Published in the Fredericton Daily Gleaner, Monday August 22, 2011
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If Laura Burtt and Alyson Hubbard were horses, I think they might be Appaloosas. This breed of horse is intelligent, gentle and sure-footed. That perfectly describes how these two talented and sweet young women conducted themselves last week.
Students taking part in a riding camp at Green Meadow Stables in Wakefield, smile pretty for the camera just before a full day of learning begins. Pictured from left are instructor Alyson Hubbard; students Kaitlan Blackburn-MacLean; Olivia McCarthy; Major the horse; Kathryn Chisholm; Elizabeth Davidson; Emily McCready; and instructor Laura Burtt.
Laura and Alyson are instructors at Green Meadow Stables in Wakefield, just a few minutes outside of Woodstock. They conducted a riding camp at the stables last week.
My daughter Kathryn and my niece Kaitlan were two of the young studies taking part in the camp. Each night the two were quick to brush their teeth and say their prayers because going to sleep meant one thing – they got to wake up to the next day, where they spent their time with their favourite four-legged animals.
In fact, horses replaced family members when each child was counting blessings before bed.
The two were bursting with excitement each morning as we drove the few minutes through beautiful farming countryside to the stables.
There is a feeling of home when you walk onto the property. As you arrive at the farm, the stables’ official canine greeter, Thor, welcomes you. As you wander toward the barn, Casper the friendly goat, or Bacon, the pot-bellied pig, will sometime join you on your walk.
When we picked the girls up after their first day, they had a hard time leaving ‘their horses.’
“It was the BEST DAY EVER!” said Kaitlan. “It was the BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!” agreed Kathryn.
Kaitlan adopted the stables pony, Romeo.
Each day we heard how Romeo did on her riding lesson, how she fed and groomed him, what he liked to eat, what his personality was like, and of course how much Kaitlan loves ‘her Romeo.’
Kathryn fell in love with her horse, Major.
Major is a five-year-old quarter horse who is gentle and kind with Kathryn. She had a hard time leaving him each day. She hugged him goodbye when we left and ran to rub his nose when we arrived.
All week long both girls were dreading Friday; they didn’t want the week to end.
Kathryn and her new best friend Major
“I wish I could do this all summer!” was a sentence we heard a lot last week.
For five days, they learned not only how to ride, but how to care for the horses.
They’ve learned what the horses eat, and how they sleep. They’ve discovered how much a horse poops and pees and how much work is involved in cleaning that up.
“That’s the only part I really don’t like a whole lot!” said Kaitlan.
They learned grooming techniques and the horse vocabulary – words for everything related to horses and the equipment that they use to care for them.
But most importantly, Kathryn and Kaitlan have learned that horses are to be loved and respected.
Laura and Alyson have become heroes to the five girls taking part in the riding camp.
Kaitlan and her best buddy Romeo
Each night we heard a lot about what each young woman taught the students. There is a mixture of love and respect woven into every conversation the girls have about the camp and their instructors.
It has been a joy to listen to the girls talk so excitedly about their experiences and be excited about everything taught each and every day.
On Friday, families got to see firsthand what the campers learned and we couldn’t have been more proud to see them demonstrate their new skills.
My daughter and my niece now have beautiful memories to last a lifetime from their week at Green Meadow. And we have Laura and Alyson to thank for that.
Theresa Blackburn is a wife, mother and New Brunswick Community College instructor who lives and writes in Woodstock. You can email her at theresa@mybigfatlife.ca, or join her group, Big Fat Life, on Facebook. You can also follow her on Twitter @MY_BIG_FAT_LIFE
My Big Fat Life 
A lovely story!