Pass: The Kids Camp Pony

I never thought the day would come when I'd get to write that title.

Last week, Pass became the horse he was never, ever, in a million years, expected to be...below is a quick recap of the week.

Monday: Pass was still a virgin in the world of schoolhorse-dom. He met and greeted 11 kids as I tacked him up for a quick ride during lunch break. I learned he didn't mind kids petting, loving and running around him. Awesome.

Tuesday: Pass free jumps for the kids. This was mostly just for me, so I could see just what kind of jumper I was dealing with. He made it up to 4'6". Who knew he was such a little athlete?

After his free-jumping debut, I decided he could be a good match for the oldest camper, Brooklynn, who is 13 and a very good rider. So after his lunch break Brooklynn tacked him up, pink saddle pad and all, and took him out to the ring for a little flatting and jumping. He handled it like a pro and was even lazy as Brooklynn had to carry a crop to keep him moving forward. She jumped him around 2' for the first day and he looked like a little hunter pony.

Wednesday: Pass got the day off. Lucky him.





Brooklynn jumping and cantering Pass for the first time.

Thursday: Brooklynn rode Pass again, we worked on bounces and she jumped him 3'. Once again, he was a perfect angel for her. Pass also became a demo horse in the barn. We taught the kids how to do standing wraps, treat a "wound" (Pass had a fake boo-boo), worm a horse and even give a horse a shot (Pass got a shot of saline). He took all of this like a pro...even the shot.

Pass and Hallie, she was able to get him in a cute little frame at the walk :)

Friday: Pass got a new rider for the day. Hallie, who is 10, had been sharing a horse all week and since all the campers rode at once on Friday for their parents she needed a horse to play a couple games on. Pass seemed like the logical horse and was awesome. She even accidentally cantered on him :)

Pass with Brooklynn, Kaylan and Hallie.

Overall, I was shocked at just how well-behaved he was. I am now convinced that he could make a good first horse for a kid who wants to do hunters, and maybe even eventing.

This weekend Pass will travel to Hoosier Horse Park for the Leg Up schooling Horse Trials. We are competing in the Beginner Novice division, as he has never seen this cross country course and I want to ensure we have a positive experience. Wish us luck!

Friday: