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RANCH HORSES THROUGH THE YEARS

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From: "Craig Jolley"
To: friends@friendsofkern.org
Date: Fri, June 6, 2003 8:47 am
Subject: Re: Welcomes, Birthdays, Concert Report?

Stuart, Had a thought for a potential way to build interest for the pending Ranch reunion. Those of us at Ranch has as many fond (and some not so fond {G}) memories of the horses and their personalities as we do fellow staff and campers. If it is possible to do a segmented email just to former Ranch members of the list (Main Camp staff just would understand this) maybe we could ask people to list the horses they remember best during their tenure at the Triple...er, Circle K. Mine are:

Peaches
AJ
Tonka
Charlie Brown
Blaze & his mama, Notion
Apache
Prince
Proud
LeMans

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From: JoEllen Mullins To: friends@friendsofkern.org Date: Sat, June 7, 2003 9:05 am Subject: Re: Welcomes, Responses ---------------------------------------------------------------- STUART- AS A FORMER RANCH DIRECTOR/PROGRAM DIRECTOR THERE ARE SEVERAL HORSES WHO I FEEL EARNED THEIR PLACE ON THE CIRCLE K RANCH HALL OF FAME...FOR THEIR DEDICATION, UNDYING LOVE OF CAMPERS & TRUE ABILITY TO REACH CHILDREN WHO NO HUMAN COULD...... 1991-1994 SIKEMA SWIFTY GEE-JOE NASHA BANNER ( CAMP SONG NAMED AFTER BANNER) BUD ("THE BUD-MAN" WROTE HIS OWN CIRCLE K NEWSLETTER) VICKI MIMI TYE (OUR PONY CART HORSE) HOOFER LONDON (WHO RETIRED TO NORTH CAROLINA) KATSUARA LADY PABST (AK.A. PABST BLUE RIBBON) A.J. FLINT TRAVIS (A.K.A.-QUICK SILVER) BRAVA CAJUIN SPICE MONTY BO-DIDDLE (WHO NOW GIVES RIDES TO GRANDCHILDREN IN WEST UNION OHIO) CHARLIE (DECEASED DURING CAMP 1991) NIKKI STRAW DUDE RUSTY(DECEASED DURING CAMP 1992) NINTENDO LATINA AZAR AZREAZEL (ORPHAN FOAL BORN @ CAMP IN 1991-RASIED ON GOATS MILK BY RANCH STAFF) STAR (MIKE REES PURCHASED FROM CAMP) TAZ-TERRI'S VERY OWN ORPHAN FOAL CONCHO PRIDE ROCKY CINDERS SLEW RAJ MARIO ZACK (PERCHON DRAFT USED FOR HAY RIDES) DECK (A.K.A -GO DECK EM) CHEIF (A.K.A. -RED LION CHIEF) JANNIE TROUBLE SOCKS (JENNY MAXWELL'S HORSE) COVER GIRL FOXY (WHO JUST PASSED AWAY LAST YEAR @ CAMP) ARBIE KEI BEN (OUR VAULTING HORSE) SUGAR PEPSI ROSIE LUCY (DONNA GENTLE'S FAVORITE/BUT A RICK TREAT SPECIAL) PATCHES POCO TEX BIG RED (A.K.A. UNFINSHED BUSINESS) THUNDER BAY JAZZ DUSTY UNO AND OF COURSE ASK ANY Y-GUIDE GROUP OR SUMMER RANCH STAFF OR CAMPER ABOUT "KILLER"? JO MULLINS

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From: Joe, Vergie, & Luke Fabian To: friends@friendsofkern.org Date: Sun, June 8, 2003 1:42 pm Subject: Re: Horses Remembered Major flashback!! I remember most of the horses Craig listed. Hall of Fame List would have to include: Sweet Pea Charlie Brown Chocolate Barney & Nellie (Team) Proud/Gypsie Peaches Blaze Jesse B.R. Clark Tonka & Le Mans An honorable mention list would be 10 times as long! Wow, It is really hard for me to narrow this list. There are so many great memories attached to so many great horses. Like the ones I personally rode as a camper... Eagle Clark Reggie Nutmeg Ranger B. R. Then there are the ones you "dealt" with as a counselor :) And the ones you could trust to get you safely around the lake at top speed around midnight. (Oh, did I type that out loud???) Okay here goes a "condensed" list: Sekima (mom)/Meskelara (son) Clipper & Judy (great "lake runners") Fat Albert & Blossom (2 fat and fuzzy little black balls. They looked like the giant stuffed animals hanging as prizes at the fair) Magic (my favorite "lake runner") Domino Buckeye Chief (Mind you there have been several "Chiefs" the one I remember was a 50" paint as wide as he was tall.) Ruby Mimi Vicki London Mattel Frosty Pepsi Rocky (Mare) Sierra and who could forget Camel. (I never met him in the flesh, but his ghost did walk through the bunk house a time or two on stormy nights when I was there :) I know I've left a lot of great ones out but I did say a condensed list. I'll let the rest of you fill in the blanks. Thanks for the trip down "Memory Lane" !!!! Ranch Rules!! Vergie (McCracken) Fabian

