Horse and Clay Camp, July 14-18, 2008

At last week´s camp, a highlight was the scavenger hunt, as was sculpting with clay in Lucinda´s ceramic and tile studio.

Classes from a Master

Former representative of the Mexican Dressage Team at the 1996 Olympics Joaquin Orth gave a clinic in San Miguel the weekend of July 12-13. Carla and Fernanda were the lucky ones to have private classes with Joaquin, who emphasized bending the horse´s neck in the direction of his trajectory, something, both pony clubbers, ahem, have heard before.

Horse Camp July 7 - 11, 2008

Despite days of heavy rain, kids at Horse Camp at Las Animas groomed the horses, learned to put on tack, rode and at week´s end, painted the horses. Campers were Bennett, William, Joseph and Reagor and the counselors were Carla, Fernanda and Sean.


The summer camp was unique. Early on, I asked Reagor did he like the camp so far and he just told me ¨I believe so, I just cant wait till it stops raining and we can ride!!!¨Anyway, the best part was the scavenger hunt. Nicole and I hung cups of candy in bags from trees and bushes. We led the kids on horses but they completely told us what to do to find the bags. I think the kids liked the freedom to tell us where to go and they loved the idea of having their own horse to take care of. Friday, the best day of the week, sunny, clear, fun and the best thing was that (not to brag or anything...)I taught my first class ever to Bennett, a cute, energetic 8 year old, on Lucky. Let's just say this is a big deal for me cause Lucky´s reputation isn´t very good when it comes to kids...but that´s another story. - Carla

Cisco Kid Was A Friend of Mine

There are two things Nicole can´t resist: rescuing puppies and buying good ponies. Cisco is a five year old gelding who came from the campo. Nicole got excited about his gaits when she tried him out in charro tack. Charro refers to the Mexican rodeo tradition.

Once at Rancho Las Animas, Cisco tried out the sand in the arena, and got to know Banderilla, Nicole´s filly who just turned two in June.

Banderilla decided Cisco was a stud, or at least a good playmate. Meantime, Nicole has Cisco under dressage saddle. She is excited about his performance and predicts a stellar future. She`ll continue training him in dressage, and thinks he will soon be a fantastic dressage pony for a lucky youngster.

Trail Ride, June 21, 2008

Carolita is in Texas for the summer already and Jen is going soon, but the Pony Club had somebody new this past week - visiting French dressage trainer Dany Bert, by way of California. Nicole (left, crossing the Rio Laja on Vaquero with Sean on Retta and Carla on Lucky) invited him on one of the group's fabulous Saturday trail rides into the Cieneguita area. Dany rode Carolita´s Savanah.

Why Shouldn´t You Stand On Your Horse?

Nicole likes to start beginners with some vaulting - exercises with a surcingle instead of a saddle, that is, so she wanted to warm the horses up for vaulting for July´s summer camp. Sean, Carolita and Carla volunteered to help this past week, and next thing you know, they were flipping around on their horses as if they were in the Olympics or the circus or a Western.

For summer camp info, don´t forget to go to see http://www.animatile.com/HorsesClay/IndividualPages/PonyClub1.htm

or email Nicole at ponyclublasanimas@yahoo.com.

Naked Lucky

Carla has been working with Lucky on their relationship. The result is what you see in the photos...he will walk, trot, canter and jump when she asks using only her seat.