 25-28th. Stop in at booth 618 and say hello. We may even take your picture and you could be featured on the next blog!

As far as the horses, they are fat, happy, and their coats are very fuzzy. When we call to them from the terrace, they poke their heads over the stone wall with ears perked forward, as if to say hello. Tomorrow our pony Holly is returning home to join them. We can't wait to see her.

Kat, our riding director, would love to hear from you on Forrestel's facebook. Please stay in touch, as we will with you.

Mary

Winter Beauty

2010-02-04T13:34:00.002-05:00

Greetings Camp Friends,

The days are getting longer and our thoughts are turning to spring. The horses have had a pleasant winter with plenty of hay to eat and rest and relaxation. I thought you might enjoy viewing some pictures of them in the snow. Rick has seen Calvin and Rolex who have become fast friends frolicking together and standing up on their hind legs trying to outdo one another. He just can't seem to get it on the camera. We'll keep trying. It's quite a sight! Well, enjoy the pictures and I promise to have more news in the days ahead.

Mary

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-25T10:55:00.005-05:00

Dear Campers,

We have a new member of the Forrestel family, Tink! She's soft, and furry and has beautiful green eyes. Our golden, Wendy wants to be friends with her but she gets a little to excited for Tink. Oh, and she has seven toes on her front paws so she looks like she is wearing mittens.

We 've done a lot of traveling for the camp lately. Earlier this month we were exhibiting at the Syracuse Sport Horse Tournament. We met lots of nice folks interested in camp and I always enjoy having campers stop by and say hello. Here is a picture of me with the Olympic Team and George Morris. A touching moment was when they retired Judgement. Please go to the syracuse sport horse tournament link to find out more about this talented horse and his many acheivements.

From this event we exhibited at the Equine Affaire in Springfield Massachusetts. Here is a picture of a horse Susan Harris used in a clinic to demonstrate anatomy. Interesting isn't it? We had fun seeing campers from last summer. Here is a picture of Aidan and Sophie who stopped by our booth to say hello.

Charlie is working on a video featuring a off season day in the life of a horse at Forrestel. Wait to you guys see how they have it made! All they do is eat, play and sleep.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Mary

Our First Annual Camp Reunion

2009-10-20T13:34:00.006-05:00

The weather was beautiful and many camp friends came to enjoy the festivities. Below Justin and Marty are playing carnival games with Chloe and her brother.

There is a definite winner for the barrel race!

This blue grass canal band were enjoyed by all. You could hear their music at the camp fire pit where families went to enjoy the fire, have hot chocolate and pick out their pumpkins.

These guys are watching the horses from the top of the stone wall.

Everyone went for a ride and loved the team, Fred and Ethel.

Ethel is pregnant and will foal in the spring. Wouldn't it be fun to have her visit the farm next summer?

Chris Horgan, our tennis pro was there with his sneakers on. Kids and their parents had fun playing tennis games.

This is the shop decorated for pumpkin painting. Our slide show of favorite pictures from the summer of 2009 were playing.

Thank you to our friends and volunteers that came to the reunion. It was a fun day for all!

The Barn Gets a Face Lift.

2009-09-18T09:36:00.003-05:00

Dear Camp Families

The hush of fall brings time to catch up on some of the upkeep of the farm. This year we decided to spruce up the main barn with a fresh coat of paint inside and out. Wow! does it look great. We can't wait to show it off next summer. Anyone who has taken on a big painting project like this will agree when we say, "What a Job!" But everyone pitched in and proved the saying, "Many hands make light work". It was fun to hear Kat and Goonie with their boisterous English voices either laughing or shouting at eachother in fun, paint brushes in hand. I provided coffee and refreshments at break time which made the work a little easier. We thought you would enjoy seeing pictures of the progress.

Today is a sad day for us because our dear counselor and friend, "Goonie" has left to return to England and veterinary school. Here is a picture of us saying our goodbye's. Thank goodness Kat is here for two more weeks. She'll be busy working the horses and continuing to look for good homes for the few that we have left. The ones that we think would be most useful and enjoyable for a private stable or lesson program are Blondie, Biscuit, Calvin, Gracie, Maggie and Missy. This group can all walk, trot, cantor, and jump very well. They really would be happier working than sitting in our pasture for the winter. Frodo would be the perfect walk, trot, and trail horse. You can view pictures of them in the horse section of the website.

