The horses are back for the summer
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| Preschoolers at Congressional School enjoy rides on Tinkerbell, seen here with camp counselor Julia Utting. |
Back in the day when the Annandale area was dotted with
farms, horses were a common sight. They’re gone now, as the area has urbanized.
farms, horses were a common sight. They’re gone now, as the area has urbanized.
But there is still one place left in Mason District where
you can find horses happily grazing on the grass – Congressional School on Sleepy
Hollow Road keeps 14 horses and ponies during the warmer months for riding
lessons.
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| Splash (left) and Milo. |
After spending the winter at a farm in the Shenandoah Valley,
where they have a warm barn and large pasture, Buttons, Splash, Milo, Aladdin, Tilly, Snap, Pop, Trigger, and the rest of the gang are back at Congressional, where they
get plenty of attention from the kids in the school’s summer camps.
where they have a warm barn and large pasture, Buttons, Splash, Milo, Aladdin, Tilly, Snap, Pop, Trigger, and the rest of the gang are back at Congressional, where they
get plenty of attention from the kids in the school’s summer camps.
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| Oreo with Lisa Humfelt, a camp counselor and riding teacher. |
Laura Short, assistant director of auxiliary programs, and Alyce
Penn, communications director at Congressional, took us on a tour of the
stables and introduced us the horses, which range from mini-ponies like
Tinkerbell to full-size animals like best friends Huck and Cowboy.
Penn, communications director at Congressional, took us on a tour of the
stables and introduced us the horses, which range from mini-ponies like
Tinkerbell to full-size animals like best friends Huck and Cowboy.
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| Charlie, the “miracle phony,” who almost died after eating a poisonous plant. |
A “pony camp” currently under way offers riding lessons for
15 rising first-graders, as well as other activities.
15 rising first-graders, as well as other activities.
Campers not only learn how to ride, they
help with feeding, grooming,“tacking up” (taking care of the riding equipment), and
“mucking up” (cleaning the stables), says Lisa Humfelt, a camp counselor and
riding teacher. The kids also learn about horse anatomy and behavior.
help with feeding, grooming,“tacking up” (taking care of the riding equipment), and
“mucking up” (cleaning the stables), says Lisa Humfelt, a camp counselor and
riding teacher. The kids also learn about horse anatomy and behavior.
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| Cowboy |
When camp ends at 3 p.m., the horses are let out for free
time in the field, where they spend the night sleeping standing up. In the
morning, they come back to their stalls, in a large rental tent-like stable.
time in the field, where they spend the night sleeping standing up. In the
morning, they come back to their stalls, in a large rental tent-like stable.
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| Buttons |
One response to “The horses are back for the summer”
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You are my homeboy, Buttons!