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From: "Andy McGarvey" To: <stuart@friendsofkern.org> Date: Mon, June 9, 2003 2:28 pm Subject: Re: Welcomes, Ranch News, Kim Concert Pics Okay Stuart, I looked through the list of horse names and (maybe I missed it) but I did not see Max. Who could forget him and the day he spent in the trailer? -- Andy McGarvey Dean of Middle School The Seven Hills School 513-527-1314 andy.mcgarvey@7hills.org

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From: Laura Huffman To: KERN FRIENDS OF <friends@friendsofkern.org> Date: Tue, June 10, 2003 11:48 am Subject: RANCH RELATED While I was curious to see Craig Jolley's list of horses, I must admit I was shocked and horrified to see Proud listed next to the bottom !!! Obviously, Craig must not have placed them in order of importance or perhaps the listing was scrambled during the process of electronic transmission! (lol) Glad to be hearing from you again! It brightens the whole process of receiving emails. Laura Huffman lhuffman@twcny.rr.com (the first letter is a small L, not a 1 [one])

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From: "ktrowbridge" To: friends@friendsofkern.org Date: Tue, June 10, 2003 10:55 pm Subject: Re: Welcomes, Ranch News, Kim Concert Pics Hello everyone..... Browsing thru the new ranch section of the website and came along the Favorite Horse List and thought I would update a little. As a former student, camper, past, and current staff member of the ranch, I have known alot of the horses on the list and hadn't thought about several of them till I saw their names again. Of those mentioned, Swifty is still at camp and going strong. She is 26 I believe this year and is still giving mostly walking lessons to my 5 and 6 year old riders in her saintly way. We just purchased a few more ponies to keep her company. She hasn't been quite the same since Foxy died. One is "Molly", a very small, Foxy-sized-sweet paint pony that she has taken a liking to. THe other is a larger pony "Ruby" who patiently lets Swifty eat all of her grain....and I'm hoping that will stick up for her when they are turned out into the main herd. Also still trucking is Mimi. I believe she is 23 this year, and is still used in all aspects of our program, and as always, is a barn favorite. She still loves her job and all the attention she gets, and we are extremely happy to keep her around. Slew and Nasha are still going as well. This year Tye was retired to a very loving home. She enjoys daily grooming, lots of treats, and does pony rides for her new owner and friends. Deck was retired a few years ago. More recent horses that should be added to the list are Brandy (Been there since 1995) Amigo (Purchased this year - The best Beginner horse) And to add to the "Hall of Shame" is Chief, who thankfully was recently sold. He was the rearing-ist horse I've ever ridden!! Karri Trowbridge Lesson Student and Ranch Camper 80's Riding Instructor 97 Equestrian Director 97-99 Equestrian Coordinator 02-Present

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From: Laura Drake To: friends@friendsofkern.org Date: Wed, June 11, 2003 3:29 pm Subject: Famous and infamous horses Heading out to Strawberry's and Ice cream tonight but thought I would add a few horses to the list Ok been thinking about the horse lists and here are the ones that I remember and loved....... Blossom (who could forget that little stubborn pony) Camel (the legendary horse ghost) LaMons Roy and Rodger Clipper (first horse I jumped on) Ladybug Deck Rusty (died in my arms) Vicky and or course the coolest horse ever to reside at camp.......... London!!!!! (always faster than Vicki even though he was a morgan)

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From: Lynn Arnold Sparks To: friends@friendsofkern.org Date: Wed, June 11, 2003 9:43 pm Subject: Re: Horses Sorry Stuart, but I'll keep it short (or should I post to the new Ranch section?), As a contemporary of Craig Jolley's I remember all the horses he mentioned well. Of course, I had a preference for my Apache instead of Camp's Apache...I would have to add Chocolate and Sweet Pea, as well as Roy and Roger to the list of memorables. Of course, I liked BR (named for the significant others of two ranch staff) and am still riding her colt, Caspian. He is now 25. The Chief of that era was a fabulous calico pinto pony gelding who was a very reliable mount for anyone. I saw him 2 years after Camp sold him at Caesar's Creek with a new family. If anyone from more recent years remembers Jazz, be assured she is living the good life with my son. She is on three types of medication to keep her sound enough to be ridden at age 29, but she just doesn't quit. She and my mare have a grudging respect/hatred for each other--don't get between them with grain! Lynn Arnold Sparks, "Triple K" Ranch 1973-1979, looking forward to the promised reunion!

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From: John Fiely To: friends@friendsofkern.org Date: Thu, June 12, 2003 8:07 am Subject: Re: Welcomes, Ranch News, Kim Concert Pics Hi Stuart, Thanks to all of you for the horse listing, this is a good idea. Patty and I should be able to conjur up some of the horses from the late 70's and early 80's when she was equestrian/ranch director. My favorite was Carey, died of colic when Patty was in the Galapogos Islands. Utterly clueless. Had no concept of the purpose of the trail and wandered wherever back in the days of horserides to the park below the I71 bridge. Ears stuck straight out like the flying nun.

