Happy Camper!

I had so much fun at camp this past week that I feel like I should feel guilty about it.  At least I should feel guilty about gushing about it. Really, it couldn't have been better.

When I was a young teenager, a  few horsey girls I knew (who of course already had their own horses) got to go to a horse camp in Raleigh in the summer. I envied them so much that I actually got a bad taste in my mouth and a tightening in my throat when they talked about it. So when I heard about an adult horse camp, with horses and people I already knew and were crazy about, I almost couldn't believe it. The first year I signed up, I couldn't go because Dave had a conference the same week - at Disney World, in the exact year we were planning to go, so I couldn't go to camp. I didn't cry about it, but I kinda wanted to.

Then last year I did get to go, and it was wonderful. I was assigned my good friend Billy Bob, who is not the most popular horse because of his bumpy gaits, but he was perfect for me.

Billy Bob. Yes, he's cribbing.
Don't judge him.

We went on steep mountain trails and crossed a river, and rode in a big field and bareback in the ring, and I generally had a ball with his adorable self. He is one of the smartest horses I've known, and he is generally undaunted by things that scare lesser, though bigger, horses. As a matter of fact, I had such a good time, I didn't really think another week would live up to it.

I was wrong.

I was a little worried again that something would come up to keep me from going, so while I prepared for it by having work wrapped up and the laundry done, and the food bought for the family, I didn't really look forward to it in a way that would make me disappointed if I didn't get to go. I just couldn't believe I'd get to do it again.

I was wrong about that too.

Last week was so fun. I rode up with my friend Nancy, who does Adopt A Horse at the Greenway, and we had such a good time catching up that it felt like it only took 15 minutes to get there. Then we had to wait, and wait, and wait to find out which horse we were assigned. Last time, we found out as soon as we got there, but the waiting this year was actually really fun.  We grown up women don't get many good surprises anymore, so waiting a little longer to get one is better. The horses we ride at camp are all seasoned Tennessee Walking horse trail horses, so there's really not a bad horse to get.

I had asked for Goliath, but he is pretty popular because he is fun to ride, and is such a sweet and friendly boy, so I figured he would go to someone else. Also, since Billy Bob (or as I call him, William Robert) and I are happy together, I figured I might get him. But when Cory (who runs the camp) called out the names, I got that big black boy Goliath. Happiness! I adore that horse. (And yes, I did ask if I could buy him when I was looking for a horse of my own. I was told to get on the waiting list.)

Big horse with a sweet and gentle spirit.
I just love this boy so.

The first night we did a short trail to the campground, and it wasn't long before Goliath was up at the front with his gorgeous pasture mate, Diesel. Diesel is a gorgeous bay TWH with beautiful gaits. I have such a weakness for his good looks that even though we would have beautiful mountain views all week, the prettiest view was often just a few feet in front of me.

Diesel in the sun, showing how
it's done.

The next morning we split up, and several of us went into a big field that used to be used as an airplane landing strip. We were instructed to rack up and down the field. I'm not experienced at getting a gaited horse into his gait if he doesn't want to do it (Goliath does not), so I would position myself behind Delight (who was Nancy's horse for the week) or Diesel, and use their rhythm to get Goliath into his walking horse gait. He didn't do it for long, but it did get better every time.  He is pretty smooth even when he is not doing it right, so it was nothing but pure fun, riding in a straight flat field with a mountain on one side, a river on the other and blue sky with streaky white clouds up above. See, I warned you I would gush.


After that we switched off and took a trail ride. It has been raining a lot all summer, and a lot last week, so the trail was muddy and slippery and steep. At one point, we were going up beside a waterfall; at another point, we were slogging through some deep mud. It was a little scary in places, but I was never nervous because I can trust Goliath, and getting nervous doesn't do a damn bit of good anyway. I was a little relieved when it was over though.

But wait, it gets better. After dinner, we had the option to take a trail ride or do an English lesson. I still need to get my leg strength back, so I jumped at the chance for an English lesson even though it meant I wouldn't be riding Goliath.

Go ahead and fall in love with him.
Resistance is futile.

Oh my goodness. I was given a Quarter Horse named Whiskey to ride. I had heard good things about Whiskey before, and my friend Cathy, who got me into riding at the Greenway, has been telling me for years that I would love him. Let me tell you what a good time I had riding that horse. The minute I got on him, I felt like we were together, connected. He was so responsive, and willing to move, and when I cantered him, I had to keep myself from laughing like a maniac. I probably looked like The Joker riding him around that ring. And Perry, who gave the lesson and who is only 20, gave a really great lesson, having us do stretches and visualizing the correct position. Happiness! (Yes, more gushing, but you have been warned.)

The next morning I got to ride him again, and it was just like the day before. Awesomeness. I even asked Cory "how much you want for this horse?" Of course I was expecting to have him laugh in my face (not literally; Cory would never be rude, but he might laugh at me a little if I deserved it). Instead he said "make me an offer." Whaaaat? A Greenway horse for sale? After a year of my own horse giving me trouble at every ride?  I have to admit it has seriously given me something to think about because I had such a great time on that horse.

Whiskey is his name, being
awesome is his game.

We had another great trail ride (not treacherous this time), and another great ride in the field. Then Tuesday evening, we rode some of the smoothest horses bareback. Bareback night is always fun, not just because we have fun riding, but because we all watch and encourage each other. One camper rode bareback for the first time. Another did it and reminded herself (in spite of herself!) how good at it she actually is. It's wonderful to watch someone conquer a fear and smile about it. I am not the great bareback rider I was in my youth, but I still think there is nothing like it, and I want to get good at it again. I rode all three of the horses they got out for us, Spirit, the wonderful Delilah and Clyde, who almost rivals Goliath for sweetness. I didn't do much more than walk (I can so easily picture an undignified slide into a manure pile), but I loved it anyway.

It rained Wednesday morning, but then cleared after lunch, and we all got a good long ride in anyway. Then in the afternoon we all gathered on the porch and talked. Talked horses, talked kids and laughed. And felt very lucky.

Wednesday evening, Cathy and I went down to say good-bye to the horses. Goliath and Billy Bob (who Cathy had been assigned after her favorite boy Prankster showed up with a sore shoulder) were the first and last to visit us, being the probably the friendliest of the bunch.

Friends. Sort of. And stop judging Billy Bob.
We all have our bad habits.

Then we got a last minute treat - new horse friends! There are horses that live on the mountain for year round trail rides. They live at the barn except during the summer when the Greenway horses are there for camp. We see them in the pastures when we ride past, but this night, the Greenway horses were put in the field we had been riding in, and the mountain horses were in the pasture right across a gravel road from each other. We saw them check each other out across the road, all pricked ears and alertness. Very cute. We watched them from the swinging bridge over the river, where we had hung out and had a good talk after visiting our four-legged friends.

Swinging, baby, yeah!

So we went down and loved on them as well, and fell instantly in love with them. I'm glad I got to meet them before we left.

One of the mountain horses checking out the intruders.

The intruders from the Greenway checking out the
mountain horses. They can't believe we're fraternizing with the enemy.
Billy Bob is already bored with them; he is the one grazing on the left.

We had a wonderful breakfast the next morning, then headed for home. It couldn't have been better.

I'll hold this image in my mind until next year.
Everything looks wonderful from here.