Do you notice Sapphira?  How sweaty she is!  (She's the brown horse)  I've felt the same way all week...and it's not because we've been working them hard.  The sweat is from the high humidity.  This trail ride and others this afternoon have been at a walk because I won't allow the horses to be overworked in the heat.  The campers still love it.  Afterwards the horses usually get a refreshing time at the water hose. 

The campers love coming to the barn..  The last two days the 15 to 18 campers have arrived early.  I tell them to get a comb and help make their manes look nice.  I don't let them ride until the start time.  I tell them the wranglers need some cool down time.  (The wranglers are sitting in the air conditioned tack room.  They get 10 minutes.  They've been working in this heat for the last hour and a half grooming and tacking up the horses.  It's a hot job.)  The campers are okay with helping me do little things with the horses at the barn, but they really want to ride. I hear it in their voices, and I see it in their eyes.  

Most of the campers know to wear covered shoes and pants to the barn, but the above campers are wearing shorts.  At least they are not going down a trail with briars.  Do you notice the first girl's feet in the stirrups?  They are too far into the stirrup.  It was corrected.  It takes a lot of firmness and reminding to keep everyone safe.  .

Next week the high schoolers come.  Pray for me please!  :)  They like to do more than walk, but there usually are campers that come for the first time and need more attention.  One camper wants to go fast and one is shaking in their boots.  It takes lots of organization to pull it all off.  I'm very thankful for the wrangler help.  Some of my helpers just lead campers around - or stay close by until the camper learns to handle the horse well.  


When it comes right down to it...I can't get enough either.  I love riding and teaching how to ride.  There is such satisfaction when a camper comes up to me and gives a (sweaty) hug and says they are coming back next year...are you sure we can't ride more now?