News from Ruthanna
BTS Newsletter February 2008
Included in this issue:
- March Free Clinics
- March In-House Show
- Spring Break Camps and Pony for a Day
- Summer Camps and Pony for a Week
- Riding for Weight loss!
- Lesson Scheduling and Make-ups
MARCH FREE CLINICS!!
March 1 9:30-10:30 – Grooming and Tacking Clinic. Recommended for all new riders and anyone who wants to “brush up” on their skills
March 8 9:30-10:30 – Barn Chores. Come learn what we do behind the scenes.
March 15 9:30-10:30 – Show Clinic – see Show details below
Please sign up for our clinics on the sign-up sheet on the tack room door. For the Grooming/Tacking Clinic that is this Saturday, you can email me to sign up since some of you may not be at the barn to sign up between now and then.
MARCH IN-HOUSE SHOW!!
The first In-House Show of 2008 will be on Saturday, March 22nd beginning at 10am!! Paid registrations with horse choices are due by March 8th. If you have not shown with us before – give it a try, it’s really fun and is a great way to enjoy the excitement of showing without the added stress or cost of county level shows! Our shows are for all levels of riders. So if you can walk and trot then you’re ready! And adults – we have a division just for you! Please visit the show page on our website (http://www.btsetc.com/content/shows/show_schedule.shtm) for more information on how the in-house shows work and what’s required of each rider. Note that for our advanced riders, your division will be all jumper classes. Cost is $75 to enter and $50 horse use fee if you do not own your own horse.
If you plan on showing and have not shown with BTS before, you’ll need to attend the show Clinic on March 15th from 9:30 to 10:30am. You’ll find out all you need to know and do for showing. A parent is encouraged to attend as well.
Registration forms can be found on the tack room door or on the show page on the website. Remember, we need these turned in by March 8th!
SPRING BREAK CAMPS and PONY FOR A DAY!!
One day spring “boot camps” for beginner and intermediate riders ages 8-14. March 26 and April 9. Both camps run 9:00am-1:30pm and include a full riding lesson, pizza lunch, PLUS…Beginning riders get lessons in grooming, tacking, horse care, horsemanship and safety and intermediate riders get lessons in lungeing, show prep and jumps & strides. Cost: $110 per day. Sign up by emailing Meg (meg@btsetc.com). Apprentices – if you’d like to help on a camp day please let Megan or Lauren know.
For our level 3 riders and above, you can lease your favorite pony (or horse) for a day. On March 27 and April 10 from 10am-4pm, your rider can ride, (ok, no more than 1 1/2 hours total riding please...) pamper, drag around, braid tails, and otherwise hang out with their favorite BTS pony. Staff will be on hand to supervise, however students must be experienced enough to handle their pony unassisted. Please check with Ruthanna to see if your rider is level 3 or above. Cost is $75 for the day. Bring a lunch
SUMMER CAMPS and PONY FOR A WEEK!!
We will also offer one week summer camps for beginner and intermediate riders ages 8-14. Session dates are June 23-27, July 7-11, July 21-25 and August 11-15. All camps run 8:00am-12:00noon. Riders get a full riding lesson each day, PLUS lessons in grooming, tacking, horse care, anatomy, psychology, horsemanship, bathing, tack care, jumps & strides, and crafts & games. Cost: $325 per week. Sign up by emailing Meg (meg@btsetc.com). Note camps fill quickly, so get your registrations in early!!
And for our more experienced riders, we will be offering two one-week “Lease a Pony for a Week” sessions. Session dates are July 14-18 and August 4-8. As with the Spring Pony for a Day, these sessions are for current BTS level 3 or above riders as they must be experienced enough to handle their pony/horse unassisted. From 10-2 each day your rider can ride and otherwise hang out with their favorite BTS pony or horse. And from 2-3pm every day, riders will get a clinic. Cost is $325 for the week. Bring a lunch!
RIDE FOR WEIGHT LOSS!!
For all you adults out there who are concerned about healthy living, exercise and maybe weight loss – riding can be just the ticket you need! Based on a 150lb person, you can burn lots of calories by riding: 20 minutes of walking – 57 calories, 20 minutes of trotting – 147 calories, 10 minutes of cantering – 92 calories, and 30 minutes of grooming/tacking – 100-200 calories (depending on how shaggy your horse is!). So in a typical lesson, you could burn 400-500 calories. That’s more than a typical turn on the treadmill. And wouldn’t you rather spend time at the barn with these wonderful creatures than at the gym? If you’d like to give riding a try – contact Ruthanna!
LESSON SCHEDULING and MAKE-UPS!!
Ruthanna handles all lesson scheduling. Even though you’re tempted to email me since I send out cancellation emails and team information, I can’t help you with scheduling or make-ups. Please email Ruthanna at rbridges@btsetc.com. Also, make-ups cannot be scheduled over the phone or via email. You must sign up for an open make-up spot on the make-up sign-up sheet on the tack room door.
As you can see, we have lots going on at BTS and we hope you can join us! See you at the barn!
Meg Kelly
Team Manager
Bridges Training Stable