|
 As you can see from Rawhide Ranch’s newest spring lambs, sheep come in all sorts of colors! We have quite a few black sheep this season. Back in the Old West, black sheep had the special job of serving as “markers” in the herd, with one black sheep serving every hundred other-colored sheep. They made counting the sheep a little easier!
When most people think of sheep, they don’t think of our black beauties; they think of fluffy white “counting” sheep. That’s because most modern domesticated sheep have white wool. White wool is valuable in making clothes and other textiles because it’s pale and can be dyed any color. (Black wool is very dark and would have to be bleached before it could be dyed.) Some wool craftsmen pass over white wool in favor of naturally colored wool, such as gray, brown, or red. There are even black-and-white spotted breeds of sheep!
Newborn lambs inherit their fleece color from their mom and dad in a complicated genetic process, kind of like how human kids get their eye color from their parents. Think of how you or someone you know has blue eyes, but both their parents have brown eyes. This happens because each parent carries a gene for “blue eyes,” because some of their ancestors had blue eyes, so they’re able to have a blue-eyed baby. This is exactly how a black sheep can be born to two white parents. Each white parent carries a gene for “black fleece,” because some of their ancestors were black sheep, so they’re able to have a black-fleeced baby!
And if sheep genetics wasn’t complicated enough, the lambs of some breeds are born one color, like black or red, and end up another color as an adult! How do we keep track of it all? One thing is sure: sheep colors make breeding season extra fun here at Rawhide, because we never know what colors we’re going to get!
Did you do something special for your mom yesterday? We hope so! Being a mother is a tough but rewarding job, and thanks to lambing season, we’re still celebrating Mother’s Day here at Rawhide Ranch! Here are some of our newest babies mugging for the camera:
Who could say no to those cute little faces? We’re lucky we can’t, because springtime always brings us lambs, lambs, and more lambs!
Sheep carry their babies for about 150 days and give birth to one, two, or even three lambs at a time. Fortunately for their moms, the babies are fast learners, able to stand just 30 minutes after their birth. Standing quickly is important so the lambs can reach Mom’s udders for some hard-earned milk. This first milk is very nutritious and will protect the lambs from infection during the earliest part of their lives. During those first few weeks, the lambs will spend a lot of time suckling, up to six minutes an hour!
Like other babies, lambs eat a lot, sleep a lot, and play a lot. In no time, they’ll be prancing around like they own the place! But again, who can say no to those cute little faces?
Here in the United States, Cinco de Mayo (Spanish for the date: “May 5”) is a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride. This Cinco de Mayo at Rawhide Ranch, we’d like to celebrate some “New” Mexican horse heritage! The New Mexican Horse Project works hard to preserve and protect the wild horses of the American West. Since 1999, this all-volunteer organization has dedicated itself to the preservation and upkeep of what are possibly America’s oldest horses: the New Mexicans.
New Mexican horses may be American, but they have their roots in 16th century Spain. Back then, the Spanish conquistador Coronado came to New Mexico looking for the fabled Seven Cities of Gold. He didn’t find the seven cities, but he is widely credited with introducing horses to America. Today, the descendants of those Spanish Colonial–period horses roam freely across the southwestern United States.
That’s where the New Mexican Horse Project comes in. The project’s main goal is to locate all free-range horses in New Mexico and the surroundings areas and test them for Spanish DNA. That way, the project can preserve and protect these descendants of the original Spanish mustangs. The project also establishes preserves for these wild horses, including the 10,000-acre San Pedro Creek Preserve in Tijeras, New Mexico. This preserve has been supporting and protecting New Mexican wild horses since 2001. The project’s horses are never sold or adopted out, and remain wild, free, and safe on their own land.
Rawhide extends a special thanks to The New Mexican Horse Project for its hard work preserving the wild horses of the West and an important part of equine history! Keep up the great work! For more information about this worthy cause, visit The New Mexican Horse Project’s website.
Posted in Rawhide Ranch
|
Tagged American West, best california camp, california horse camp, camp counselor, Cinco de Mayo, New Mexican Horse Project, rawhide ranch, Rawhide Ranch Blog, Rawhide Ranch California, San Diego, San Pedro Creek Preserve, Southern California, summer camp, United States, western riding camp
|
Are you new to Rawhide Ranch, or maybe you’re considering us for summer camp? Let us tell you what we’re all about with Rawhide 101!