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From: Amie Bello To: friends@friendsofkern.org Date: Thu, June 12, 2003 9:06 am Subject: Re: A Bunch of Ranch Responses Hello all! Just want to add my favorite horses to the list... Ruby, Venus, Uno, Magic, Clipper, Ranger, Princess, London (oh he of the famous rubber neck). Anyone else remember Babe, the meanest horse on the planet? Amie "Bogie" Bello

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From: Sharon Gustin To: stuart@friendsofkern.org Date: Thu, June 12, 2003 9:28 am Subject: Ranch Horses Ok Stuart - I couldn't stand it. I was not Ranch Staff but as you know I spent many hours at the barn doing weekend trail rides, girl scout rides ect. Some of my all time favorite horses: LeMans - I bought him in the fall of 83 and we had to have him put down in 89 (I think) He was back being boarded at camp at that time. My daugher Heather learned to ride on him. B.R. - one of my favorite trail horses. Sweet Pea & Chocolate - I have a nice photo of them together and I could go on an on! Sharon Gustin

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From: "Craig Jolley" To: friends@friendsofkern.org Date: Thu, June 12, 2003 10:32 am Subject: Re: Welcomes, Radio Show, Horse News >>While I was curious to see Craig Jolley's list of horses, I must admit I was shocked and horrified to see Proud listed next to the bottom !!!<< Actually, Proud is right where s/he (I can't remember which) always was.....bringing up the rear! <VBG>

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From: Doug Bruggeman To: friends@friendsofkern.org Date: Thu, June 12, 2003 11:46 am Subject: ranch stuff Stuart: I can not let Laura Drake's statement lay: London faster than Vicki? the coolest horse at camp? PLEASE. First, Stuart, I know you are busy being a Chiropractor [uhmmm..., pediatrician(!) -Stuart], or whatever, but I wish you would take the time to edit out such libelist content. I would hate to see this degenerate into a forum for trash talking among bored old counselors. ..besides London was a complete knuckle head! I rode London to lead a Girl Scouts trail ride, once, once. He side-stepped the whole trail around Elk Lake, which did not reflect my equitation skills [solid Circle K training]. Araby, now that was a haus. I am also a huge LeMons fan. Also, favorite camp song from summer of '86 & '87: "She packed all her things and took off down the rode" originally performed by Bob Seager. Doug Bruggeman

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From: Bill Kelley To: friends@friendsofkern.org Date: Fri, June 13, 2003 12:17 am Subject: Re: Yep, More Ranch Responses (5) Stuart... I wasnt a Ranch Staff member, but i was a part of the Trail Rides and Girl Scout ride Staff of the 80's, along with Outdoor Ed and Summer Staff... If anyone remembers Cinders, she was bought by Kathy Boggs from Cape Cod Farm. I know this because i gave many lessons on her while I worked for Kathy..around 10 years or more...she was a good pony to do Lunge lessons on, and the kids loved her.. Just thought you might like to know that She had an excellent home after camp work..Pampered beyond everything!! Bill Kelley

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From: Amy Lecklider Martin To: friends@friendsofkern.org Date: Fri, June 13, 2003 9:42 am Subject: Ranch staff at Kern Well I go way back into the 70's and the one horse that comes to mind is Kent. After winning the horse show I put my ribbon on his head and he spooked and took off. What a ride that was. The idea of a Ranch reunion is great. We should start a list. Let me know if I can help. Amy Lecklider Martin

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From: Terry Ackerman Jones To: friends@friendsofkern.org Date: Fri, June 13, 2003 10:48 pm Subject: Re: Yep, More Ranch Responses (5) Yes Stuart Doug is right ....Vicki was definitely faster than any horse on camp in the many years i was there(Or so I heard over and over). Yes I remember Babe....white arab teeth bared...best thing that ever happened to her was the black hand prints Scott Peterson left on her while painting. John , Carey was a great beginner horse and his ears were cool. Laura liked London because he was as stubborn as her. I would have to say vicki was the best horse. I started many a beginner on her, jumped many an advanced rider, but the thing I remember best was I had a student in a wheel chair with spinal bifidia who rode her. Vicki would drop her head to allow Mandy to bridle her and would allow Mandy to pick up her feet. Does anyone remember how Swifty received her name? She was one of the leased horses summer of 1983. She was hard to catch during staff training and was called Swift shi*. Ruby was always a staff /camper favorite too. I remember the day I sold Roy(Roger was gone before I ever started) . We were doing trail rides...Sharon Gustin and Patty snyder were there . Roy would get loose over lunch and push the doors open and go grazing along the lake ....the indian guides found this humerous...because he would be wearing his saddle but no halter...Why? He always rubbed his halter off on his leadrope, so one day I croostied him tightly. We came back from lunch and there was his halter hanging from the crossties in his stall. Unfortunately that wasthe day someone came looking to buy horses.(he was also in a bad kicking phase , so I sold him) How about the horse that kept on ticking? Uno . Struck by lightning, fell off the bridge over the creek on the river ride...was still there In January 2000 when I taught some lessons. terry(ACkerman )Jones

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From: "Matt Sutton" To: <friends@friendsofkern.org> Date: Sun, June 15, 2003 7:48 pm Subject: Re: Yep, More Ranch Responses (5) hey all, dugbrugg, good call on the whole london-vicki debate. vicki, clearly the faster mount. however, i would like to throw in Pabst (blue ribbon boy) as a contender. camp got him straight from the track if i remember right, which would account for the incredibly hard mouth. but that horse could run. i never had the opportunity to run him against vicki, but mike mo and i had many-a-argument on which would've actually taken the title. now, as for london, his talent does not go unnoticed. to this day, he is the only horse i've ever seen actually bend in half. laura, i luv ya, but can't see what you do in london. anyone remember the little pinto pony "max"? maximillion was amazing. no saddle, no bridle, no halter, no problem....jump on backwards and ride him through the old barn. sad day when i saw him put down. one more thing, brugg......wasn't that song originally sung by matt hoskins?? matt sutton

