Montverde, FL-
The 3rd Annual WHOA-TWHBEA 12-17 Youth Camp was
held June 14-19 at Montverde Academy. The
Montverde Eagles Coach arrived Sunday afternoon
carrying campers from the Tennessee area
along with WHOA Pleasure Horse Director
Sis Osborne who graciously chaperoned the
campers for the bus trip and during the
week. Other campers flew into the
Orlando airport and were transported to
Montverde by camp chaperones. Several
participants brought their own horses to camp this
year and had the opportunity to learn tips on
handling their horses. WHOA Academy
Committee Chairperson Harolene Willis along with
Angie Hornaday had been chaperones at the 11 and
under camp the previous week and continued
their excellent guidance through the 12-17 camp
to help with dorm monitoring and chaperone
duties. WHOA Youth Director Dee Dee Sale
and WHOA Sales and Marketing Director Mark
Taylor were also on hand to help coordinate
the camp serve as dorm monitors. Sunday
night after all 23 campers had arrived
everyone was treated to a cook out at the
Montverde Academy Equestrian Center barn
followed by a game of Foxes and Hounds. Monday
morning Instructors Leigh Bennett, Alice Klein,
Carol Wakefield and Sara Womack put the
campers into 4 groups depending on their level
of experience. Monday afternoon campers
were given riding lessons followed by a
pool party. Tuesday morning lessons began at
9:00 AM followed by lunch at noon at the
Montverde Academy Cafeteria. The
participants then went swimming until mid
afternoon followed by a second riding lesson for
the day. Wednesday morning campers awoke to a
great breakfast of bacon, eggs and french toast
followed by a morning riding lesson at 9:00
AM. After lunch the group headed for Sea World
in Orlando on the Montverde Coach Bus driven by Carol
Wakefield for an afternoon and evening of fun. It
was a pleasure to have Toni Specht,
representing Montverde Academy, join the
group at Sea World. Thursday morning campers
were given a clinic by noted
veterinarian Dr. Shane Files of Mount Dora, FL
with hands on demonstrations of checking heart
rates, temperatures and proper leg bandaging. After
lunch campers had their final riding lesson in
preparation for the Camp Horse Show on Friday.
Thursday evening several campers and
chaperones went back to Sea World since
each ticket had been validated for a second
visit the previous day and the remaining
campers had a swimming / pizza party on the
Montverde Campus. Friday was the final day
of camp and that morning instructors held a rehearsal
of the Camp Horse show with each participant
practicing their skills. Following the rehearsal
campers cleaned tack and got the horses washed
and ready for the show. That evening the
Montverde Cafateria provided a great dinner for
the campers prior to show time. The show started
promptly at 7:00 PM and the honorable Diane
McMurtrey did a great job judging the show.
Many parents, grand parents and friends were on
hand to cheer the campers on. There were 14
classes and each camper was able to show at
least 2 times. During the show awards were
presented to Montverde Academy and Kasey
Kesselring for hosting the camp for
the 3rd consecutive year. Most improved Rider
was awarded to Jessica Opificius of Florida.
Sportsmanship award went to Brinkley Raynor of
North Carolina and Most Helpful award went
to Meg Caldwell of Florida. Instructors Leigh
Bennett, Alice Klein, Carol Wakefield, Sara
Womack assisted by Paige Bennett did an
outstanding job giving lessons to the
23 campers in attendance this year and
made the camp fun for everyone. States
represented at this exciting event were Alabama,
Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, Kentucky, North
Carolina and Tennessee. A special thanks to
Montverde Academy for hosting the camp and
providing lesson horses and housing for
everyone during the week. Thanks also to
Diane McMurtrey for allowing the campers to
use her great horse Pay At The Pump
during the camp and L & M Awards in
Shelbyville for providing the ribbons for
the Camp Horse Show.
2009 WHOA-TWHBEA
Youth Camp Sponsors
| Frank
E. Neal & Co. Inc. |
Deborah
L. Williams |
| David
Pruett |
Virginia
Stewart |
| Brian
& Denise Habig |
Gail
Hart |
| Wink
& Nancy Groover |
Marty
Irby |
| Dee
Dee Sale |
Mark
Taylor |
| Tommy Hall |
Andrew
Waites Family |
| Bill
& Phyllis Reed |
Montverde
Academy |
