rockbridge 2018: the horse barn

A total highlight of our assignment at Rockbridge was the horse barn. After Ted, Mary and I got back from WyldLife camp at the beginning of week 2, we made daily visits to the barn to help with chores and learn about horses. We got to know the summer staff wranglers and most of the horses. Each of the kids picked their favorite horses - Cash, Captain, Marshmallow and Millie. Clyde, Nugget, Tennessee, Whiskey, Apache and Stella were some of the other faves. Heck, we loved them all!

Meredith taught us how to correctly interact with the horses and the summer staff taught the kids some of the daily chores they had to do. 3-4 days a week, we would go up to the barn after an afternoon of swimming. While the wranglers were out on the last ride of the day, the kids would scoop poop from the stalls. When all the horses returned they would help unsaddle and get the horses ready to go back in the field. Occasionally they would help with hosing down the horses and sweat scraping on the really hot days. 

July 2018 

Mary, Sophie, David & Ted

Summer Staff, Interns & Meredith

The kids got to do a trail ride if they were over 9. So the Bergs and the Tuels rode together Week 2.

Pre-ride listening to Scott tell us stories about his crazy uncle who was "born on a horse".

David & Captain

Me & Traveler

Sophie & Millie

Emma & Theo

Ted & Cash

Scott & Mr. Ed (we can't remember which one he rode. We do know, it was a real feisty one!)

Ben & Clyde

 

Meredith was thrilled to get Ben on a horse!

Awaiting departure for the trail.

We accepted any and all rides to the barn that we could get. Eventually, I just started driving up there in my van. It was a long walk!

Every once in awhile we would take apples up to give the horses a treat while they were in the field. We loved hanging with the horses in the field and at the barn.

Instructions from Mere

Learning the ropes. Eventually they could do this on their own.

All the scooping of poop.

Good old fashioned hard work wears you out.

Ready to eat!

And eating!

Blue eyed Marshmallow

Ajax

Nugget

Clyde

Cash

Millie

Captain

One evening on week 2 Keith Urban's new song Horses was playing as the horses ran back to the field. It became the song the wranglers played each night after a good, long, hot day as we unhooked them from their stalls.

The summer staff, interns and Meredith were so gracious to have our kids around. Usually on assignment we help with housekeeping or bus tables to contribute to all that is happening around camp. Finding a niche at the barn was a gift in several ways - hard work, connecting with and learning so much about horses, the connections our kids had with the summer staff and, of course, spending time with Meredith. 

Our last stop on the way out of Rockbridge was to say good-bye to the horses - a total highlight for the month and memories my kids will have for a lifetime.

The really great pics with the kids and the horses are courtesy of Greg Isaacs!

Rockbridge 2018