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From: Christy Kunz To: friends@friendsofkern.org Date: Sun, June 15, 2003 10:13 pm Subject: Couldn't Resist Hey Ranchers, From old camper memories... Who could forget Sikema? She was the most forgiving pony on the planet, I remember when she was painted for a luau and brought INTO the dining hall. Along with Dona the curly horse, Lady (Cinder Slew's momma, what a classy mare), Lacey- the most thoroughbred-looking Quarter Horse I've ever met. Cinders was great, she deserved the loving home she got. Dawn, the Quarter-Morgan who was "Advanced Only"(She ended up at Miami U when I rode for them in 1995, called Shirley. I leased her for the summer and brought her back as my staff horse), and Araby (God love the old man). The love of my life as a camper- Cadet. What a great little Arab. Vickie- a friend of mine bought her from camp and we ran into each other at the Warren County 4H show- great mare. What about Happy Hoofer, the paint with a heart of gold who would jump the moon- but watch that grass on trails!!! Azar was the most gorgeous thing when he was donated to camp, as well as Mimi and Tye- man, were they fun to drive. Uno the Morgan. Ben the BIG Morgan who could EAT (and foundered easily). London who I think went on to be a Dayton Police Horse (if memory serves...) Deck was the "push-button" horse to get for Advanced camp. Tammi the flea-bitten ticklish Arab who would jump mud puddles. Chief was a "wild" young thing then. Swifty-poor camper who had to catch her in the morning:) Pride, slow but steady; Key- what WAS he, anyway? Sikema was still there that summer of 95 but she was pretty well retired by then. Dixie was/is the leader of the herd, along with the other "Michigan Horses"from 95: Brandy, Skeeter, Megan, Maji(damned thing),Cherokee to name a few. Indy and Nasha were there, AJ and Latina, Sugar(died spring 97 of cancer) and Nintendo, Concho(bought him winter 95-my best horse buddy ever, even though everyone else thought he was insane) Willow pony the furriest "white" pony there ever was, Zack and Zeus the ENORMOUS black Percheron brothers with terrible feet, but fun to drive. Araby was STILL there when I left in 97, and his top front teeth were so worn he had to bite off grass by turning his head from side to side- but he was still the spry old man. Uno, same old man, just a little grouchy in the ring. Cinder Slew, Happy Hoofer, Pride, Foxy and Swifty, Deck, Azar, Azset, Tammi, Ben, Brava, Key... I know I'm forgetting a bunch that I just can't remember their names, but remember them. Hope that helped! Christy Coggins Kunz

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From: Erin Policinski To: stuart <stuart@friendsofkern.org> Date: Mon, June 16, 2003 3:36 pm Subject: More ranch memories Can you ever have enough ranch memories?! Coggins email made me a little teary (I'm directing a day camp without horses) for those fun summer days at the ranch. I'll throw in some of my memories ... Azar -- the green arab I learned to jump on. I fell off him more times in one lesson than I had in my entire life! Araby -- the good old man that was always there. Sugar -- the one international camper saying over and over "no shugaaar." Straw pony -- she' s my all time favorite ranch pony. I spent many a long cold Saturday leading trails on her (okay and many of the other horses too!). There was a blue roan (named Blue?) that was there for a very short while who. And I remember dealing with my first colic when Jazz went down (but she got back up and became a favorite beginner horse). And there were to paints named Jinks and ... I have many fond memories of the Michigan horses that came summer of 95 (and there was that whole staff too!). And London was the Houdini of Kern no matter what you did to keep him tied up (I think that he even escaped from a box stall or two). And of course the two ghost horses Camel and Killer. I can't believe that we actually did the whole Killer thing and didn't scar too many children :) There's a not so short list of some of my horse memories. I'll be very interested to hear more about the ranch reunion. erin "ears" policinski '87 - '96 Erin M. Policinski Bloomington, IN (812) 332-6831

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From: Tom Warriner To: friends@friendsofkern.org Date: Tue, June 17, 2003 8:37 am Subject: Re: Welcomes, Ranch Memories from Policinski.... Stuart, 40 years makes some brain cell mighty rusty, however in ''64 and'65 we had a donkey named Mike who loved peach brandy and cigarettes ( only rumored since such contraband never made its way to Kern!) My favorite memories include a paint named Tanglefoot, famous for dumping the uninitiated into the pond. Ted Hopple getting nearly killed in a stall when trying to brush a new horse to the string, and Gary was without a doubt the strongest and biggest guy I had ever met, however I was only 15 and easily impressed. Thanks for the venue and the trip down memory lane. Tom Warriner Peace River Ranch

