Longacres Frequently Asked Questions

Back to Main Longacres Page

Links:

References & Penpals Page

Directions to Longacres & Map

Other questions people have asked

Area Hotel List:

Hotel Listings in Buffalo, N.Y. Area:

 

As for the hotel accomodations it's up to you, according to how much sight seeing or just "small town" atmosphere you would like while you are here. First I will say that if you don't mind being a half hour drive from the camp and would like the idea of being closer to attractions (Niagara Falls half hour - 45 min. from airport, etc. or a shopping area with a mall and bookstores) I would say to get a hotel near the airport. There are LOTS so would have quite a price range! If you go online to check they would be most likely listed in the town of Cheektowaga (airport is in this town not Buffalo!) or listed as Airport Hotels.

 

Let us also point out that Toronto, Canada is approximately a 2 hour drive from the airport.

 

Here are some options:

Quality Inn Airport (716)633-5500 Room prices starting around $100 - $125

located in immediate area of airport

 

Holiday Inn Airport(716)634-6969 Room prices starting around $120

located in immediate area of airport

 

Days Inn Airport (716)631-0800 Room prices starting around $135 -$165

located in immediate area of airport

 

Millennium Airport Hotel Buffalo (716)681-2400

Room prices starting around $135

located immediately next door to shopping mall

 

 

