Fields of Faith, Children's Retreat

Me | 11-22-04 | Me

[tiamat]

My Gramma's house had one... loved it.

When I moved into my big old house in teh country, the very first thing I bought for that house was an old tire ( 2 bucks) and a length of rope.

[TexasCowboy]

"I wanna go! :)"

It will be open to all.

I plan to have twelve girls and twelve boys for each outing (and I'm just feeling my way; I don't know how many I and my helpers can handle!)

[TexasCowboy]

Okay, question:

I remember when I used to swing on my tire swing, I'd get black all over me.
Do you remember that? Do you think that will be a problem today with everyone so concerned about contaminants?

[tiamat]

We used REALLY old tires

( hint: steel-belted radials will NOT have the desired effect! LOL!)

I scrubbed my tire to get the grime off of it, but I don't remember ever having black stuff rub off on anybody.

[HairOfTheDog]

We do have a saddle club! A virtual one at least! All are welcome there. Texas Cowboy.... let us know if we can help in any way.

Little kids on short trips don't necessarily even ~need~ to ride to enjoy being around big animals, and if they do ride, a lead line will often suffice. You'd be amazed how good even an average-trained horse is around little ones. They know who they need to be careful around, and a good safe old baby-sitter horse or two will be your best investment worth their weight in gold, or smiles ;~D

Little kids who come to visit me here, like to pet the horses, but they also just love to run and play and explore the woods, climb trees, build dams in rivers, and play fetch with a dog.

Ping!

[tiamat]

What do you think of llamas?

Llamas are easy, for a bigger animal, and kids love them.

You have to have at least two, though, or they pine away.

LMK if you want a hook-up.

On my profile, you can see a pic of my daughter and her llama.

[Gabz]

Thanks Tia for pinging me to this..........let me read through the thread before I respond, so I don't repeat any ideas from others!!!!

What a great idea Cowboy!!!!

[TexasCowboy]

Thanks, Hair!

I do want horses for the kids, but I'll admit I'm a little afraid for them.

When I get to the point of having disabled kids, I think horses will be mandatory. It's very theraputic for kids with disabilities to ride horses, even with just someone leading the horse.
My daughter has MS, and that is one thing they recommend.

I'll need to get older, very settled horses for the kids.

Okay, question:

I was talking to a lady park ranger about having horses and baby llamas in the same pasture. She said the horses would kill the llamas.
Do you know if horses hate llamas?

[TexasCowboy]

I'd always wanted baby llamas.

Take a look at my post to Hair - #68

[HairOfTheDog]

I think there may be exceptions, but I wouldn't co-mingle them. The llamas would be bullied all the time at the minimum.

[tiamat]

Lemme see what I can find out.

I don't do horses at all.

I DO know that some people who keep sheep keep a pair of llamas with them, because llamas hate coyotes and will drive them off.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Don't forget that any contact with animals requires immediate washing of hands with soap! A petting zoo in Pennsylvania had the problem of kids getting ill after petting baby animals.......... I hate to have to think this way, don't you?

On the safe side you could have bean bag toss, and those suction bow and arrow games - (yes I know I sound like a ninny!) - put some longhorns on a bale of hay and let the kids "rope" the critter............

[HairOfTheDog]

Really, at their first meeting, horses fear llamas, and llamas react to that really strangely. They'll run right at ya! They don't follow 'horse' rules, and they probably get into trouble for not knowing the horse language than outright malice on the part of the horses...

Are you a horseman yourself? I wouldn't advise starting a riding program of any kind unless you yourself are pretty experienced with their handling and training... It's a special skill to read their signals around the kids and avoid mishaps.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

Damn you, now this is all I'll think about!

BB or pellet guns are better than 22's due to distance traveled. Hiking trails can be cut with a heavy duty tiller and I think I can get tons of rubber pellets for nothing save the transportation cost. Do you have an area for a pond? I know some guys who build drilling sites and they may give us (notice how I pushed right in with that us?) backhoe time. What county are you in?

A horse shoe pitch is cheap.

[HairOfTheDog]

See my 73.... A friend had some llamas he rescued for awhile.... and they were never turned out together. They did become comfortable in adjacent fields, but the llamas were actually territorial and rushed the fence when the horses came around. The horses learned to ignore them, which was funny to see, because the llamas would put on this big display of force and stand there wondering if anyone was gonna notice!

[FoxPro]

Cook chili in a cast iron pot over an open fire.
A bonfire at night (with scary stories).
Catching salamanders (and putting them back).
Play "kick the can".
Catch fireflies.
Square dancing.
Science walks.
What is edible in the woods walks.
Tree swings.
Bunnies.

I will continue thinking.

[TexasCowboy]

The way the lady explained it to me was that horses hated the smell of llamas.
At any rate, sounds like I need to keep them separated.

[Dog Gone]

I don't have a recommendation for a specific attorney to help you with this, but you can't go wrong by contacting a major law firm like Vinson & Elkins or Baker Botts. They hire the best attorneys in the state.

[HairOfTheDog]

I don't know if horses would all agree on one reason why they don't like llamas, they might all have a reason of their own ;~D

[TexasCowboy]

Yeah, I hate to have to think this way, too, TexasGirl, but it's necessary.

I'll have a big wash-up station near-by to the petting area. You're right.

Someone else suggested the "roping the bull" idea, too.
That's a great one!

Instead of a bean bag toss, how about a fresh cow chip fight like we used to have when I lived at the Boy's Ranch?
LOL! Yeah, and I'd be closed down in one week!