Rawhide Ranch stretches across 37 acres in the quiet farming and ranching community of Bonsall, California, in San Diego County. We’re Southern California’s premiere ranch camp, but what’s best—Rawhide Ranch and all of its buildings are set up like a Western town! Strolling down Main Street, you’ll see the Bank of Rawhide, the hotel, the saloon—even the jail. And we’re set on a hill surrounded by farmland, away from the hustle and bustle of San Diego, so a week at our real working ranch is truly like living in the American Old West!
At our summer camp, that Western theme continues into the typical day, which includes horseback riding, archery, arts and crafts, and tons of fun nighttime activities, such as cowboy sing-alongs. Because our ranch has so many animals to look after, animal care is also an important part of our day. Each camper is assigned to one of our animal care areas to personally look after those animals. We have goats, cattle, sheep, pigs, rabbits, chickens, cats, dogs, llamas, exotic birds—and of course, horses! Whether it’s taking care of a horse or learning gymnastics on horseback, there’s always something fun to do at Rawhide Ranch.
Who keeps the fun coming at Rawhide Ranch? Our staff and counselors! Our 19 full-time staff members, with an additional 10–12 staff for the weekend camps and 25–30 staff for summer camp, come to us from across the United States and all over the world. They are chosen for their top-notch experience and enthusiasm for the camping experience. Our campers, staff, and counselors go out of their way to recognize even the smallest acts of dedication, responsibility, citizenship, and integrity among all of us here at Rawhide, which is why our summer camp motto is “character creates heroes.” Rawhide’s hard work building children’s character could also be why 80 percent of our campers are repeat visitors, with many coming from previous generations of Rawhide Ranch campers.
We welcome new faces all year long, so why not start a Rawhide Ranch legacy of your own? There’s nothing like seeing a child’s face light up as they take those first steps down Main Street!
Posted in Rawhide Ranch
|
Tagged American Old West, best california camp, bonsall, California, california horse camp, camp counselor, horse camp, Horseback Riding, ranch camp, rawhide ranch, Rawhide Ranch Blog, San Diego, San Diego County, san diego horse camp, Southern California, summer camp, western riding camp
|
 Don’t wait to register for Rawhide Ranch summer camp—it’s just around the corner! We’re excited about our June 19–August 20 camp sessions and all the fun in store for our ranch hands this summer. Each summer session is a flurry of hands-on classes in horseback riding, horse vaulting, animal care, and tons of fun electives that kids get to choose themselves! Our campers also enjoy nighttime activities like talent shows, cowboy sing-alongs, karaoke, dancing, and special entertainment performed by our talented staff and ranch hands. No two summer sessions are alike!
Each weeklong session features a special theme, which we encourage campers to celebrate with themed props and costumes. Our first week kicks off with a Wild West theme and our very own Rawhide Ranch gold rush. We’ll also celebrate I Love the ’80s, the medieval Knight of Rawhide, Super Heroes, and much more! Best of all, as ranch hands get in the spirit of Rawhide, our kids get to “be themselves” for a whole week! What better opportunity for a child to learn, grow, and make new friends?
Don’t miss out on an amazing and affordable opportunity for 2011 summer camp. Rawhide Ranch summer camp runs in weeklong, Sunday–Saturday sessions from June 19–August 20, 2011. And unlike other camps, our ranch hands aren’t required to commit to 2–4 weeks of their summer, although they are welcome to attend multiple sessions. We fit so much fun with horses and friends into one week we’re the best deal in the West! To register for summer camp, visit our website. We can’t wait to see each of our new and returning ranch hands!
Posted in Summer Camp
|
Tagged best california camp, california horse camp, camp counselor, rawhide ranch, Rawhide Ranch Blog, Rawhide Ranch California, Rawhide Ranch Camp, rawhide ranch horse camp, San Diego, Southern California, summer camp, western riding camp
|
We hear a common misconception that kids who camp at our weekend programs have done all there is to do at Rawhide Ranch, so there’s no benefit in coming back for summer session. We can’t tell you how wrong this is! Each weeklong summer session combines exciting outdoor education with the maximum social and growth benefits of a longer sleep-away camp.
For starters, our classes are greatly expanded in the summer, so kids have a lot more learning options. The core classes of horseback riding, vaulting, animal care, and animal and horse science remain the same, but we’re able to offer each camper a more personalized experience. Because we have more time with our summer campers, we can teach them more advanced techniques, such as rodeo riding. Our ranking system is also available in the summer, so our most committed ranch hands can study hard, advance levels, and earn special privileges at the ranch. This gives them a real sense of accomplishment!
We also offer many more fun activity choices in the summer. In addition to the standard archery and country-dance, our summer session campers can try riflery, crafts, climbing tower, and drivers ed, where they’ll learn to drive a pony cart. Best of all, our weekend campers can finally find out what that fantastic waterslide is all about, because our pool is open during the summer! All these elective choices give summer campers a newfound freedom to choose how they want to spend their free time.
