Bridle Paths Summer Camp of 2010

I volunteered at this camp that my sister's friend's parents run every summer in Bronson. I admit that the camp wasn't THAT special. At points it was unorganized and I heard from returning campers that in previous years it was much, much better than it was this year.


But, alas, I did have a good time there! I got to volunteer for a week, while my sister was a counselor. (IS a counselor. She goes back tomorrow for another two weeks. I'm going to miss her!)

Anyways. The girls were awesome! I sort of floated between different cabins, talking to everyone. I was sort of a camper, but not really. And I had privelages of a counselor and helped the girls when they needed me. My favorite cabin was cabin one! And it was very cool how the horse stalls were attached to the cabins!


I rode many different horses. Baxter - Lazy, old horse. Kahlua -- A very pretty Buckskin that had a hard mouth, but besides that she was good.



Of course I rode my sisters horse, Red. She took him along for the camp as a lesson horse, and one girl was having trouble with him so I hopped on and straightened him out. And then got to do Cross Country with him!!


And one of my favorite horses ------

BANJO!


The first night we came a counselor named Courtney rode him, and he wasn't the best. All jittery and needed a REALLY light hand on the bit or he would continuously toss his head. The girl that was assigned to him was scared, really scared. And then two girls switched and they were fine, but he still had problems.

So. On the weekend was MY time to ride, and I decided to ride him cause we didn't want any of the campers taking chances on him during a trail ride. I almost rode bareback, but found a saddle. And we ran out of pads, so I used a blanket (See? Unprofessional!)


He had such a light mouth! Literally, if you would pull back he would throw his head in the air. It was ridiculous.

So, I experimented. Since I WAS in the western saddle, I wondered if he would neck rein....and the entire week of English riding wasn't meant for the little western horse ;) And I also figured that maybe if I leaned back while moving the reins back and not really putting too much pressure on the bit, he would respond. And the rest of the ride he barely ever tossed that head.



I didn't trot too much, because we were getting acquainted, and it was a little stormy. (He is such a spook, that in the middle of tacking up he startled over a Popsicle, and stumbled around with flared nostrils and white eyes for all of 5 minutes. It took a bit to calm him, and then I left the lead rope untied in case that happened again.) Plus I hate gaited horses, ugh! Just hate them. And he was part gaited. So it didn't feel too hot riding that trot and canter. (Yes, we did canter in a field for all of 10 seconds :) )


But he is a sweetie! And he has a licking problem!

Ahaha!

Anyways, I'll post all of the pictures I have in a later post! I already got carried away writing in this one....
Toot-A-Loo!!!