Greetings to our wonderful campers and their families! Day four at Bowers Farm Horse Camp was packed with hands-on learning, teamwork, and some tasty moments that we’ll all remember fondly. Here’s a recap of the exciting activities we got up to today.

Morning Chores and Western Tack

We started the day with our usual morning farm chores—everyone pitched in, helping to feed and care for the horses, ponies, and lambs. It’s a great way to kick off the day, and we love seeing the campers working together, bonding with the animals, and learning what it takes to keep the farm running smoothly.

After chores, we moved on to something really exciting—learning how to tack up a horse in Western gear! Our campers got hands-on experience with saddles, bridles, and all the essentials of Western riding. It was such a great opportunity to learn this important skill, and everyone had a blast preparing their horses for the day’s activities.

Part of chores, is teaching our youngest farm animals the ins and outs of handling….Group 1 started there morning off, embarking on a rowdy morning walk with these two frolicking lambs, their energetic leaps and spins leaving the campers in utter laughter that could be heard throughout the whole farm!

Homemade Applesauce – Simple, Tasty, and Fun!

Keeping with the “horsey theme”….Next up, we got into the kitchen for some team cooking! Today’s recipe was a simple and delicious homemade applesauce, made in the crockpot. We combined the efforts of two groups, and the results were mouth-wateringly good. Here’s the recipe, so you can recreate it at home!

Crockpot Applesauce Recipe:

Ingredients:

10 apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup water

Directions:

Place the peeled and sliced apples into the bowl of your crockpot.
Sprinkle the sugar and cinnamon over the apples and mix well.
Pour in the water and cover with the lid.
Cook on high heat for 4 hours.
After the cooking time is up, remove the lid and stir the apples with a wire whisk until smooth (or leave a little chunky, depending on your preference).
Serve warm or allow the applesauce to cool completely before storing in a sealed container in the fridge.

It’s the perfect treat to enjoy after a day of activities! You won’t believe how easy it is, and it tastes just as good as homemade can get. Maybe have your camper make it for the next family get together or as a dish to serve and watch them beam with pride!

Practice for the Big Show – Presentation Skills

After our delicious applesauce, we moved on to some important prep work. The campers began practicing for their skill presentation, which will take place tomorrow! They’ve been working all week on mastering different equine-related skills, and tomorrow they’ll have the opportunity to showcase their knowledge to everyone. Campers are growing in their independence with the horses and those that felt comfortable got to experience a little trot today! Smiles lit up their faces!

Families, be sure to check your email for the exact times and additional details about tomorrow’s event. We can’t wait to share the campers’ hard work with all of you!

Also, the campers have been putting together their Equine Science Posters, where they will share interesting facts and what they've learned throughout the week. It’s a great way for them to display all their newfound knowledge and demonstrate their passion for horses.

Growing independence and practicing skills! Here's to all these amazing school ponies and horses, the ones with the endless patience, that teach our campers and grow their passion for all things equestrian!

Cowboy Campfire Time – Smores with a Twist!

We wrapped up our evening with something super fun—a campfire in the forest! The campers gathered around, telling stories, roasting marshmallows, and enjoying the great outdoors. We also put a fun twist on the traditional smores with Campfire Cones!

Here’s the recipe so you can try it at home for your next camping adventure:

**Campfire Cones Recipe:**
**Ingredients**:
Waffle cones
Mini marshmallows
Chocolate chips
Graham crackers (broken into pieces)
**Directions**:
**Assemble**: Start by filling the bottom of each waffle cone with mini marshmallows. Layer chocolate chips, broken graham crackers, and more marshmallows.
**Wrap**: Wrap each cone tightly in aluminum foil, making sure it’s sealed.
**Cook**:
**In the oven**: Preheat to **350°F** and bake for 10-15 minutes, until everything is melted and gooey.
**Over the fire or on the grill**: Place the wrapped cones over the hot coals or grill grates for 5-7 minutes, turning occasionally, until everything is melted and the cone is lightly toasted.
**Enjoy**: Carefully remove from heat, unwrap the foil, and enjoy the gooey goodness!
These campfire cones were a big hit with the campers! The combination of warm, melted chocolate, gooey marshmallows, and crunchy graham crackers was the perfect treat to end the day.

Pony Jumping – Hilarious Moments!

The highlight of my day! Next, we witnessed some rowdy pony jumping, and let me tell you—it was absolutely hilarious! The ponies were feeling extra playful today, and the campers had to be on their toes to keep up with them.

The campers were all giggling, cheering each other on, and enjoying every second of the comical pony antics, there was never a dull moment. It was a great reminder that learning can take place in all forms!

Honestly, watching these campers and ponies reminded me of my childhood in the 90s. A childhood all about experimenting, pushing limits, and just having fun in the most carefree ways—and that's exactly what we were seeing with the campers and the ponies today! Everyone was testing their boundaries (while staying safe, of course), laughing at the unpredictable antics, and figuring out how to navigate challenges together. It’s that spirit of adventure and fun that makes camp so special.

There is way to much love about this photo!!!

A Reward for Hard Work – Achievement Time!

We reminded the campers that tomorrow they will receive their Green Beginner Level I Achievement Patch and a certificate. This is a huge milestone in their learning journey, and we can’t wait to celebrate all their hard work!

See You Tomorrow!

We can’t believe tomorrow is already the last day of camp! After the presentations, there will be lots of smiles and cheers as we hand out the well-earned achievement patches. We’re so proud of everything the campers have accomplished this week!

Thank you to all the families for being so supportive and for joining us on this wonderful journey. We can’t wait to see you tomorrow and celebrate the end of an amazing week at Bowers Farm Horse Camp!

Bowers Farm Horse Camp: Day Four – A Day of Learning, Fun, and Growing Rider Independence!