The Lightning In Camelot and Looking to the Future!

The Lightning in Camelot!

It was our first camping trip of the year. The weather was beautiful! Even though Camelot Equestrian Park is a “work in progress” the site and the land were really inspirational! Our set up team of four arrived on site about 1:30pm Friday afternoon and began setting up our “medieval themed” camp site. We had a large communal tent (called The Gallery) which overlooked the horse pens, a kitchen set up boasting a barbecue grill and four burner camp stove plus a food prep area. The “Condo” tent, which had a dining room (we had dinner Friday night in there), a foyer and the sleeping quarters! Folks started to roll in about 4:30pm and the party got started! We took a walk around the site to get familiar with the layout and some of our brave and energetic Brumbies saddled up and hit the trail to see the sunset! Friday we had a mellow dinner together where much laughter occurred and the wine did flow!

Saturday morning came early. 14 hors/human teams plus guests came together to create an great experience! Some of the horses were a bit noisy as they settled in and the sound of the ranch hands running to a fro on the quad-runners let us know it was time to get up and get the day started.  After morning chores we had breakfast and made use of the hot showers! Feeling refreshed the Brumbies took pat in the first workshop of the weekend. Much was shared and learned! A lunch break happened and we then hit the arenas and once the pre-ride checks were done we took the adventure out to the trail. One group found the “swimming pond” and enjoyed getting cooled off as their horses played. Another group hit the obstacles and water course. Eventually everyone got together and we rode as a group, enjoying all the training opportunities and new experiences. Tired and smiling we headed back to camp to get ready for dinner. Horses were tucked into their enclosures and the humans laid out a great meal. As the camp fire cast a warm glow on the faces of the Brumbies we shared stories and laughter well into the evening.

Sunday morning we did it all again! The Brumbies arose and tended horses, enjoyed breakfast and got ready for the day. We had TWO more workshops and some one-on-one lesson time as folks took time to work on their skills and confidence. Lunch soon followed and before long folks were saddled up and off to hot the trails, the loping track and the water course (again-it was a favorite). We really pushed our riding dynamics together, offering support and instruction as we enjoyed the amazing vistas laid out before us. One of the horses got a small injury on Sunday and  the Brumbies stepped in and helped to patch the gelding up (who enjoyed being the center of attention). As we headed home there was a quite sadness that the weekend was just about over. Discussions of coming to visit Camelot again were bantered about and it seems we will be back. We began to tear down and pack up as we said our goodbyes to friends both old and new. The set up team headed off site about 7:30pm. It was a full weekend and a success on many levels. Experiences like this enrich our horsemanship and our hearts. We are all looking forward eagerly to the events this season and the opportunities they will provide. This is what the Brumbies is all about!

Pictures of our adventures can be seen at: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.450771128334028.1073741828.123626137715197&type=1

What is next for the Lightning?

We survived the first camping trip together.

Brody was a rock star (heck, most of the 14 horses were rock stars thanks to the Method). After a LONG day on Saturday it was suggested that Brody would look good in English tack. Sigh. So a Brumbie tacked him up and rode around camp. As his human I was goaded into getting in the saddle (I already had a few adult beverages and expressed that an English saddle was a slick spot on a horse that humans fall off of). Brody took a total of FIVE (5) rides for a jaunt before he got put back. Poor guy was tired but what a champ! On Sunday he was jumping over a stone/wood wall at Camelot and got distracted by a very pretty mare. He misjudged the leap and caught his left front knee on the log top of the wall. He must have caught a sharp edge or something because he put a 3" gash on his knee. So we headed back to camp to clean him up. Today (Thursday) thanks to quick clean up, help from some Brumbie and using Vertricyn (sp?) every day he is healing really well and seems to have no issues with movement or swelling at all. Tomorrow we will attempt some ground work and (hopefully) some work under saddle. This Sunday we are going to attend a living history group's equestrian practice. There we will expose Brody and Argent to some medieval style gymkhana games and some new scary objects. Should be fun! The rest of the month will be training as usual and then in May we go to Trail Ready Ranch for a Brumbies gathering with a focus on round pen work, scary objects, arena work and a beautiful trail ride. Brody's old family may actually attend! Should be a great time!