Long Meadow Farm, Foster RI

08/20/2026

08/19/2026

Fall is around the corner and as the saying goes, "it's been a long hot summer". Six weeks of "Pony Camp " (as our Horsemanship program for Children has become labeled) and I haven't posted a single camp photo. But that's sort of how things seem to go if you don't have your own personal media team. When you are busy doing anything worth posting there is probably no time to post anything. I can't say I love the title'Pony Camp" it's just too cute for my liking but, it is what it is. I approach my camps each year as serious business. Yes we use ponies and horses too but my focus, my driving force is on Horsemanship and that means a comprehensive age appropriate equine education. I basically try to expose kids in five days to "all things horse" not just the riding . Knowledge is power and I believe it's through knowledge children will be safer and horses will be happier. But even in serious learning there will always be fun and even better a sense of accomplishment-nothing good is ever easy ! So here are a few favorite shots from summer with more to come .

08/19/2026

This is what happens when you ask a seven year old to photograph the lesson

07/25/2026

More About Paul: Harnessing and Liberty. "The taming of Paul" is starting to look like "the training of Paul". Progress is now like a ball rolling down hill. It's picking up momentum. Establishing relaxation has been key to our progress. As Paul's ability to relax has increased his ability to learn has increased exponentially. If you are afraid you can not learn or retain information effectively. This fact is something we know or should know in education and unfortunately, Paul was very very afraid of all of us when we acquired him. Paul's relaxation has not come from treats or petting. It's come from work that has quietly and consistently made Paul face his fears and helped establish his trust and confidence in us as leaders. It's taken controlled exposure to the things he fears in a consistent manner to move forward.

07/19/2026

Another amazing Liberty Clinic with Patrick Sullivan of Gamilah Unbridled for our young students here at Long Meadow Farm. I am always so proud of these kids and my ponies.

06/28/2026

Kids and ponies- It seems we are finally hitting our summer stride. It may be age but it seems the season for horses gets shorter each year. Spring comes later and later. Winter hangs on, while school commitments and work pull at us. There is weather, snow, rain, and wind that interrupt our flow. There's hours of cleanup after the frozen ground melts followed by bugs and summer heat. Heat that seems to worsen each year and yet despite it all learning happens and progress is made. Why do it? Because whatever avenue you follow in horses you will gain skills and build character that will transcend the farm, life altering things you can carry with you forever.

06/28/2026

Ava and Paul: Paul's progress continues. Over the years I have noticed that the energy of certain children can be healing to a horse. Before ego, ambitions, and worldly desires take over children have very open hearts. They love horses for what they are, just amazing creatures. We adults usually come to the horse human relationship with our own agenda and often it's driven by time constraints, money, or the illusion of success. This can translate as pressure. We can appear as pressurized time bombs to a horse. Young kids don't suffer from those afflictions until age and the world takes over. Similar to horses they live more in the moment than adults. The famous artist Picasso is quoted as saying,"All children are born artists, the difficulty is remaining so as we age." I think horses are similar. Just as it is hard to hang on to carefree artistic expression as we age it is as tough to retain that pure childlike feeling of awe when we work with horses as adults. Our worlds are bogged down by so many other demands but horses do know when it's lost-that I am sure of

06/28/2026

Kids and ponies getting ready for our yearly Kids Liberty week. July 13-17 means Liberty Skills Camp and a clinic with Patrick Sullivan of Gamilah Unbridled