Shoot, they are already starting to come and we have not yet begun to construct the Gwaltney Frontier Farm. Yesterday, with a heat index way over 110, a group from the Gwaltney National Family Reunion capped off their day by coming out to see the type of horses that their original ancestor, Thomas Gwaltney, would have ridden when he established his home site in America in 1668, only about ten miles of our horse lot.
They met Corollas, Shacklefords, Baylis Spanish Goats and even Spicer, my San Clemente billy goat. I showed them where we will build the very modest colonial farm house along with the few outbuildings that a single man recently freed from indentured servitude would have built during the time when Tidewater Virginia was the frontier of the English Empire.
But most importantly, they met Ashley and Samantha. They watched Ashley ride Edward Teach, a wild Corolla stallion that was removed from the island because of his life threatening wounds. They watched as she handled him as if he was a puppy.
They watched Samantha with her 1/2 Corolla colt whose future is boundless. They learned about the offsite breeding program and the need to find more people that will accept the task of breeding and raising these amazing little horses.
But again, the most important ones that they met were Ashley and Samantha. Ashley is ten years old and completed her first 50 mile in one day ride at age nine. Samantha is only seven years old and has a family that is as dedicated to the horses as is she.
Our guests came to learn about the past, but when they watched Ashley and Samantha with the horses what they saw was the future.
(Here is a shot of a few of our Gwaltney guests under our recently constructed artificial shade producing device.)
It was wonderful meeting those folks. The cars were lined up way down the path.
ReplyDeleteI imagine that completing a 50 miler is somewhere in Samantha's future, but I think it is amazing that she completed a 25 miler on Tradewind and Monteo when she was 7.5 yrs old.....just 6 months after starting your program! You have some amazing little riders, and I am so happy that Sam has such a solid group to work, ride and play with through your program. And you aren't so bad yourself.
What you do with these kids is brilliant.
Steve,
ReplyDeleteWe had a great time out at the Mill Swamp Indian Horse Views Farm. You have a wonderful program there and I was amazed at how you are training the horses and the young people to train the horses as well. All the Gwaltney clan who came out that hot Sunday really enjoyed your presentation and your efforts!