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From: Amy Wokasien (Weeney) To: friends@friendsofkern.org Date: Tue, June 17, 2003 11:33 am Subject: Re: Welcomes, Ranch Memories from Policinski.... I have to jump in with more Ranch favorites: Buckeye (a fat little bucksin) was the first pony I ever rode my first year as a camper in '78. I rode Reggie my next year there. Then I rode Frosty, who I took home for the winter a couple of years. The first year I rode Frosty, all the saddles had been stolen, so they scrounged up enough tack for us to use, but my saddle didn't have stirrups, so I rode all week without stirrups! I remember as a camper, everyone wanted to ride Ruby, but she was an advanced only horse! I also remember Judy, a dun who had epilepsy, and I can't remember the horse's name, but it only had one eye - was that Clipper? And Peaches the circus pony. As a counselor, I remember Blossom, Max, Uno, Vicky, and I have a great picture of Babe with daisies in her mouth! Sherry and her baby Candy, Chocolate, Sweet Pea - all those good old horses that were great camp horses. Amy Wokasien (Weeney) Ranch Counselor '84 & '85

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From: JoEllen Mullins To: friends@friendsofkern.org Date: Tue, June 17, 2003 10:55 pm Subject: Re: Special Welcomes, More Ranch Responses LONDON UPDATE... LONDON WHO LOVED TO SLIP HIS HALTER OFF & GO GET GRASS IN FRONT OF THE LELAND STALLS, NOW LIVES OUT EAST WITH THE FAMILY THAT ADOPTED HIM EVERY WINTER...HE RIDES ON THE BEACH WITH THE QUARTER HORSE GELDING THEY BOUGHT TO KEEP HIM COMPANY....THE SHIPPER WHO PICKED HIM UP ( A SEMI FROM KENTUCKY HAULING THOROUGHBREDS TO NEW YORK) LOADED HIM UP-SAYING HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE HIM....HE TIED HIM BUT WHEN HE ARRIVED AT LONDON'S NEW HOME GUESS WHO WASN'T WEARING A HALTER? JO (PEASE) MULLINS

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From: "SALLY BAKER" To: <friends@friendsofkern.org> Date: Wed, June 18, 2003 9:25 am Subject: old memories of old friends Ok Ms Laura Drake (my dear friend) I have to go with M. Sutton on the Vicki vs. London debate. I showed her a few times so I am kind of partial to her. VICKI RULES !! :) Anyways, I started working the camp ranch when I was 13 or 14 doing trail rides. Then was a counselor in 88, 89 and worked there with Terry a few years after. I have very fond memories of all the horses and these were some of my favorites: Chester (didn't see his name mentioned, but how could anyone forget him) Sweet Pea (best trail horse) Deck (showed him several times) Vicki Frosty Sikema(sweetest pony) Tory Holly (my very favorite) Tory was a little Morgan given to camp and I got to break and train her. Quick story. Terry was helping me one day. We put a saddle on her for the first time and took her into the arena. after a few minutes on a lead, she broke free, ran to the back of the arena. She then turned around and bolted to the front and put her head and neck through the viewing window. Terry and I liked to died and I am sure Terry remembers. Thanks for the memories and stories. It was great to read all of them. Sally McClain

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From: Sue Bryant Wadsworth To: <friends@friendsofkern.org> Date: Thu, June 19, 2003 9:36 am Subject: Re: Welcomes, Bob Barr Golf Outing, From Angi/Mike Rees, Ranch Memories Even though I didn't work ranch camp, I have a few horse memories of my own..I was a regular camp staffer in 82 and 83 and remember "catching" horses on the weekends to bareback ride. Those horses knew it was their weekend off as on separate occasions I was dumped in a soybean field, stepped on and bit in the shoulder when my horse was stung by a yellow jacket. Horse revenge, I guess! Sue Bryant Wadsworth

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From: "John Paulson" To: "'Stuart Weinberg'" <stwmd@stwmd.net> Date: Fri, June 20, 2003 11:55 am Subject: Horse names Stuart, FYI - Names that I have not seen but remember are: * BOB - Gray Arab Gelding * Shena - Paint Mare Regards, John Paulson jpaulson@trinitymfg.com Product Manager Agricultural Division Trinity Manufacturing Inc. Office 910/582-5650 x 118 FAX 910/582-4433 Mobile 910/894-2139

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From: "Don Handley" To: <friends@friendsofkern.org> Date: Sun, June 22, 2003 10:13 am Subject: Re: Welcomes, Birthdays, Responses In regards to BOBBY and SHENA, I had the utmost pleasure of riding both of these great horses. I once raced a pickup truck with Shena over at the Poppy(?) Farm, off of Gilmore Rd., and was told by the driver of the truck that Shena had gotten up to 35 mph. The reason I say this is that all the talk about fast horses makes me wonder if any other horse could beat BOBBY, since he could leave Shena in the dust. It nice to see so many familiar names from the past show up on this website, thanks for all the memories. Don Handley

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From: "Pat McClain" To: <friends@friendsofkern.org> Date: Sun, June 22, 2003 1:41 pm Subject: Ranch Camp Horse List Hopefully we have some other old timers out there from the Ô67 Ð Ô72 timeframe. We had some great rodeo horses back then when ranch camp meant western. Greatest barrel horse back then was Smokey but my favorite for Ô70 and Ô71 was a little speedball named Candy. I wanted to buy that horse but end of Ô71 someone beat me to it. Won everything with this horse and she was a great bareback ride and a decent bareback jumper. Some may remember a jumping horse by the name of Fern. She was the only real jumper the camp had back in those western only days. I sleek palomino about 16 hands with legs like springs. I loved jumping her bareback since we rarely used any English tack. As a CIT in summer 72 I road whatever was left but for some reason no one wanted to ride a new horse named Lady Dancer which was fine by me because she was a great horse. Road her with my own hackamore and of course no saddle (as a CIT back then we were luck we werenÕt walking or driving the 3 on the tree truck) and she was great. If anyone out there from those days send me an e-mail. Pat McClain Austin, Texas Camper: 65 Ð 71 CIT: 72

