horsemanship
On a day-off adventure this past summer, a group of bunkhouse parents ended up right where they needed to be to provide help and care to campers and staff.
It was on horseback at Chico Basin and at the A/U Ranches that I had some of my most formative moments – learning that through hard work, trustworthiness, prayer and reliance on God, I could make a positive difference in the world.
Some generous donors last year were inspired to adopt a horse from the A/U Ranches’ herd, and they’re glad they did. Read the email exchange between our horse-loving staff and National Alumni Board member Bill Webster about his charge, Chica.
Rusty’s enthusiasm for giving is palpable. “Don’t be a hoarder!” he says in his affable Texas drawl. “Only five percent of Christians shed the light!” He heard this “don’t be a hoarder” comment from a minister while working together in the prison ministry in Austin and has adopted the phrase as another way of saying, “live generously.”
“This was a great time, like coming home again – a great meeting with old friends and making new ones,” says alumnus Don Gregory. “I saw firsthand how well the horse program has been improved and upgraded. It was a pleasure to ride up the mountain, after about 30 years. There was lots of renewal of amazing feelings and inspiration unique to the A/U Ranches in that beautiful, familiar setting in the Colorado Rockies.”
Many campers in the A/U Ranches Horsemanship program will tell you – and their parents will confirm this – that their skills on horseback developed significantly through their participation. In fact, this program has been taking riders to the next level of skill and accomplishment for decades.
My first time on a horse was at a state fair when I was around two or three years old. The horse’s name was Mister Ed, and I insisted on riding him all by myself without my mom holding me. I was immediately hooked!
What was the name of your horse at camp? What was your favorite activity with him or her? Come share your experience with fellow wranglers at the A/U Ranches this August at the Wrangler Reunion, held during Adult Mini Camp. We’d love to introduce you to the next generation of horses!
There was something magical about that morning walk in the chilly mountain air at 5:20 a.m. from my bunkhouse to the corral. Every A/U Ranches wrangler knew this walk. The morning stillness was broken only by the sound of my boots on the path to the corral.
All three of us went to the A/U Ranches as kids, and two of us were counselors. It had been 48 years since we’d been back, and when we arrived at camp, the feeling was like coming home – only better.