 

~~~~~~ If you would prefer being closer to camp and like the idea of strolling around our small town (it is VERY charming - with quite a few restaurants , cafes, shops, etc. then I would say it is worth paying a little more for either one of the 2 hotels our village offers. The Hampton Inn rooms start around $130 (716)655-3300. We have had quite a few camp families stay at the Hampton the last several years and seem more than satisfied. The Roycroft Inn is a fascinating old inn. Look at their website - roycroftinn.com It is usually booked well in advance. Rooms starting at $120 (716)652-5552 ~~~~~~~

 

 

 

 

 

Hotel Listings in Buffalo, N.Y. Area:

 

If you would like a more modestly priced hotel but yet still reasonably close to camp then you can locate a hotel in the towns of Orchard Park, Hamburg, or Blasdell (all 15-20min. away from camp).

 

Here are some options:

These price quotes are all as of the summer of 2006 ranging from cheapest on up!

Orchard Park Inn 716-674-6000 $40 + tax Orchard Park

Red Carpet Inn 716-649-5890 $49 + tax Orchard Park

Econo Lodge 716-825-7530 $66.99 Blasdell

Red Roof Inn 716-648-7222 $78.66 + tax Hamburg

Clarion Hotel 716-648-5700 $109.95-$119.95 + tax Blasdell

Holiday Inn - 716-649-0500 $99.95 -$129.95 + tax Hamburg

Comfort Inn & Suites - 716-648-2922 $99 - 129.95 + tax Hamburg

 

 

~ ~ DIRECTIONS TO LONGACRES ~ ~

 

Longacres is located in Western NY. We are about 20 miles south east of Buffalo, N.Y.

 

 

Directions from the major expressway in the Buffalo area:

Take the New York State Thruway I90 to exit #54, and then Expressway #400 to the #20A exit in East Aurora (see below note). Turn right on #20A, and follow 20A through the Village of East Aurora (20A is Main Street in East Aurora). Go around the traffic circle at the west end of town. Continue on 20A going west for about a quarter of a mile. (You will know you went the proper way around the circle if you pass Burger King and Tim Hortons.) About a 1/4 mile past the circle you will see Monroe Muffler on the right, bear left on Mill Road. (If you pass Pizza Hut on 20A on the left you have gone TOO FAR. Turn around and go back just about a 1/4 mile.)

Follow Mill Road for three miles. You will come to a sharp bend in the road and see Blakely Corners Rd. toward the left. Keep going on Mill Rd. for a short distance. You will come to our office entrance at 1529 Mill Rd. on the right side. It is on the corner of Mill and Grover Rds. Look for our green/yellow sign "Longacres Office Entrance". You will also see 2 small stone pillars and a long gravel driveway with a split rail fence. Please pull into this office entrance FIRST upon arrival to check in.

 

After you have checked in you can continue driving toward the barn entrance. You will turn right out of the office driveway and continue down Mill Rd. for about 1/2 mile. It is easy to pass so keep an eye out! The barn is located at 1745 Mill Rd. You will see split rail fence marking the entrance and another set of green/yellow signs "Longacres Barn Entrance". It is a long gravel driveway leading back toward the barn. You will unload the luggage for your daughter near the barn as the cabins are on the main trail which starts near the barn. We will be happy to give you a full tour of the camp including the dining hall at the other end of camp if you are not in a rush to leave!

 

 

Note about Proper Exit off the Expressway: Make sure you pass the exit for Rte. #20/Transit Rd. - you do not want that one! You are looking for Exit #20A as in 20Alternate!!

 

 

We've been getting many internet inquiries about Longacres this season and have answered lots of questions by e-mail. Following is a collection of these messages, with no special effort made to organize them. Read through and you'll probably find topics of interest. Don't know why I didn't think of this before!

NEW QUESTIONS ABOUT PREPARING FOR CAMP - MAY 2000

Question:

>Hi Tom,
>
>I was looking over your suggested clothing lists and it dawned on me that
>most of Danielle's clothes, like many girls her age are lined dried not put
>in a clothes dryer. I guess she will just have to wear more tshirts than
her
>"stylish" clothers but could she bring some type of rope to make a clothes
>line, since her jeans have no room to shrink? The weeks she is there it
>looks to me like there is a show on the 22nd. Am I able to come to that
>since I will be in that vicinity anyway? Also, do all the girls go to the
>shows? I am looking for a bumper pull two horse trailer so if you know of
>any in good condition for a good price let me know. They are way
overpriced
>down here as you probably know. We may also be in the market for a new
>horse. I saw that you mentioned it gets fairly chilly at night, so I take
it
>the cabins they sleep in are "airy." I look forward to cool nights again
>myself! We did have a very nice winter this year down here so I can't
>complain. I guess that's about it. Hope to hear from you soon. Junia
>

Tom's Answer:

Hope I don't miss a question! The girls always set up a clothesline outside
each bunk; mostly just for towels, but no reason she couldn't dry clothes.
My past experience, though, is that nearly all the girls dry their clothes
in the dryer in town.

You are always welcome to visit, either at the farm or at shows. Be sure to
check nearer to the time you are coming to make sure there is no change in
show schedule.

Yes, it gets cold at night in August. The cabins are insulated and have
glass windows, so stay warmer than it is outside at night, but they are not
heated.

I'll let you know if I hear of a horse trailer.
- Tom



 Question:

I still don't completely understand "A" and "B" group riding after reading the website.

Tom says:

Thanks for your interest in Longacres, Megan. (if you come, we will have FOUR Megan's at Longacres this summer! One Megan, two Meghan's, and one Meaghan)

A and B:

At 10 AM, half of you are "A" riders; you get first choice on horses. The other half of you are "B" riders and get second choice on horses.

At 11 AM the riders who were "B" the hour before are the "A" riders who now get first choice on horses. Hope this helps you understand. If for any reason like having several lame horses at once, we need to have someone sit out a lesson, it will be a "B" rider. Rarely happens.

Call me if you want to have it explained more (716-652-9495).

- Tom

 

Trainer Qualifications?

From: Felix J.
Date: Tuesday, January 25, 2000 3:57 PM
Subject: Trainer Qualifications


>Dear Tom,
>Thank you for sending me the packet of information. My parents are
>interested in the qualifications of the trainers at camp and how the
>classes are structured. Please send the info ASAP. I am very excited
>about Longacres. I have been riding for almost 5yrs and have been
