Well, I haven’t done a very good job of regularly writing newsletters!  There just always seems to be something else that needs my attention.  But, July is a slow month, since many of my students are on vacation, so I finally have time to write. 

Life here at Stonecrest Farm just keeps happily rolling along.  We have several new additions to the family, most importantly our granddaughter, Mila!  She is 18 months old and has “ridden” every horse on the farm, except Marvin.  But, even scared, little Marvin is enchanted by her and comes close to have his nose petted. J  Lucky Duck has claimed Mila as her own and chases the other mares away when Mila is out visiting with them in the pasture.  Lucky gets this goofy, gentle expression on her face anytime Mila is on her back.  (see photo)
 
We did adopt Bahjah from the U.S. Equine Rescue League, and she has turned out to be a wonderful lesson horse!  She is ever so patient, calm and sweet-tempered, and she just loves children.  What a blessing! 

Teka is another new addition.  She is a beautiful, bay, Arabian mare that we rescued in Sept. 2011.  She isn’t part of the lesson program, but she is being leased and loved by one of my former students.  There is nothing that Teka likes better than to be groomed and snuggled and fussed over.  

 
Tall, blond and gorgeous, Gwen is our newest addition.  A registered, palomino Quarter Horse, Gwen is 15.1 hands high, which makes her a great size for my adult students.  I’m already using her for pre-riding lessons and hope to soon include her as a riding-lesson horse.  She had taken a few years off to raise several beautiful babies, so she is just now starting to get back in shape for riding. 

Pony Parties are now a big part of Stonecrest’s activities.  I don’t know who enjoys the parties more – Don and me, or the birthday child!  It is such fun to see the expressions on the children’s faces when they pet, brush and ride the horses!  We find it an honor to often be the ones to give a child that first introduction to horses.   

We offer lots of Pony Party options besides just lead-line riding.  The children can help the horses paint pictures, or they can paint pictures on the horse.  The tractor-drawn hayrides around the farm are always popular.  Evening parties – for children or adults – also include a hot dog cook-out (or pizza, if preferred), a bonfire for toasting marshmallows and s’mores, and glow-in-the-dark leadline rides.  In October, the children can also pick out a pumpkin and build a life-size scarecrow.  In December, they can make horseshoe Christmas decorations.   

We also offer specialty parties for 3 – 5 year old girls.  The Princess Unicorn Tea Party delights any birthday girl with rides on the rare and exotic black unicorn as they go in search of the elusive Meadow Fairy.  The Tutu Divine Tea Party appeals to the little ballerina who never thought that a horse might also enjoy wearing a tutu! 

We’ve got lots more ideas for fun parties, also.  Let me know if you have a special request.  Hope to see you here soon at Stonecrest Farm!