Los Altos Hills horsemen hold first children's camp
By Lauren McSherry, Town Crier Staff Writer
 Samantha Yramategui, 8, Joey Lazzarini, 8, and Teresa Wagner, 22, paint American Indian symbols on an Arabian horse. Lightening bolts were intended to bring power and strength to the horse. A circle around the horse’s eye was meant to bring good vision in battle. |
Branding, horse shoeing and grooming were just a few of the topics covered during the Junior Horsemanship Camp held July 15-17 at the public riding ring in Los Altos Hills. Nearly 20 volunteers from the Los Altos Hills Horsemen’s Association organized and led the daylong camp activities.
“This was the first time we’ve done this type of camp,” said Lori Askew, the association’s president. “It was a raging success.”
Resident John Lazzarini, who grew up on a ranch, demonstrated cowboy skills - including how to maneuver a horse to cut calves out of a herd. He talked about the gear, saddles and clothing cowboys use and gave a lesson on modern and old-style branding, explaining that ranchers freeze brand rather than burn brand their animals because there is no pain for the animal.
“It’s like a tattoo for a horse that doesn’t hurt,” said Jolon Wagner, the camp’s chief organizer.
Campers also painted brands and American Indian symbols on horses.
“Their horses were walking billboards that told histories of their previous battles or buffalo hunts,” Wagner said.
Each day, campers got plenty of time in the saddle and plenty of one-on-one time with a riding instructor.
“One of the wonderful things we saw happen was that the kids didn’t just develop skills,” Askew said. “They developed relationships with the horses.”
Victoria Indaco of Los Altos Hills, 12, and Michelle Yramategui of Los Altos, 11, were glad they could attend a camp locally because otherwise they would have had to travel to Half Moon Bay.
Ferrier Steve Wiberg showed campers the differences among racing, Clydesdale and studded horseshoes. He also demonstrated how to hot-shoe a horse - firing a shoe, pounding it on an anvil, shaping the hot shoe to a horse’s hoof, then cooling the shoe in water.
Alisa Bredo, former association president, gave instruction on English riding, and Diane Garcia demonstrated how to put on various tack, including Western, English and endurance saddles.
Campers also learned about saddling up, communicating with horses and first aid for horses.
During the last day, campers put on a demonstration show for parents. Afterwards, campers were awarded blue ribbons for their particular achievements.
The camp raised funds to maintain the riding ring, organizers said.
The next activity the horsemen’s association has planned is a moonlit trail ride scheduled for 7 p.m. Aug. 19. For more information, visit www.lahha.org.