Last but not least, Goonie and Kat thought that you would all get a kick out of seeing me on Buckshot. Remember he is only 11 hands. We will be in touch soon.

God Bless,

Mary

The 2009 Camp Season Has Ended.

2009-08-28T09:46:00.004-05:00

Dear Camp Friends,

Camp has ended for another year and we miss all of our new and long time camp friends. It was such a wonderful season and we wanted to share a few highlights.

Our new additions to the barn have worked out brilliantly. Calvin, Dewey, and Thistle will be camp favorites for years to come.
Leatherworking with David was a huge hit. Campers made halters, bracelets, belts and other gifts for their family pets.
Campers were treated to an exciting demonstration of cow cutting when Mary's guest Trink drove the cow over the stone wall.
Our new craft program with Miss Lori introduced some new projects like watercolor, mask making and charcoal drawing.

Many of the counselors have promised to keep in touch and return next year. Kat and Goonie are still here until October schooling the youngsters and trying to find winter homes for the last of the herd. We still have many of our most talented horses available for our free winter lease. They would love to come home with you! For more information, contact Kat at 585-798-2222. Kat and Goonie are also updating the horse section of the website. Check it out so you can pick who you would like to ride for the next camp season. Talk to you next time.

Mary

THE START OF OUR LAST SESSION

2009-08-04T10:25:00.004-05:00

Dear Camp Friends,
Where has the summer gone? I guess that's what happens when you have so much fun. We have enjoyed the cooler weather. It's perfect for sleeping and the horses are comfortable. It energizes all of us!

Leather working is a big hit. Dave Nasca, who promises to return next year, enjoys sharing his talent with the kids. He finished making his western saddle while at camp, but he has found that he enjoys English riding. Maybe he will make an english saddle too. Our craft program with Miss Lori is amazing. The most popular project this summer has been the gauze masks. They are created to fit each campers face and are lots of fun to decorate.

Horseback riding is fabulous. Because of all the rain, the footing is soft and the horses are staying sound. Our many new horses have complemented the riding program. Kids are thrilled with the opportunities they have had and counselors enjoy working with them. We hope you enjoy the many pictures that are on our website. Things just couldn't be better and we are grateful for that.

In September we are gearing up for Family Camp Weekends. They are going to be a blast. For more info check out the tab on the home page or give us a call. We also are planning a Fall Festival the weekend of October 17th. It will be a great chance to see the farm dressed in fall colors, pick a pumpkin, and enjoy the company of your friends from camp. We may even have a weekend stay over for camp alumni who are traveling long distance to visit. Stay tuned for more information. The dinner bell is about to ring (by the way the food has been delicious) so we are signing off for now. Enjoy the rest of your summer.

Mary

Camp Is Open and in Full Swing

2009-06-25T11:12:00.000-05:00

Dear Camp Friends,

Our weather is absolutely beautiful. 80 degrees, low humidity and sunny. For the opening day of camp our friend Trink from Wyoming put on a Cattle Cutting Demonstration. She used my horse Rolex, that I brought home last fall from her ranch in Wyoming, and we were all thrilled. My brother Phil brought a couple of heifer cows down and she and Rolex went to work "cutting" them away from eachother, keeping them seperated. One of the calves decided he had enough and jumped the five foot stone wall to get away from her. Nobody could believe there eyes. But with all the composer in the world she walked Rolex out, brought the cow back and joined him with his friend.

The kids are enjoying the counselors, the horses, the activities and eachother. I thought this was a cute picture, taken near the horse pond. Baby and Dora were exchanging words. Dennis our photographer is posting photos daily in CampMinder. You need to use your password to get there. He also keeps a running slide show on our website for everyone to see. Summer is officially here! Enjoy yourselves,

Mary

Orientation For the Counselors Has Begun!

2009-06-15T16:15:00.007-05:00

All but a few staff are here and busy preparing for the opening of camp which is this Sunday. Notice the group picture. Everyone assembled after our morning meeting. The riding staff went on to exercise the horses while the sports counselors set up a bocce court and sorted out the craft room. Ben Vernille came for lunch and then took everyone out on the riflery range so they could practice target shooting. Our cooks are busy setting up the kitchen. It's wonderful to smell dinner cooking, and the counselors think our food is great!

