Saying Good-bye

It was an amazing week. Almost life changing. Bonding with a horse and learning to trust one another changes a person. One of the other mom's said she left last year, quit her job and found something that inspired her. I left thinking how I'd love nothing more than to run my own horse camp. Nick could run the tractor and I could oversee the business aspect. Far fetched dream, but we have to dream to succeed.

It was hard to say good-bye to Renegade, to the ranch in general. I just wanted to stay. We'll be back next year, you can count on that.

 

International Wolf Center

On our trip to Ely, we stopped at the International Wolf Center.

It's a pretty cool place with beautiful wolves.

Dance Night

On Friday night there is a dance held in the barn. The kids dressed up, the mom's got ready for karaoke at a local bar down the road with the few counselors who were of age, while the other counselors stayed back to run the dance.

We had a lot of fun. Sam broke out of her shell and moved into the center of the circle to show off some moves of her own. She was cheered on by all.

Making new friends

We met a lot of great friends while there. We are all on Facebook which allows us to stay connected easier.

Sam is getting an early good-bye hug from Hannah Landberg who is a model in LA was leaving a day early.

Sam and her new friend, Evelyn, were sitting be the tack barn waiting for the counselors to come down and catch horses.

Our Wagon Campout

Midweek we loaded up the wagons with mattresses from the bed and clothes for the next day. We were heading off for a night under the stars. We rode our horses there while the wagons were pulled by the John Deere tractor. They cooked up burgers for dinner and we sat in the circle around the campfire for some songs and stories. What a beautiful night!

The next morning, we caught our horses, tacked up and headed back to Circle R Ranch.

On an earlier day, we took the wagons to a nearby lake where we were given the opportunity to go tubing behind the speed boat (which Sam and I did a few times), swim out to the floating dock or just bask in the sun to watch all of the fun. We had BBQ chicken, watermelon and a few other sides at the beach. Yet about her fun day on our vacation.

Bareback & Barrels

Two if the days we had free time to swim, play on the bumper boats, go bare back riding, or practice barrel racing. Sam wanted to swim, but I reminded her why we were here. If there is ever an opportunity to be with the horses, that is what we'd do. We both hopped on a horse and did some bareback riding. I was nervous but with the right horse, you feel more secure and the horse's spine is less of a pain.

When Sam would go, I'd walk along side the horse to make sure she felt safe. Lets trot mom. Ok, ready? You would have thought she'd done this before. She looked so graceful on the horse.

The moms were given the opportunity to barrel race if they so chose. Absolutely I said! By that time Revlon lost her halter in the main pasture (80 acres) and being a free spirit, she is HARD to catch, so I was given Renegade. She was more like a work horse and preferred to be double reined for steering purposes. She was definitely a challenge for me, and I loved that.

Good Morning

There isn't anything better than waking up in the morning, walking down to the pasture and losing yourself in the horses. Each morning we woke eager for what the day would hold for us.

Tacking Up

Every morning at 7am we were woken by a counselor over the intercom. "Good Morning everyone! Come on down to the stables to tack up your horse!"

Sam shared my lower twin bunk with me since her upper bunk didn't have rails in case she'd get too close to the edge. We were next to a window with blinds and she did an excellent job kicking the window and blinds all night. I was worried about being able to get up, brush my teeth, get dressed without hogging the bathroom. I set my cell phone to wake me up at 6:45am. I was dressed and ready to go. Just having to focus on Sam.

We grabbed out lead ropes and sat by the stable awaiting our horses name to be yelled by a young counselor. "Abbey", they'd shout. "Abbey", Sam would reply. She'd hook the lead rope and bring Abbey to her designated post. Sam needed help the first day with her quick release tie, but mastered it the next day. Once tied, we'd grab the brushes to clean off their backs and sides from a dirty night in the main pastures. Once we returned the brushes to the horses tack spot, we'd carry our saddle, blanket and reins to put them on. We wouldn't always finish before the breakfast bell would ring. After eating, we'd finish tacking, or sometime finally get our horse. Around 11am we'd mount up and go for a ride. What a gorgeous day!

At night, we met in the barn for improv night. The counselors probably use these same skits all summer and they were pretty funny!

Settling In at Circle R Ranch

I signed up with LivingSocial.com to get daily deals for services, goods, vacations and more at a minimum of 50% off. I've purchased a few private horseback riding lessons for Sam through this website and CrowdCut.com. On our way back from South Dakota I saw a mother & daughter package for one week at Circle R Ranch just outside of Little Falls, Minnesota. A few days passed and when I checked to see if it was still an active deal, it was, and I bought it. I kept it a secret from
Sam for about a month. When I told her, she was super excited. Just as excited as me. We'd be able to ride horses all week, have fun with other activities and improve Sam's riding abilities.

When we arrives we scoped out the sleeping areas. They were not in the best of shape but we found our bunks and settled in. Next, we wondered the grounds, gazed at the horses and wished this could be our life. Sam found the kittens in one of the tack barns. This would be where I'd find her if ever she went missing and wasn't by the horses.

Around 4pm we were assigned horses based upon our riding skills. Sam was assigned a pony, Abbey, and I was assigned Revlon. A beautiful buckthorn mare compared to Spirit from a Disney movie.

We watched how to brush and tack, then untack horses. Dinner was much later than expected, something we'd become all to familiar with as the week went on. It's the last week of camp. Since mothers were present, the schedule was quite lax.

A day with Grandpa Loken

Seth, Sam and Ethan spent the day with Grandpa Loken at Brainerd International Raceway for Nationals.

Seth has gone with Grandpa in the past and this year he brought Ethan along. At the last minute, Sam decided to wanted to partake. Grandpa noticed a big difference in Seth's interest in the races. He'd sit and watch without being fidgity like the prior years. Sam was bored after a while and Ethan filled the role of Seth from the previous years. Always wanting to be on the move and not wanting to sit and watch the races for too long before getting bored.

Seth is definitely looking forward to going again next year.

Mount Rushmore

Mount Rushmore! I remember visiting when I was in junior high, or high school maybe. It sure has changed over the years. Well, not the sculpture, but the property and how they've made it more of a tourist stop with history rather than just looking at the presidents.

Our plan was to head towards Mount Rushmore in hopes that we'd find a restaurant to stop at. When we came around the back side we noticed that wasn't going to be the case. We're here, might as well stop. Mom kept telling us that we should go there at dusk to see the program and the lighting of the presidents, so we did.

Nick stood quietly listening to the program and honoring his country. Seth disregarded our suggestion to wear a hoodie and he was restless from being chilly. It was interesting listening to Nick talk about how each president made their way atop a large rock formation. I learn a lot about the subject I never appreciated growing up. History. What is the relevance? It's where we came from and one day where we will return. The older I get, the more I see the relevance in that statement.

Another adventurous day in South Dakota.