We decided that Emma was ready for a horsey camp this summer. She has a couple of friends who take riding lessons, and while we can't afford a weekly schedule, I thought I could swing a two-week summer camp. She's been around horses a few times in her life, but has been afraid of them. She said she wanted to learn to ride, and she was being very brave about it all.
We chose Golden Vista Equestrian Center for her camp. I only include the link so that you will know where not to send your child to camp. Please allow me to elaborate:
We chose the place, to be honest, because it was the cheapest we found. They also had pick-up and drop-off here in town. Most of these places are a-ways out of town, and we figured it would be alot easier if we (meaning Darrel) did not have to drive her all the way out to wherever she was going. We met the woman who owns the place, Cheryl, at the camp fair that they have every year at the convention center, and she seemed nice enough. So, I sent in the application and deposit. We then went out there for an open house to check out the place. It seemed OK.
I should have realized something wasn't quite right when I had trouble getting Cheryl to return my phone calls. I had initially called her to check on availability for the session that we wanted, and waited about 2 weeks to hear from her. Then, right beofe camp began, I called again to confirm that Emma did indeed have a place in that session (we had received no confirmation via regular or e-mail) and that I should bring the remainder of what we owed that first morning. When I didn't get a call back in a week, I called again, and thankfully reached her.
We had decided that we would drive Emma out to the stables the first day instead of having her ride in the van. Camp was supposed to start at 8:00. We arrived a few mintues before, and there were already some parents and kids waiting there. After a few minutes, a couple of teenagers showed up, and we found out that they'd be helping during the camp. They were about 15. It wasn't until at least 8:20, probably more like 8:30 before Cheryl showed up, driving the van with the kids she had picked up in Austin in it. There was no other adult in sight. So, that was sign number two that this may not have been the right place for us.
Sign number three was how damn disorganized this woman was. As I said, we had not received any confirmation in the mail, or any forms to complete and return after the initial application. So, the next 20 minutes or so were taken up with all of us standing around in a barn as she shouted out names, and parents completed a form, and wrote her a check. Meanwhile, the kids stood around, played with some cats, and climbed on the hay.
My favorite moment that morning was when she was trying to turn on these large fans to get some air circulating. She couldn't figure out how to turn them on. This is her barn, for god's sake! And she's never turned on the fans before? She actually said "Can I get a man over here to help me with this?" Signs number 4 and 5, in quick succession.
So, we finally got all that crap out of the way, and it was time for the kids to start learning something, and time for the parents to leave. Still, no other adult but this Cheryl, who snapped at her helpers a couple of times that morning.
I picked Emma up at the appointed drop off place (which, conveniently, is 5 minutes away from our house) that afternoon. Cheryl was driving the van. I heard her tell another parent that someone had tried to run them off the road on the way in, and that she had been driving and trying to call 911 at the same time. Oh jesus. At this point, I've stopped counting the bad signs.
During the two weeks Emma attended this camp, Darrel and I had a few other annoying encounters with Cheryl, that I won't go into here, cuz they'll seem petty. (Ask me about the chicken-salad incident one day, and I'll go on for a good hour.) But they were annoying, none-the-less. And, quite frankly, I paid her an awful lot of money, and I expected to be treated a bit better.
We kept our opinions about Cheryl to ourselves and did not share them with Emma. I didn't see any point in ruining her time. She was having fun, and the only negative thing she said about Cheryl was that she was a little bossy. So, Emma finished up the camp, and on the last day, they had a little show so they could show us what they learned. I've posted more photos on my family picture page. She did really well. She was on top of this great big horse, named Darren. She got him to trot, and to go around a barrel and everything. I was very impressed. Such a brave girl I have.
After the camp was over and done with, I talked to Emma a bit about Cheryl and everything. I asked her if she was interested in taking more riding lessons, and she hesitated. I told her that it wouldn't be with Cheryl, and she agreed to more lessons immediately. We talked about Cheryl, and I asked her if she had been around alot during the day time. Emma said she hadn't. It turns out that Cheryl didn't do any of the teaching at all. That the high school kids that worked for her did all of the instruction. Emma said that they rarely saw Cheryl during the day at all. This would explain why she didn't know any of the kids names at the end of camp horse show. Because she wasn't there with the kids at all.
Now, those high school girls were great. Emma really liked them, and I have no doubt that they knew exactly what they were doing. During the horse show, they were great with the kids. They were very encouraging and kind to them. (Cheryl, meanwhile, would yell at the kids things like "That wasn't trotting! Go back and do it again!") I don't have any problem at all with the fact that they were the ones teaching the kids. In fact, I'm glad it was them and not Cheryl. But, no where in any of the literature did she mention that she wouldn't be doing the teaching herself, or that the instructors weren't even old enough to drive. I just wonder how much of my cash went to those girls, and how much went to her.
I also asked Emma about Cheryl's driving. Emma said that she was often on her cell phone while she was driving the van. What the hell??? That's my kid you've got in there. And alot of other people's kids. And you're on your cell. I know there are varying opinions about whether or not talking on your phone impairs your driving ability, but when you've got 10 kids in the van with you? Other people's kids?? Insane.
And (I promise, this is the last one) one afternoon, she took them on a field trip. To Petsmart. To get supplies for the horses. It was too hot to ride, she said. So she put them in the van, and took them to the store. Do your errands on your own time, lady. Not while I'm paying you almost $300.00 to teach my kid to ride a friggin' horse!
So, that's my rant. I apologize for the length. I have learned that I need to do my homework a little better next time. We've been really fortunate with all of Emma's other summer camps. Emma's had a great time, the people are really wonderful, and I feel completely comfortable leaving her in their keeping. I guess one bad one over the past few years isn't all that bad.
But, if you're looking for a horse camp for your child. Do not choose Golden Vista Equestrian Center.
