JM :>Okay, Meg, time to be creative!  What about indoor lesson
JM :>plans?  There must be tons of stuff you can teach the kids
JM :>about horsekeeping
JM :>-- tack cleaning, mucking out, identifying tack, horse
JM :>clothes, etc.
JM :> And grooming!
That's all been part of the lesson program from day one!  Remember, this was 
to be a full horsemanship program...not just a riding program.  However, with 
4-5 kids a week, there's only so much tack you can clean, parts of tack left 
to identify, etc.  We've been the horse clothing route already. Grooming, of 
course, has to be done regularly.  Cleaning stalls wears thin for them when 
it's the only thing they get to do (g)....
Most of the kids have opted to cancel if it's raining/snowing; however, there 
are two at least who still want to come.  They've even offered to help do 
HOUSE work!  Yikes!!!!! (Do you think they're trying to tell me something? 
-vbg-)
My loft desperately needs to be swept out and organized.  As well as the tack 
area of the barn.  That's something we can do.  They all seem to love washing 
brushes...I have the cleanest brushes on the East coast (g).
Had a Christmas party for them yesterday.  We had fun!  We strung popcorn and 
cranberries and did pinecones covered with peanut butter and bird seed, and 
then took them out (in the rain, of course!) to decorate a little tree I got 
to go in front of the barn.  Then we watched the video of their demonstration 
this past summer and a video of Fiddle as a foal and one of me and Thistle at 
a show.  They were totally wowed by Thistle!
The dogs can reach the lower branches of the tree...they've had their fill of 
peanut butter.  And, today I finally broke down and opened up the arena for 
Fiddle and Shiloh so they could actually run without being fetlock deep in 
mud, and they found out they could reach over the arena fence and get the 
popcorn!  I think I'll have to redecorate (g)!  Tree's been moved, and 
pinecones are all at the top half of the tree!
We also hung stockings on each stall door.  Horses got a full 2 lb. bag of 
carrots hand fed (g), and one of the girls "decorated" the stockings by 
filling them with hay (it looks cute!).
I also had hats made up for them with the HORSE POWER! logo on it.  They're 
sort of washed red denim.  Cute!  They really loved them.  Also gave each one 
a bar of clear glycerine soap with a small, plastic Appaloosa inside.
All in all, it was a good day!  Even the rain didn't dampen our spirits.
Of course, it's still raining today...nothing but rain forecast as far as the 
eye can see...so the thrill of yesterday is starting to wear off already (g). 
 I think I'll get one of those light hat thingies to combat the SAD!
As I said to Richard this morning, "We could live in Scotland for this 
weather, and have prettier scenery!".
Good to talk to you!!  Hope you have a wonderful Christmas and great New 
ar!
Meg  
 
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