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From: Lynn Arnold Sparks To: friends@friendsofkern.org Date: Sun, June 22, 2003 10:30 pm Subject: Re: Horse names--to John Paulson Bobby (big grey gelding) and Sheena (big pinto mare) were sold to the man who hauled my horse to camp for the second year of girl's ranch--back in 1973, I think. I remembered them as always being staff horses during the Family Camp trail rides. I don't know what happened to Bobby, but fortunately I knew Sheena (like Peaches) was trained to rear on command. Instead of getting labeled as an incorrigible, she was sold to a man who enjoyed showing off her talents. I kept track of her for a couple of years. I don't think anyone has mentioned Charlie Brown, the old bay Morgan who spent many years sleep walking and trotting through beginners classes. He would canter in my class only when I called him by name. I think the horse with one eye was Thelma Pratt's grey mare Bonnie. The Clipper I knew was a light buckskin gelding; so named because someone had body clipped him before he arrived at camp. It's great to hear old names from the past--human and equine. Sorry about all the ranch responses lately to you Main Campers! Lynn Arnold Sparks

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From: "andrea longenecker" To: "Stuart Weinberg" <stwmd@stwmd.net> Date: Mon, June 23, 2003 8:39 am Subject: Re: update emaill Hi Stuart, ....I am thoroughly enjoying all the stories regarding the ranch ponies...and just to put my two cents in....London would take Vicki any day! Take care, Andrea

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From: Jim Kidd To: friends@friendsofkern.org Date: Tue, June 24, 2003 12:05 pm Subject: Re: Welcomes and Ranch Responses Hi every one. I have been reading all of the ranch camp responses. Does any one remember Pebles Starbuck and Santana? Both were really great horses. I am constantly reading the notes and thinking wow it's great to remember the wonderful times and friends I had and made at Camp Kern. Jim Kidd Ranch Camp 68-73

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From: Bob Hunsaker To: friends@friendsofkern.org Date: Wed, June 25, 2003 9:20 pm Subject: pebbles Never thought I'd respond to any Ranch Camp notes but- - - I did ride the horses while at regular camp in the 60's and very early seventies. And I do remember the name Pebbles. I remember even better the name Jim Kidd - I thought it was the coolest name for a "cowboy"! Bob Hunsaker (camper 1960s, staff early seventies)

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From: "Pat McClain" To: <friends@friendsofkern.org> Date: Thu, June 26, 2003 10:27 am Subject: RE: Welcomes, Birthdays, Responses Ahhh I had forgotten about Pebbles, Starbuck, and Santana they were great horses of the late 60's. Thanks for bring back those memories. Wasn't it Pebbles that inflected some damage to one of the campers with a kick to the head? Who was the camper ... anyone remember? Don't think we was hurt badly but a lot of blood. Anyone out there remember the covered wagons we slept in before they built the bunk house? Pat McClain Camper 60's- 70's,Staff '72

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From: Mary Kaye To: friends@friendsofkern.org Date: Thu, June 26, 2003 11:11 am Subject: Re: Welcomes, Birthdays, Responses I'll put in my two cents worth about the horses. Poncho was quite the man. He was supposedly gelded, mounted everyone and even got one of the mares pregnant. Is his baby still there? Mary Kaye

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From: Lynn (Arnold) Sparks To: friends@friendsofkern.org Date: Mon, June 30, 2003 8:45 am Subject: Re: conestoga wagons I remember the wagons; we parked one at Poppe farm and used it for overnights. I had to talk a camper out of walking home to Cincinnati from there one night when she found a tick in the wagon. We also had one fixed up enough to drive, and I drove Roy & Roger to it a few times. There were no brakes, and the tongue was too long to allow them to stop the wagon as well as they should have. Fortunately, they behaved themselves and we had no accidents. Pebbles was a big buckskin as I recall. Santana was a deep red chestnut Morgan who was repossed by the family who donated him, much to the dismay of the ranch staff of the era who really liked him! Does anyone remember when the dealer from Indiana (Leatherbury?) left us a stallion who proceeded to go through all our fences and breed all our mares? Lynn (Arnold) Sparks

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From: JoEllen Mullins To: friends@friendsofkern.org Date: Tue, July 1, 2003 5:35 pm Subject: Re: Welcomes, 1st Year of Girls Ranch, Responses Stuart- More Ranch staff names for 1994...... Brandt Keckler-Sr. Counselor/Instructor Dave (Big Dave) Ebert-Sr. Counselor/Instructor and Wrangler...Jennifer Klontz I know I was Ranch staff but I for one am not at all inpatient with all the Ranch memories, those horses touched alot of lives, not only the campers but the staff as well. Even the horses names I don't know, I can tell by the emails-they were just as special as those I worked with for four years. Vicki could take London but neither could take "MONTY" ask Ben Cabanas....Monty beat both those plus Pabst & Concho. Jo Mullins