I thought you might enjoy seeing pictures of my niece Janice Keppler competing in pole vaulting at the NCAA tournament in Arkansas. Charlie and I went down to cheer her on. A storm blew in and the sky turned red. Tornados threatened to touch down so we had to evacuate in the basketball stadium for three hours. It was quite a night. I will update you soon.

See some of you on Sunday,

Mary

The Open House Was a Success!

2009-06-05T14:35:00.004-05:00

Dear Camp Friends,

You can see the counselors gathered around as we waited for our open house guests to arrive. The day was windy,chilly but sunny. Everyone had fun. The cookies were delicious, the horse drawn ride was entertaining and the games Margaret planned were a blast. We sure appreciated all our alumni campers coming out and giving us a hand. They were awesome camp ambassadors.

Notice Wayne, our woodworking specialist, and Dennis our fishing guide, archery instructor, and camp photographer. Wayne is holding up the truck :) while Dennis concentrates on getting the fishing equipment ready.

Moving right along. You can see Kat our riding director sitting on the swing holding Baby and "Goonie" holding Honey, the darker chestnut. Ian's taking a break from painting the camp store and greets you with his smile. Kat and Goonie each work between 7-10 horses a day preparing them for the start of camp. We've had several other camp friends and talented riders coming out as well, to help work the horses, so they are properly schooled. We now have 45 horses in the "Yard", as the Brits would say. They know that camp is coming and are glad they have a job to do. I could go on and on about all the new and returning horses, but I will save it for next time.

Mary

An Unforgetable Event

2009-05-15T11:24:00.004-05:00

Dear Camp Friends,

I can't wait to share this special story with you:

Yesterday, a calf strayed away from its mother and was seen by Rick, our groundskeeper, in the middle of an 11 acre horse pasture. Rick noticed that the mama cow (heifer) was nearly hysterical searching for her calf. He went right out to the rescue. He planned to carry the calf back to it's mother. The wind was blowing so hard you couldn't hear much, and when he bent over to pick up the calf he felt a presence on either side . It was Rolex and Dewey, the two horses that I purchased from a dear friend that has a cattle ranch in Wyoming. Given Rick's natural common sense, he backed off to see what the horses would do. To his amazement, Rolex and Dewey gently herded the calf back to it's mother, each horse working together to drive the calf in the right direction. Later when I spoke to my friend Trink from Wyoming, she explained that their natural instinct to herd cattle is bred into them. They are called cutting horses out west. You should have seen Rolex gently nudge the calf under the fence, reuniting her with her mom. Trink will be visiting camp this summer and has agreed to give a demonstration of how a good Western Horse can work. We can't wait for our campers to show off their English style of riding!

Kids, remember our open house is planned for Sunday, May 31st between 1 and 4. Lots of last years counselors are going to be here to help. We will have horse drawn rides, games and lots of delicious refreshments. Come and say hello, and bring a friend. We are looking for alumni to be ambassadors for camp. You are the best, at letting new campers know what to look forward to.

Also, Kat has arrived from across the pond. She is glad to be back and thinks the horses look great. Her one complaint is that Paris, our paint pony, is too fat. No worries, now that Kat's here spring training has begun!

Best wishes,
Mary

Spring Is Sprung

2009-05-07T14:40:00.005-05:00

Hell0 Everyone,

Doesn't spring feel particularly good this year? The footing is just right, and we have put the horses back to work to prepare for the opening of camp. Megan Fuller who is an alumni, camp friend and excellent rider comes in daily to work the horses. Megan and her mom have set the goal for her to be in the Medal McClay Finals this fall. She spent last winter in Wellington schooling horses and showing. All of the horses like her. When they pop there heads over the stone wall fence it's as if they are saying, "Take me next".

Come one and come all to our open house Sunday May 31st from 1-4 pm. It will be a day for fun and to show off the farm to campers new and familiar. Roger, the gardener, is busy planting flowers and vegetables. He picked the first asparagus today!

Dr. Pepper will be here today to vaccinate the horses. In fact I have to go soon to get them in. They are out back grazing on the tender spring grass and don't want to be bothered! Thank goodness they won't know ahead of time that it's the vet. (I'd never catch them!)

Enjoy the spring,

Mary

Happy Spring!