In fact, children’s exploring freedom and independence might be the most important part of a weeklong sleep-away camp. Kids love being able to make their own choices, from picking free-time activities, to selecting new friends, to deciding how to spend their pony bucks (camp spending money). Camp is a great way for kids to test these waters and their ability to adapt to change, embrace new friends, and develop as an individual. Weeklong camp gives them an unparalleled opportunity to develop these traits. As one camper put it, “I got to be me for a whole week!”
Why not give your kids the chance to be themselves for a whole week? When you think about summer camp—especially if your child enjoys our weekend programs—we hope you’ll consider Rawhide Ranch and the great value we offer as a private ranch camp. Plus, our summer camp requires only a weeklong commitment, versus the 2–4 week commitment required at other summer camps, but our campers are welcome to stay for multiple sessions! All trails lead to “home,” so come home to Rawhide Ranch, where we focus on horses, kids, and character.
 We’ve all heard of Arbor Day, but what is it, really? It’s a national observance celebrating trees and all the lush greenery of the Great Outdoors. On Arbor Day, we think about how we can encourage trees to grow and how we can enjoy nature under their shady boughs!
Here in the United States, we celebrate Arbor Day on the last Friday in April, but countries all over the world, from Australia to Uganda, hold an observance like Arbor Day. Canada celebrates Maple Leaf Day in September, during their National Forest Week. Mexico observes National Tree Day in July. South Africa even celebrates an extended National Arbor Week!
No matter what country you’re in, it’s customary to celebrate Arbor Day by planting a tree. In fact, on America’s first Arbor Day in 1872, an estimated one million trees were planted. But not everyone can get out there to plant a tree. It’s a good thing there are plenty of other ways to say “thank you” to nature!
You can celebrate Arbor Day by:
- Volunteering at your local tree-planting organization or arboretum. They may even have an organized event waiting for you to join! You’ll meet new people and feel good that you’re giving back to nature.
- Enjoying the outdoors. Something as simple as a nature hike or playing in the park is a great way to honor our nation’s trees! You can even sneak in some outdoor education by seeing how many trees you know by name.
- Reading a book about trees. If you can’t identify many trees by name, don’t worry—reading a book about trees is a fantastic way to get to know nature! Better yet, how about reading a book about trees while sitting under a tree?
- Planting a tree. You may not be able to plant a great big tree, like an oak or an elm, but you can plant a dwarf or miniature tree. Small trees thrive in small spaces and still provide all the beauty and natural benefits of large trees. And if you just don’t have room for a tree, why not plant a windowsill herb garden?
If you’ve camped with us at Rawhide Ranch, you know how amazing the outdoors can be and how great it feels to sit under a tree after a long day! Trees keep our landscape beautiful, fresh, and cool. On Arbor Day, we can give back to them for all they give to us! How do you plan to observe Arbor Day?
Posted in Rawhide Ranch
|
Tagged Arbor Day, Australia, camp counselor, Canada, Great Outdoors, Maple Leaf Day, Mexico, National Arbor Week, National Forest Week, National Tree Day, rawhide ranch, Rawhide Ranch Blog, Rawhide Ranch Bonsall, Rawhide Ranch California, San Diego, South Africa, Southern California, summer camp, Uganda, United States, western riding camp
|
 Annie Oakley may be the most famous female sharpshooter of all time, but she’s also known for living by her own inspirational words:
“Aim at a high mark and you will hit it. No, not the first time, nor the second, and maybe not the third. But keep on aiming and keep on shooting for only practice will make you perfect. Finally, you’ll hit the Bull’s-Eye of Success.”
That’s how Annie Oakley perfected her most famous shooting trick: repeatedly splitting a playing card, edge on, from 90 feet away with a .22-caliber rifle. Now that’s precision!
Learning the sport of riflery took dedication and perseverance, just like learning any other sport, like the horseback riding, vaulting, and archery offered here at Rawhide Ranch. It takes lots of practice and doesn’t happen overnight!
Annie first learned to shoot by hunting game for her siblings and her widowed mother. She turned this ability into a career on the vaudeville circuit, where she starred in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show for over 15 years. There, she became the first female Wild West star, and helped open the world of the Wild West and rodeos to women everywhere.
In 1901, Annie suffered debilitating injuries during a train wreck. She had to leave Buffalo Bill’s show, but she pushed on with an acting career in the stage show The Western Girl, written especially for her. Annie’s character outsmarted the outlaws with her trusty pistol, rifle, and rope. Annie Oakley continued to act, and set shooting records into her twilight years, until just before her death in 1926 at the age of 66.
