Horse camp

Shane's Aunt Mimi (Cynthia's sister) is a professional horse/rider trainer in Fort Collins, Colorado.  Her ranch is called StoneGate Ranch.  She invited Elizabeth to come out for a couple of weeks and get some training and participate in a riding camp that was being held at her ranch.  Liz has been there for a week now and the camp was this past weekend.  We have been receiving updates from Aunt Mimi and she has told us that Liz has been doing phenomenally well.  She is a fast learner, a true natural, and a joy to teach.  She has been riding one of the horses that Mimi boards named Charlie, who is actually a national dressage champion horse and has been a perfect horse for Liz to learn on.  Liz has had to do all the grooming and care of Charlie and even got herself hired by the stable manager to work in the stables when she's not riding/training.  She has been in absolute horse heaven!

Aunt Mimi said that Liz did fantastic at the riding camp (which Mimi hosted, but did not sponsor or run).  In fact, after the first day, she was moved from the beginner class to the more advanced class.  She has now earned her United States Pony Club D1 rating, which is a beginner rating meaning that she can fully groom, tack and untack her horse, walk, trot, rein, halt, and jump ground poles.  It requires knowledge about horse anatomy, tack anatomy, how to care for the basic health of the horse, and other things.  So she had a busy week and weekend!

Shane will be picking her up this weekend, so she will be spending more time with Aunt Mimi learning more and riding and working.  We're thrilled that she's been able to have this opportunity and grateful to Aunt Mimi for offering it, and she says she's thrilled to be able to share what she has and knows with family.

Here's a picture that Aunt Mimi took of Elizabeth on Charlie during the pony camp.

I'm sure Liz will have lots of stories and experiences to share when she gets home.  She took a journal so she could write about her time there and what she learned and experienced.