2009-03-30T13:00:00.009-05:00

Happy Spring! The ski season is coming to an end and what a wonderful winter is was for skiing. Holiday Valley boasted 200 inches of snow this year, and we took advantage of every inch. Here is a picture of Me and Charlie enjoying the slopes.

Now our thoughts at Forrestel are turning to spring and all the great things we have planned for those of you who will be coming to camp this summer. We are happy to have added a leather working class this year with David Nasca, as well as a Hunter Safety Training Course for campers wishing to get their small game license. We are very excited about the return of our veteran staff and are looking forward to welcoming the new staff members. In addition, we have added some really nice horses to the Forrestel barn and have begun to condition them for your arrival. Jack has just come back from Brookfield Stable looking happy and fit donning a beautiful green blanket.

We also have added some exciting new features to the website. Did you notice our new mini-websites on the home page? Lots of good information and beautiful pictures. We also upgraded the horse section. Hope you check it out and enjoy the pictures and descriptions of some of our quality horses.

For those of you in the Ohio area, I will be attending the Equine Affair in Columbus, Ohio April 2-5 at the Ohio Expo Center. You can visit their website for more information at http://www.equineaffaire.com/. Look for me in the Celeste Center booth number YP6. Stop by and say hello.

One final item. Some of our programs are closing so if you want the session of your choice you had better hurry. We don't want you to miss out on what we think will be our best year ever!

Mary

The Horses are Excited

2009-01-13T14:58:00.006-05:00

We are all excited here about the coming summer, even the horses! We can wait to see you all here!

Get Ready for the Cold Snap!

2009-01-13T13:52:00.003-05:00

Greetings from all of us at Forrestel, and our best wishes in the new year. We thought you would get a "Kick" out of a fun horse photo (no pun intended).
Well, the new horses Dewey, Rolex and Bella have settled in, as well as the cold and snowy winter weather. We can't wait for you to meet them this summer. They are so friendly and love to be cuddled. Kat and Emma can't wait to arrive from Europe to try them out and get them in tip top shape.
For all our camp friends in the Maryland and Washington DC area, I will be attending the Horse World Expo at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium, Maryland. Stop and visit me at booth 1102. The show runs from January 15-18, 2009. I hope to see some campers there.
I will post camp updates when I get back from Washington. Emails are flying in from many of your favorite counselors from last season. We've heard from Emma, Kat, and Goonie to name a few. Take care and check in again soon.
-Mary

Merry Christmas

2008-12-22T13:37:00.003-05:00

Brr...it's chilly at camp today (-2°).

Here's a fun family photo we took for our holiday card this year. Doesn't Charlie look all grown up? Wendy (the dog) misses you almost as much as I do.

We're having a Christmas lunch in the farmhouse kitchen right now, looking out at the snow blowing in the wind. Just the tops of the stone walls can be seen. And guess what else I see out the window...horses running around in the deep snow. Honestly, I thought they were barn but they had to get out and play! I'll bet the horses miss you too.

I hope everyone has a blessed holiday season.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy New Year!

Peace and Joy,

Mary

The Horses From Wyoming Have Arrived

2008-12-02T13:00:00.004-05:00

Rolex and Dewey arrived in good shape! They sure were glad to get out in our pasture and eat our green grass and hay. They have the sweetest personalities. Rolex is a gentleman and Dewey's character reminds me of our golden retriever, Wendy. They like people and want to please. Rolex is the dark bay and Dewey is the chestnut. Here are some pictures:

They currently look a little rough from the combination of their long trip and their winter coats. Rest assured they'll looking glossy by the summer.

Be sure to check out the January/February issue of Young Rider that's just come out. Forrestel is mentioned several times in a story about "Fun Games at Camp" (page 42), highlighting our Pony Club Relay Race in particular. There are lots of photos from Forrestel so if can get a copy, you may find your picture in it! Speaking of games, next year I want to introduce Broomstick Polo, which is like polo only with broomsticks (hence the name).

We finally found the pictures from the Syracuse Invitational Sport Horse Tournament. These were taken during a Olympic meet-and-greet for the U.S. Equestrian Team. In the first, Beezie Madden is awarding me the door prize I won at the event - a special baseball cap autographed by the entire team.

The second is a group shot of the team and coach George Morris.

Big news in November!