During her career and philanthropy work, Annie Oakley instructed thousands of women in firearms safety and shooting. She also held free exhibitions to help orphans, widows, and young women further their education, funding college and professional training for at least 20 young women. Thanks to Annie Oakley’s skills and determination, women all over the world can enjoy the world of the Wild West!
Posted in Rawhide Ranch
|
Tagged Annie Oakley, Buffalo Bill, california horse camp, camp counselor, rawhide ranch, Rawhide Ranch Blog, Rawhide Ranch Bonsall, Rawhide Ranch California, San Diego, Southern California, summer camp, western riding camp, Wild West Show
|
At Rawhide Ranch, we understand that summer camp is a big investment for your family and can be a life-changing experience for your child. Campers are given a chance to make new friends, make their own decisions, and participate in activities they enjoy. It’s a real chance to stretch their legs! But with so many camps to choose from, how do you pick the right one for your child?
Foremost, it’s important to remember a key point that sometimes gets lost in the decision: ask your child! Children can be away at summer camp for a week or more, so it’s crucial to match the camp to their interests and personality, or they may become disappointed or restless. Involving them in the choice will help them feel in control of the decision, and can also help ease any concerns they have about going away to camp. So talk to your children about the activities they want to do or learn about at camp. Would they be happier at a sports camp, a scout camp, a music camp, or a ranch camp?
Once you’ve agreed on the type of camp and found a few matches, don’t be afraid to call up the camp director to ask questions. You’ll want to ask about the camp’s philosophy: what approach does it take to learning, how does it discipline children, and what steps does it take to help homesick children. Also find out the camper-to-staff ratio and what level of supervision is offered in cabins and during activities. You can also ask about the staff’s qualifications and the camp’s accreditation. And don’t forget to ask for references, because you need to feel comfortable while your child is away at camp, too!
For many children, summer camp is the highlight of their year, so be sure to place them in a camp where you’ll both feel comfortable while they’re away. That way, children will be free to adapt to change, welcome new friends, and develop as an individual—and have the time of their lives doing it!
Posted in Rawhide Ranch
|
Tagged california horse camp, camp counselor, music camp, ranch camp, rawhide ranch, Rawhide Ranch Blog, Rawhide Ranch Bonsall, Rawhide Ranch California, San Diego, Scout Camp, Southern California, sports camp, summer camp, western riding camp
|
Hey, young horse lovers aged 15 and under:
 We want to tell you about TEAM CHA, a rewarding membership program made just for you! TEAM CHA is the youth membership offered by the Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA), a respected horsemanship organization that accredits Rawhide Ranch’s camp and instructors. It’s a great program that offers a ton of opportunities to young horse enthusiasts.
When you join TEAM CHA, you can earn points toward great prizes whenever you work or play with horses! The Horse Connection Reward Program rewards your work when you groom a horse, do stable chores such as cleaning stalls and tack, or volunteer at a horsemanship facility. You’ll also earn points for your play when you take a riding lesson, attend a horse-related event such as a county fair or horse exposition, participate in a horse show, ride in a parade—even when you read a nonfiction horse book or watch a nonfiction horse movie. How cool is it to earn free stuff for just hanging around horses?
But it doesn’t stop at the rewards! As a TEAM CHA member, you’ll also get an official membership card and quarterly newsletters filled with lots of fun activities.
TEAM CHA is also a great start toward a future working with horses. It gives you the chance to learn about CHA and everything the organization does in the industry. You can even become a CHA-certified assistant instructor when you turn 16.
With TEAM CHA, you’ll be immersed in the horse lover’s life all year long, even when you’re not camping with us here at Rawhide. Although we don’t offer membership as part of our camp programs, we encourage you to check out and get involved with CHA’s youth activities. When you come back for summer camp, we can’t wait to see what you’ve achieved!
Posted in Rawhide Ranch
|
Tagged best california camp, camp counselor, Certified Horsemanship Association, horse camp, Horse Connection Reward Program, rawhide ranch, Rawhide Ranch Blog, Rawhide Ranch Bonsall, Rawhide Ranch California, San Diego, Southern California, summer camp, TEAM CHA, western riding camp, youth horse camp
|
|
As you can see from Rawhide Ranch’s newest spring lambs, sheep come in all sorts of colors! We have quite a few black sheep this season. Back in the Old West, black sheep had the special job of serving as “markers” in the herd, with one black sheep serving every hundred other-colored sheep. They made counting the sheep a little easier!