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From: Tami (Opferkuch) Kesling To: friends@friendsofkern.org Date: Wed, July 2, 2003 9:08 pm Subject: Re: Lotsa Welcomes, Birthdays, Responses In a message dated 7/2/2003 2:12:04 AM Eastern Standard Time, stuart@friendsofkern.org writes: > Does anyone remember when the dealer from Indiana (Leatherbury?) left us a > stallion who proceeded to go through all our fences and breed all our mares? Yes, I remember that animal, Lynn. And was he the same one about whom we would get calls EARLY in the AM that he was on the road? Tami (Opferkuch) Kesling

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From: Tami (Opferkuch) Kesling To: friends@friendsofkern.org Date: Wed, July 2, 2003 9:12 pm Subject: Re: Welcomes, Birthdays, Responses Wow, Jim Kidd. I remember my "interview" with you one spring when there was about a foot of muck in the old barnyard. You handed me a halter and told me to go get a horse for you. I said sure and took one or two steps and the muck sucked my boot right off my foot. I got the horse though. So good to hear from you. Tami (Opferkuch) Kesling

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From: Lynn Arnold Sparks To: friends@friendsofkern.org Date: Fri, July 4, 2003 10:07 pm Subject: Re: Leatherbury's stallion Hi Tami..yes, I believe we dragged him and his harem off 350 more than once. I was never so glad to see a gate replaced as that one from the pasture onto the road--we never used it anyhow. I can recall being woken up very early one Saturday morning after being up late with parent's program and the campers who stayed over by someone outside the window calling out "The horses are out on 350!" I recall saying something totally inappropriate for the campers sleeping in the same room with me--I hope they were still asleep enough not to understand! Camp stays fresh in my mind when we go to family camp. My son will be doing his first week of ranch in another week, so I'll get to visit the alumni tent. We also have an old camp mare (Jazz) that he rides here...I'll bet she was a great beginner horse. Lynn

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From: Jim Kidd To: friends@friendsofkern.org Date: Sat, July 5, 2003 11:17 pm Subject: Re: Leatherbury's stallion Just for added information, Leatherbury's stallion didn't even belong to Leatherbury. The horse belonged to his neighbor. The stallion got into Joe's field with the horses Joe was sending to camp Kern and Joe just loaded him up and sent him along because he didn't have the number of horses he had promised. He also sent two horses that he had worked on the week before. He didn't do the correct procedure.So we had so we had two very sick horses. The vet said we wouldn't be able to use them at all that summer. Joe got mad when we called to tell him we couldn't use the stallion or the horses he had personally done the vet work on. He came and got all of his horses. So we ended up getting horses from so trader near Camp Kern. Some of those were winners also. Those stories to be told at Ranch reunion. Jim Kidd

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From: Tami (Opferkuch) Kesling To: friends@friendsofkern.org Date: Mon, July 7, 2003 8:41 pm Subject: Re: Leatherbury's stallion Nice to hear from you Lynn. We have gone back to Camp several times but usually no one is around. Can't believe how far things have come since we were there. Truly amazing. Never could get our younger daughter to go there as at the time she was learning saddle seat and had no interest in any other style of riding. She was very good at it though, then lost interest. We will be doing some riding this summer and I will suffer dearly but enjoy every minute of it. It is great to see everyone's name from camp, brings back so many memories! Tami

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From: Tami (Opferkuch) Kesling To: friends@friendsofkern.org Date: Mon, July 7, 2003 8:44 pm Subject: Re: Leatherbury's stallion I have a picture of Bob Kesling (now my spouse) on Notion the black quarter horse I usually rode. And I was glad someone remembered Peaches the very fat pony who probably could have gone the rest of his life without eating another thing! And what about the horse that spooked returning from a trail ride and jumped the old barnyard fense and severely injured one of our campers. Not a pleasant memory but wondered if anyone knows how the camper is doing? and what became of the horse? Tami

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From: "Craig Jolley" To: friends@friendsofkern.org Date: Tue, July 8, 2003 7:47 am Subject: Re: More Alumni Stuff! > And what about the horse that spooked returning from a trail ride... The horse in question was A.J., the former steeplechase thoroughbred. A.J. was as gentle as a mouse (one time I even laid down under his back feet to show this to a camper who was afraid to come into the barn when he was around) but he sure loved to run! I remember that day well...as a CIT for Boy's Ranch at the time (before they integrated the staff) we were at the bottom of the hill baling hay during the Girls Ranch program and heard the sirens of the ambulence. Found out later in the day what happened from some very shaken Girls Ranch staff. At one point I had heard that the girl involved in the accident had had brain damage and was going through therapy but don't know what ultimately happened to her. A.J. became an exclusive staff horse for years afterward, despite his basketball sized knee which was a result of the injury. Sadly, when the lawsuit the parents filed was completed one of the provisions of the agreement was that A.J. was put down. I guess I can understand the parent's feelings but he was a very gentle horse and I was sad to hear that he was gone.