2008-11-20T12:48:00.004-05:00

The Syracuse Sport Horse Tournament was a big success! At least 30 campers from last summer came over to our booth to say hello. I was surprised, no thrilled, when I won a door prize during a seminar entitled "Meet and Greet our Olympic Equestrian Team". They were wearing the gold medals they won in China last summer. Beezie Madden presented me with an autographed hat and my picture was taken with the group(We will post the picture when it comes). For now, here is a shot of the team.

Big new! Remember when I told you about the 25 mile trail ride we took in Wyoming? I enjoyed the horses so much that I decided to bring them back to Forrestel. The dark bay I'm riding is "Rolex" and the chestnut is "Dewey". They are both special horses and we are proud to have them call Forrestel home.

The Equine Affaire in Springfield MA was exciting. There was an amazing assortment of horses and horse related suppliers. It was fun to see our camp friends that stopped by to say hello. Sophia, a long time camper from Massachusetts, is pictured with me in front of our booth in the youth pavillion. Gosh, we were busy telling folks that stopped by all about camp. We will be full before you know it.

It feels good to be back at the home farm. We are spilling over the brim with new ideas for summer camp and programs for next fall. By popular request, we are planning to host mother/daughter weekends, and one just for moms. Camp moms pack your bags!

We will let you know as soon as the horses arrive from Wyoming. They will be spending nights at horse hotels, so we don't expect them right away. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Mary

Upcoming Events for Forrestel

2008-10-30T12:58:00.002-05:00

I'm currently on my way to the world acclaimed Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament. Olympic caliber riders from all over the world gather at the Oncenter in downtown Syracuse, NY to compete in the Invitational. It's a terrific spectator event with on-going seminars for anyone interested in horses. Forrestel has been featured at the show as a vendor for several years now and this year our booth is near the Budweiser Clydesdales. If you're in the area, be sure to stop by and visit. I'll be sure to post any photos I get of the event so keep an eye on the blog.

It seems like I'm doing a lot of traveling these days! I was in Wyoming this past weekend and a friend of mine and I went riding for 20 miles in the Big Horn Mountains. I had a wonderful time thanks in large part to my ride, a horse named Rolex. He was so much fun, I want to somehow bring him to Medina.

I'll be traveling to several other events in the upcoming weeks including expos with Equine Affairs in Massachusetts and Ohio as well as the Horse World Expo.

Hope everyone is enjoying the splendor of the fall. It's beautiful here and we've included a few pictures.

Fall Update

2008-10-10T12:24:00.000-05:00

It seems like no time at all since camp ended. Hard to believe we've had a trip to Schroon Lake and our staff have gone back to school in that time! We've been in contact with your counselors and have asked them to let us know what they're up to. We'll be sure to post any updates they pass along.

Here's a great picture of Wendy playing with a little, black kitten she has adopted as her own. If you were here right now, you would see her carrying her new "puppy" all over the camp.

Here's a picture of Grandpa Forrestel's wagon which used to be drawn by four draft horses. We thought it would be festive to decorate it for fall.

The Republican Party has asked Forrestel to host a Meet-and-Greet for Congressional Candidate Chris Lee. The event will Sunday, October 19, between 1 - 4. There will be pony rides, horse-drawn hay rides, hot-dogs, and even a big-screen TV to watch the Bills game. Anyone and everyone is welcome; entrance is free.

The remaining horses available for free lease have been posted on dreamhorse.com. I'm so thankful they're finding good homes so quickly - especially as they keep escaping from their pasture. Sarah goes so far as to kneel down and roll under the electric fence to feed in the soccer field. She then pitches a fit when she's readying to rejoin the herd and can't remember how to get back! I've been doing nothing but chasing horses for the past few days.

Finally, we're asking returning campers to enroll by October 15. Campers who enroll before then will be guaranteed a place at camp for summer 2009 and receive a limited edition Forrestel fleece. General registration will open after the 15th.

Oh No! Summer Is Over and I'm Not Ready

2008-09-16T15:42:00.005-05:00

I'm so sorry. I just discovered that I failed to post a wrap-up for the last few sessions. I'll do better next year!

At the end of every summer I feel kind of low. After so much fun, all summer long, suddenly everyone has gone home and it's just the horses and me. It's so quiet I can hardly stand it! Where are all of my happy children, running around, dancing, playing, skipping, riding, and swimming. Oh golly it's quiet.

