P O N Y
T A L E S
Pony Tales THE GRANDAUGHTER CHRONICLES: PART XIX
for the sound of the granddaughters little feet that don't come. I look in her bedroom to make sure I haven't dreamed the entire last four years that she is in my life daily. Her room looks the same and her toys are still in their place just as they were when I looked in last night. A creature of habit, I will continue this routine till she comes
home...she is gone for two weeks to summer camp at Foxfield Riding Club in Thousand Oaks. And I am alone. When she came bouncing in from her riding lesson
MY
one day last spring with the excited question, "PLEASE let me go to Foxfield camp with Shannon," I had no idea what was ahead. I patronizingly said I we would see about that and looked it up in the internet since I had only heard about it through other parents. Looked good to me and so I joined in her excitement and we made arrangements for her to go. Seemed OK to me at the time but as it drew closer I found myself dreading her departure. Shannon's mother and I took the girls shopping for the
house has been empty and the silence is deafening. I wake up in the morning and listen
Welsh Pony Cabin as their resting place and off they went, dragging their stuff to their "home" for the next two weeks and we went to the clubhouse to meet other parents and finish paperwork. After touring her cabin, meeting some of the horses
and getting caught up in the girls excitement, we hugged them like crazy and climbed back in the car without them to drive back south. I must say that leaving her there was softened by the obvious care and love of those ladies, and it extends to the staff as well. Not sure what happens when you drive in the gate but it's truly a Disneyland for horse crazy girls, and an amazing place for them to spend a couple of weeks. I did however get "THE" call asking to stay for the next two weeks, stating she could now be a helper to the next group. As the yes caught in my throat, I assured myself that having her open her own wings in such a safe, tender but very exciting environment was perfect. I could not ask for more for this child who has had some upheaval in her life. So until she comes home I will look into her room
things on the list Foxfield had ask for. The girls chose purple as "their color" and everything we bought had to be purple, including all the horse gear they planned to take. The trek to every tack store in the area, as well as Walmart and the local shopping center was a bit complicated, but in the end we headed home with so much purple I thought I was going to be cross eyed from it.
her mom and we headed up the 405 freeway to drop the girls off. I must say as it got closer I found myself unintentionally driving slower and slower, not sure if I could actually leave her there. Since she had come to live with me we had never spent a night apart and I felt like my heart was going to jump out of my chest at the thought. In the spectacular tree shaded driveway by the Foxfield
The bags were packed, we picked up Shannon and
every night and check it every morning to make sure she still exists. I will sit in my backyard on the swing and enjoy the peace and quiet..but only a little!
with EQUESTRIAN CONNECT ENTRIES MADE EASY
clubhouse there were cars, kids, parents and dogs in a whirl wind of activity as kids got unloaded along with their piles of "stuff" and I was sadly excited as I knew mine was going to join it. The girls cautiously got out of the car and a wonderful little lady walked up to hug each of them as introductions were made. Then there were suddenly two of the little ladies
(looking very much alike), both of them hugging kids, talking to parents, giving directions and laughing at all the purple stuff!! Their welcoming nature, wonderful sincerity about our kids, genuine interest in each of them and obvious control of the chaos of thirty young ones arriving at the same time put my mind at ease. They introduced themselves as Nancy and Joanne,
“We take 30 - 40 horses to over 30 shows each year, so we have to be efficient and organized. We count on Equestrian Connect for our entries. It saves us significant time and money, and the forms look great.”
John French Waldenbrook Farm
TM the one-minute horse show entry service
twin sisters who founded this magical place and oversee every detail of to this day. Our kids were assigned the
12
Equestrian Connect is FREE for the 2010 show season. To register or see a demo:
www.equestrianconnect.com
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