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From: Lynn Arnold Sparks To: friends@friendsofkern.org Date: Tue, July 8, 2003 1:55 pm Subject: Re: camper injury on trail ride Tami, The horse that jumped the gate was AJ (short for Ajax, but we had an Ajax). I was at the back of the trail ride. The horse became sound enough again to ride after a bad knee injury but was eventually sold because he was relatively useless for main camp trail rides and most staff members didn't want to ride him either. I still have Caspian, BR's colt, and we trail ride regularly for up to a week at a time. I finally got the grey Arab I always wanted--she's 15 now (Caspian's 25). My son enjoys trail riding--western--and we will see what he makes of camp life next week! I'm not sure he believes me that he may have to work a little harder at learning control a camp horse than our privately owned ones. Let me know if you're ever in North Central Ohio--if we can time it right, we can go trail riding! I've took Emily (Landis) Dennis riding a few times this spring and her boys rode our ex-ranch horse Jazz Sunday. Lynn Arnold Sparks

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From: Laura Huffman To: friends@friendsofkern.org Date: Tue, July 8, 2003 4:42 pm Subject: Re: More Alumni Stuff! > And what about the horse that spooked returning from a trail ride... The horse was named AJ and he remained at camp for several years beyond the accident. A big white horse. He needed quite a bit of medical attention as the barbwire fencing cut deeply most of the way down one of his legs. I believe he later became a staff horse, as no one else was allowed to ride him for liability reasons. I recall later being interviewed at my house by an investigator (for the attorneys or the insurance company?) My very dim recollection was that she was either paralyzed or otherwise very seriously injured and not expected to recover. That may not be correct as is recalled from close to 30 yrs ago.... Very, very sad. Laura Huffman

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From: Tami (Opferkuch) Kesling To: friends@friendsofkern.org Date: Wed, July 9, 2003 8:07 am Subject: Re: Lotsa Responses AJ and the accident was certainly a dark cloud on ranch camp for a while. But really the only really serious accident as far as I know which is remarkable and speaks well for all the staff. Thanks for the responses. I do remember the girl (a shame I don't remember her name) had permanent short term memory loss and that was a few years after the accident. Tami

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From: "Ted Hopple" To: <stuart@friendsofkern.com> Date: Thu, August 7, 2003 12:44 pm Subject: Question?????????? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stuart, .... while we had a brief discussion about all the "ranch camp" trivia that has recently consumed our cyberspace I forgot to mention this probably unknown fact. I dropped our of OSU for a quarter (Spring 1963) to work at camp prior to the regular summer camping season. Why? I don't know probably stupidity or maybe I just loved to be there. Worked mostly with Bud. Well it was then that I kept nudging Jack to consider using the land and barn adjacent to Pioneer Village as a ranch camp. I actually ended up picking up the first five horses from all over the state in that fab '57 Chevy Camp station wagon with of course the requisite horse trailer. Had we not done that I am not sure we would have had the pleasure of Gary Wilkinson and all of those that followed. Hay or I'm sorry hey, trivia is trivia. Ted

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From: "P. Knoop Miller" To: friends@friendsofkern.org Date: Mon, August 18, 2003 6:32 pm Subject: RE: More Ranch horses... Stuart, I have to weigh in on the ranch horse memories.... First, I have to back Doug, Terry and Matt on the Vicki-London debate. Vicki was the fastest every time/anytime I saw her go! And I remember a trail ride on Happy Hoofer (with Mike Morrison on Vicki) where Hoofer bolted around the lake and back to the barn...Vicki thought it was a race and left us in the dust. My favorite was Bay Fortune and I remember many round-ups where I was lucky enough to get him for the weekend. I also remember a round-up on Lacey, who bucked every time I asked for her right lead. And another on Cadet, who I know Jeff loved dearly, but who bucked (more like catapulted) every rider who sat on him the entire round-up. Then there is Tammi - who I got for an Advanced week right out of the "counselor field." She was pretty green and so I rode Lance for the bareback lessons. While cantering, he bolted and round-and-round we went. Janni swore that if I just said "whoa," he would stop. When we did finally stop (after MANY circles), I learned that he had bolted on a trail ride the week before and jumped a gate, so they were just happy that he hadn't taken me over the fence! Cinders was awesome for the camp shows - especially the magazine race and others similar because you could swing up and barely be on and she would be off for the finish line. And Uno gets credit just for hanging in there after the lightning strikes. I saw him fall off the bridge on that trail ride with Terry and we all thought he was gone...only to find him in the creek under the bridge taking a long drink. That horse must have nine lives! Thanks for the trip down memory lane. Patti (Knoop) Miller Charlotte, NC ranch camper 87-88 PS. My favorite camp song was "Today" - and I always thought it was about the pony, Blossom. "Today while the blossom still clings to the vine..."

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From: Angela Ostholthoff Date: Mon, October 18, 2004 3:59 pm To: stwmd@stwmd.net I smile and laugh as I look at the website, the list of Ranch Camp Horses. It brings back so many great memories. I was a camper from 88 to 92, worked at the barn, adopted many horses, and many other things. I still have bags full of ribbons from the horse show and of course all the pictures from the many years of being there.... .... By the way, two horses that I didn't see were Amy and Charlie. Everyone should remember Amy. She made constant noises from her behind.... Also, Hasty, the horse that you couldn't ride with group becuase she would kick at anyone that came near her. Angela Ostholthoff

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From: "JoEllen Mullins" <joellenmullins@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: [FOK] Weekly-ish News Date: Tue, October 26, 2004 8:34 am To: friends@friendsofkern.org Angela- Hasty was sold because of her kicking problem went to a home with no other horses-just to be spoiled and be a pet...Charlie passed away at camp during a session in the 350 field...may tears were shed for him. I don't remember Amy are sure it wasn't Tammy you were thinking of? JoEllen (Pease) Mullins