Best Ever

I probably say it every year but this summer was THE BEST and you can't tell me otherwise. The counselors were so much fun, the weather was better than ever, and there was some kind of magic...things just went right. I know the campers feel the same way. A great staff makes for a wonderful summer.

Since Camp...

I just got back from the Adirondacks. Charlie's back in school - I'll bet you are too. We're busy making improvements to the camp while the weather is good. We're painting and rebuilding the wall—Hurricane Ike dropped a tree on it. (If you're interested, give us a call!)

I spoke with Kat yesterday. She's so camp-sick. Poor dear.

Oh - Wendy (the dog) found a friend! Guess who? She adopted a KITTEN!

I can't wait to see you again,

Mary

Farewell Second Session Campers

2008-07-10T15:07:00.003-05:00

Oh what fun we've had! Our farewell party is tonight and no one wants to go home. The campers and staff have had such a good time together these past few weeks.

This morning I went out to check on our overnighters and found the adventure campers looking hungry - those poor kids! Someone had accidentally switched their cooler with the horseback overnight group. So I ran into town and picked up a few dozen fresh donuts and milk - what BIG smiles they had. The adventure campers' theme for this session has been pirates. This morning they were working their way through the jungle with their treasure map. What a magical time.

Riflery continues to be a favorite. Ben Vernille is such a good instructor! Of course Dennis' fishing trips have been a big hit too. I'm so proud of the wonderful staff that we have working with our kids. It makes all the difference in the world! Dear Emma, our principal riding instructor - she is such a good teacher. And then there's John, and oh, I could go on. Moms and Dads, I just want you to know that the kids are having such fun with our staff.

I'm proud of our horses too. We spend a lot of time working with them, developing them over the course of years. I can see it when I watch the kids ride. Gentle, responsive, patient - the qualities you want in a school horse.

One more note - the Kareokee King was a lot of fun this session. The kids sang..."Living on a Prayer" by Bon Jovi..."Summmer Loving" from Grease...."YMCA"...the old stand-bys. It is so funny to see these kids giving it all they've got.

John Norris told me that a couple of kids who have been coming here for years told him that this has been their best year yet. I agree. Oh boy, do I.

Mary

First Session Wrap-up

2008-06-27T10:28:00.006-05:00

Our first session ends today and the summer couldn't have begun any better. The weather has been ideal. High of 80 degrees, sunny and clear during the day. Nice cool sleeping weather in the evening.

The staff has exceeded our expectations and our campers have been delightful. It will be terribly hard to say good-bye later today. Children have come from all over the world for this session. He have a large group from western New York, Florida, Ohio, California, New Jersey, and Washington DC. Mary also welcomed several of her cousins from London as well as a young man all the way from Singapore.

The campers were enthusiastic riders and enjoyed being the first to ride our horses who are fresh, energetic, and ready to go to work. Our stables are brimming with 57 horses, 20 of which already have wonderful homes to look forward to in the fall.

The sports program has been as exciting as ever. Our new guided fishing program has gotten off to a great start. Everyone returns to camp with fish in their bag.

Ben Vernille, our new riflery instructor, keeps things exciting and challenging. Mary's son Charlie has benefited greatly from Ben's instruction. Last year he shot a fleeing wild turkey in the head.

We are eagerly awaiting the start of session 2. Sunday can't come soon enough.

Lacota Returns, Open House Wrap Up

2008-05-27T09:14:00.019-05:00

Our Open House was a blast! The weather was perfect. There were lots of good homemade cookies on hand. Yum! Everyone enjoyed the wagon ride too - what a handsome team of horses.

We had families from Cleaveland, Cincinatti, Syracuse, Buffalo - and even Connecticut, New Jersey and Canada! What fun to meet new people and make new friends.

I've posted a few photos for you to enjoy.

Lacota’s Back! Emma Returns & More

A shiny silver trailer pulled into camp last night and you know who was inside - Lacota! I was thrilled to see him again and I could tell that he was happy to be back to camp. Many thanks to Nina and her family for taking such great care of Lacota this winter.

Emma Richards arrived earlier this week. She had a good flight over “the pond.” She’s already busy pulling manes and giving baths to make our horses look smart!

John Norris arrived the day after Emma. Ian is here as well. They're both working hard with Justin to get the tents set up for the summer.