[font="times new roman"] [font="trebuchet ms"]As my mom and I shared a room eating breakfast in bed at the airport hotel, I realized this will be the last of my luxuries. About to head off to away camp, I became excited yet nervous. I feel I have become easily adjusted to new situations after recent trips. Receiving the packing lists, fees and what not, I decided to really take in this experience. Since it is a riding camp, I wanted to improve my riding dramatically and really focus. Only to realize, what had I gotten myself into? As I dreamed happily about my trip of galloping horses in the ocean, my mom took me back to reality and took us onto our plane to New York. [/font][/font]
[font="trebuchet ms"] As I arrived at the camp dorm, we checked in with everyone and proceeded to the dorm I would be sharing with girls from around the world. My counselor and roommate were from Europe. The other roommate from right around my city in Sarasota, Florida. As I unpacked, I noticed things such as the one toilet and shower shared by 8 girls, fly tape on the ceilings and the room reeking of sweat from the morning ride. When I realized before I had left home that it would be the last of my luxuries, I guessed right. As I hugged my mom goodbye, I almost wanted to shed a tear. Keeping strong, I told myself I wanted something new to try in life and this is one of them. [/font]
[font="trebuchet ms"] Stretching my sheets over my vinyl and sponge bed on the top bunk, girls came in and introduced themselves. Mexico, Belgium, Australia and beyond, if you wanted to learn culture from these countries, just go bunk with them! They shared food and taught us languages from their countries. Even the horse trainers, cooks and counselors talked to each other in a language of their own. I just smiled and thought of what it could be that they were saying. Eating at camp was a bit nerve wracking with their organic food, but sure enough parents knew their child well enough and sent plenty of junk food snacks. Kids would chase the UPS truck through the mountainous driveway to receive their favorite goodies from mom.[/font]
[font="trebuchet ms"] The next day we left on a three day trip to South Hampton, New York. Trailering 10 horses behind our massive van, body to body with girls, the road trip got us a little closer to arriving at our suite on the Atlantic. The feeling of home came back with lush beds, a clean toilet, and a television, of course all being shared. The organic food even managed to make the trip. As the counselors supervising us are still in college, we don’t have anyone to tell us very much. All of us girls took care of one another in a way. Making sure we felt ok, cleaning up after ourselves and even making sure we kept our boots and riding equipment clean and tidy. The younger girls tended to pick an older girl to help her with her needs, almost in a motherly way. Crowding around on a bed to hear someone’s life, love or to tell a horror story under the covers with flashlights, we stuck close together. [/font]
[font="trebuchet ms"] When we took the polo horses out for a ride, galloping through endless fields of green leading straight to the ocean, we took a plunge! Since the director plays polo and he leaded the way, we galloped across a polo field with some sticks and a ball. Learning all disciplines of riding is almost like life at camp in a way. As we galloped the polo horses fiercely around, here came the little pony, Twist, trailing behind. The next two days became of more and more riding, but of course you can’t forget the shopping! The Hamptons can be quite expensive for a young girl, but the European girls took off spending a thousand each on what she desired. The rest of us took this time to get some real food! [/font]
[font="trebuchet ms"] Arriving back at the camp, the instructors told us we would be riding one and a half hours, morning and afternoon, plus plenty of time in the barn. I soon found out my room counselor had left and my roommates and I would be on our own. [/font]
[font="trebuchet ms"] Jumping, flat work, diagonals, gymnastics, leads and horsemanship soon left everyone with a daily routine of understanding the schedule. Sleep, riding, organic food and a 2 minute shower in between, plus making connections back to family at home became a typical day. Over these two weeks came many adventuresome times, but most people ask, “What was your favorite part?” Well let me ask you something. Have you ever exceeded your limitations only to want to go further, met people who have made you fearless and have no hesitations, and felt so alive you believe that this toilet shared by 8 girls has made you into someone who would rather pee in a bush? Probably not the reaction you were expecting, but true. If you stayed in a five star resort full of luxuries, do you think you would experience these adventures, meet amazing people that change your perspective and all accomplishing your passion to go further? Maybe, or maybe not in this case. From a grizzly bear interfering with our riding lesson, a limo coming to the top of the Catskill mountains and your trainer taking away your precious stirrups, reins and even your own eyes to achieve an independent seat. You just never know what to expect outside of your dorm room, complete with fly tape and possibly a stable hand passed out from the heat. While watching “Dreamer” in the main cabin, we would have to switch the languages of the movie. So listening in Italian, German, French, Spanish and English can be challenging, but a riding lesson in French can be even harder.[/font]
[font="trebuchet ms"] Dealing with stress such as two horses in a brawl to your own ankles peeling away layers of skin, the two weeks sure fly by. On my second to last day my trainer talks to us about our confidence levels, strengths and weaknesses and not just improving our riding skills but to also to better ourselves. That day I also took my first fall off of a stubborn horse over a series of some difficult jumps. Out of the 50 experienced horses, I gathered back up my confidence and became fearless with one of my most favorite horses named Boo, a small three year old thoroughbred able to clear a four foot fence. Boo always listened to my commands and jumped effortlessly. We did cross country together and showed in the camp show together. I felt that we taught each other to learn trust and to believe in ourselves. It wasn’t the blue ribbon we wanted, but to make sure that if we tried our best, in my heart I knew we were both winners. [/font]
[font="trebuchet ms"] At the horse show, we showed off our skills and what we learned through these weeks by jumping two rounds and then what we call flatwork. Parents started to arrive and even though my mom said she wasn’t coming, I secretly wished she would turn her rental car around the corner to see my progress. In the morning, we had to make sure our dorm rooms were a perfect ten, the camp was neat and tidy and only the best of the organic food was served to the parents. If only they could have seen us before, all dancing in a conga line to loud music playing because of the Ukrainian cooks birthday. [/font]
[font="trebuchet ms"] With the younger ones showing in the morning, my friend and I took some time to prepare with one of my hobbies of Yoga. As we took our worries away by breathing exercises and flexing our muscles, we also joked around and stored information from the latest riding magazine. By the time getting our horses ready came around, we were fully prepared. Even though we were competing against each other, we always had to try our hardest, mentally and physically. While our trainer gave us a boasting speech on our progress, we proceeded to the riding arena. [/font]
[font="trebuchet ms"] As I progressed to take my reserve champion from my division, I saw my two seconds and a fourth place. Competing against girls who actually have horses and compete in major competitions is a huge accomplishment for me! I came into this camp with plenty of riding problems and thought that I could never compete with “those” girls. Little did I know, my expectations exceeded further with my great confidence.[/font]
[font="trebuchet ms"] Feeling the cold air, loud noises and “non horsey smells”, my mom led me back to the reality just that I had originally come from. Flying home I couldn’t help but feel I had just come from the barn helping groom the morning rides. As I told my mom about my experience, I vowed to make connections back to my friends I had met at this amazing place. [/font]
[font="trebuchet ms"] Life at home consists of watching television in my pajamas, having some real food and catching up on the real world. I’ve learned for a fact that organic food does keep you more alive and awake while in athletics and that my bed is much better than vinyl sponge. Also, that I must order more Russian chocolates from Olga at camp. Compared to being at the barn? I definitely feel like I should be running around. For now though, I have lessons scheduled with a new eventing trainer. Seeing different trainers strategies and methods makes me want to expand my horizons a little. I have kept in touch with the girls from camp, sharing weather from in our area and all about our lessons and shows from our homeland. My mom and I have decided together that I will go back to this wonderful away camp in New York and that this time I will be well prepared, with a duffle full of junk food and a fly swatter![/font]
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