>jumping 2ft verticals for 2years. Thank you, Adrianna

Tom Says:

Thanks for your interest. I am the head trainer and teach everyone
personally once a day. I have been doing it and successfully training show
riders for very many years.

I always have two assistants during the summer. One is a college age or
adult trainer and a second is usually a high school senior who is an
experienced former Longacres student.



Our lesson plan is for me to teach everyone once during the day, at which
time I discuss each student's progress with the other two instructors. We
talk about specific exercises and challenges that would be appropriate for
each student. The assistant isntructors then take the other students
through the other four hours of riding, including going out on trail,
having formal lesson work, doing physical conditioning rides, etc. After
dinner, sometimes a few students will work with one of us or on their own on
a specific problem, but the routine is for everyone to do "drill team" work
for most of the time after dinner, much of which is planned by our students
themselves.

I hope this info is helpful to you and your parents. If you want to phone,
I'll be glad to tell you more about my background, about when I used to show
jumpers myself, and about my ideas on training.
- Tom Kranz

 

 

From: Beatrice

Subject: inquiry

>Hello
>
>I am the mother of a daughter who is very interested in attending your
>camp this summer (July9-23). We live in Michigan. We have received
>your materials--. But there were no
>pictures of the overall camp, the cabins etc. Could you provide those
>either by mail or on your Web site. We have thoroughly reviewed
>everything on your web site. Thanks.
>
>Bea >

Tom Says:

Before the age of the internet - two short years ago! - we sent out video
tapes and a much bigger brochure that did have more pictures of cabins and
other facilities. We're still catching up with the new technology, and I
haven't scanned in any cabin photo's yet. I know that I should do so.

Please read the section of the website on "horse barn and other facilities",
which gives a quite detailed and honest description of all the facilities we
use. We should also have a couple of current reference's e-mail addresses
posted in the next day or two so you can get some independant opinions.

The cabins are small and simple; one room with six or seven cots. They have
nice looking well maintained knotty pine paneling and glass windows. But
bathrooms are in separate buildings. Hope this helps for now.
- Tom




Tom Says:

Thanks for taking so much time to write me about your horse. We do have
spaces in all sessions right now. Some of them will probably begin to fill
by the middle of February.

You asked if you would be able to jump "the big jumps". That's a question
that can't be answered until I watch you and your horse and have a chance to
help you some and get to know your abilities. You will certainly have a
chance to stretch your abilities and test yourself and your horse. My job
is to give you new experience, teach you something, let you have a little
excitement, and not let you GET HURT! It is rare that someone comes to
Longacres and doesn't leave having done more than they have in the past,
unless they have done some very reckless things in their past and I don't
feel they are safe doing them here.

Hope this helps you.
- Tom Kranz
-----Original Message-----
Date: Sunday, January 16, 2000 10:10 PM
Subject: Re: hello


>That sounds great. Yes, the first thing people say about her is that she
has
>the best rhythm. She is a truly awesome mare, but we have had many setbacks
>since I have owned her. I had to move to a different barn when my trainer
>left. The barn I was once at had very few rules. We could jump 3'6 at our
own
>will with a parent, or someone there. I became a lot stronger, and Cinnabar
>became much more fit because we were doing so much. We had the spots down
>great, and I had the best time there. Once I moved though, the rules were
>MUCH stricter. I was not allowed to jump at ALL without a trainer around,
and
>in the lessons, they wouldn't let any of us jump higher than 2'6". I feel
>like the entire year has been a waste. Cinnabar loves jumping more than
>anything, and I feel like she dosn't enjoy riding nearly as much when we
only
>jump 2'6" and the same jump. She jumps the smaller jumps flatter, and I
look
>like less of the good rider that I am. Another great part of Hidden Springs
>was that it was located on a forest/park. Cinnabar is a great trail horse,
>and I was wondering if you have trails there as well. I am moving her
>sometime this March, but I want to come to the camp to improve on things I
>have taught her. Are there any spaces available for this summer? If so, I
>would really like to join. Also : will we all/most have a chance to jump
the
>"big jumps"? I am very interested... :) Thank you!
>Kate
>p.s - here is a picture of Cinnabar at Hidden Springs (the first barn)
Tom Says:

If you read through the full website ( www.longacres.com ), you will get the
answers to lots of questions.

We have a few very young riders and some older students, but most are 11 to
14. We take no more than 9 students, and will be trying to hold top
enrollment to 8 most weeks this year. We keep almost two horses for every
student. Hope this helps you!
- Tom Kranz


-----Original Message-----
Date: Monday, January 17, 2000 2:42 AM
Subject: Camp?


>Hi,
>My name is Shauna and I'm interested in attending your camp
>this summer. What is the age limit? Also could you send me some info on
>your camp, like student to horse ratio and a few other things. I live in
>Alaska, and your camp so far sounds like the best to attend. I hope I'm
>within the age requirement so I can come. Thank you so much for your
>time.
>Shauna

Tom Says:

I go away to Florida for three weeks, leaving January 26th. All sessions
are open right now, but some will probably begin to fill about the time I
return to the farm on February 16th. I hope you choose Longacres and that
we get to know you this year.
- Tom Kranz


-----Original Message-----
Subject: Hi i have some questions about your camp . . .


>Hi I was just wondering if you could tell me about when the camp sessions
>fill up or whats left so far? because im interest in possible coming to 1,
2
>week session but i have to talk to my mom first. and i need to know how
long
>i have before ant of the weeks fill up so i have a chance to get a spot if
i
>can come. please respond asap, thank you.
>
>~Melanie
>
Tom Says:

Thanks for your interest in Longacres. Yes, you may bring your own mare
with you. One or two students bring their own horses every session, but
most come without a horse of their own.

If you bring your own horse, you still have the chance to ride our horses
whenever you like, but can school your horse in some of the lessons and show
her as appropriate.

Sounds like you are making very good progress with your horse's training if
you have already jumped 4'. The actual height you jump isn't nearly as
important as being able to get your horse to the right spot to have a nice
jump. A horse that can physically jump five feet will quickly go sour if
pushed too hard before she and her rider know what they are doing. And a
horse that won't jump more than three soon will if schooled carefully over
combinations and gymnastics to gain confidance.

I can't promise you what we could do with your horse in a short camp
session, but I can promise you we would work carefully with her and not push
her to do anything silly or dangerous, while giving you a chance to try some
interesting and fun new things.

We actually have no more than eight or nine students at a time, total. Like
a big family of horse lovers. Hope we hear from you again!
- Tom Kranz


-----Original Message-----
Subject: hello


>Hey - I am very interested in your program. I own a 7 year old Quarter
horse
>mare named Cinnabar, and had some questions about your program. I have
>trained her myself from 5 years old, but would like a more serious
>environment. She is 15.2h.h and I have jumped her at 3'9 - 4 feet before my
>former trainer went away to collage. I was curious about how high your "big
>jumps" are. I would very much like to jump higher, but I do not know if my
>mare is ready to jump them on - and I am hoping to be able to work her
higher
>if I am accepted as a camper. I was also curious about what some of the
>other riding activities you have in a lesson, and what you work on
>primarily. I was also wondering if I could bring my mare there (I should
have
>asked that before the other questions...) because I would like to improver
>her, and improve my training skills. I was also a little confused about the
>number of campers you may have in a session. Is it ten total, or just for a
>lesson. I hope to hear from you soon! :)
>Kate
>
Tom Says:

Thank you for your thoughtful letter and for the questions that I would
expect any good parent to ask. You would be astonished (as I am) at how
many families send their children off to us never even bothering to speak
with me on the phone or ask a single question beyond glancing through the
Website after their children fall in love with it.

I suggest you e-mail or phone back letting me know when we might speak on
the phone to help answer all your questions. I'll take a minute to answer a
few here.

Also, the website will be updated in a few days with a new article on
"Supervision and moral standards" at Longacres. This should be of special
interest to you. Be sure to read the "Is Longacres right for you?" and
"Barn and Facilities" articles on the website. Not that they tell you so
terribly many facts, but I hope that those articles and others on the
website will show you that I believe in frank, full disclosure of our
weaknesses as well as our strengths before signing up a student.

Onward to your questions:

A rider 13 years old and with 2 years of experience is nearly exactly our
typical first year student. We had three 10 year olds and a couple of 15
and 16 year olds last summer, but most 12 to 14. All three of our ten year
olds were beginners, and we had one older girl as a beginner, but that is
unusual. Mostly we get girls who have ridden a while weekly at home and are
like your daughter.

How can a camp survive with so few riders and so many horses? It NEVER
could if that was all that I do. I run the camp because I always have and
cannot imagine the last weekend in June arriving some year without children
meeting horses. I like it. I make my living managing sports events the
rest of the year and publishing boating books.

We will be updating our reference list in a week or two with former students
who have volunteered the time to talk with new families. Yes we have
returning students every year, but not as many as I would wish for two
reasons. 1) We tend to get older students (13, 14, 15) because of the
advanced riding opportunities we offer, and they are less likely to return
to summer camp than 10 and 11 year olds. Wish I could sign up more young
riders! 2) We also tend to attract serious horse lovers who are lobbying
their families HARD to have their own horses. Longacres is a good proving
ground and training ground for those girls, and if we do our job of
preparing girls to be horse owners too well, we lose them because they
purchase their own horse for the next year at home.

Is Longacres and accredited camp? How long have you owned it? No - years
ago when we did run a bigger camp, we did belong to ACA and other
organizations. I don't maintain those memberships with this small program
and, in fact, we do NOT meet all standards. As an example, we do not have a
registered nurse on the grounds, and ACA camps must.

My grandmother and her sister founded Longacres in 1939. My cradle was in
one of the bunks in the summer of 1945. I have been the owner and director
for just over half of the 62 years of the camp's history, and worked here
from the time I was a trouble making teenager!

Other activities: Have you read the "Typical Day at Longacres" article yet?
Riding four to five hours a day and taking care of 16 horses leaves little
free time, ever. On those rare very hot days when we ride only early in the
morning or late at night, we insist on a serious nap in the afternoon.

You asked about the limitation of "night time activities"; we ride after
dinner every day until near dark, do horsecare, and it's time for bed!

Have we had accidents? Yes, of course, but we have been very fortunate that
few have been serious in all our 62 years. I'll be glad to give you more
details on the phone and we are working on some hard statistics on accidents
to add to our website.

I hope this all helps you to have a better understanding. Please do phone
or let me know when I can phone you; some personal communication will be
reassuring.

Hope to hear from you again.
- Tom Kranz


-----Original Message-----
Subject: New Camper Questions from a Concerned Mom


>My daughter, , is interested in finding out more about your
>camp. I believe she has put in a second request for an application this
>week. She knows of your camp from other horse-loving friends of hers on
>the net, none of whom have attended your camp.
>
>I, however, have a few different questions (from a mom's point of view)
than
>She would have after having visited your website. Ability: She has less
>than 2 years riding experience, and has begun jumping. She's participated
>in two home shows, winning a ribbon in the latter one. She's 13 years old
>(8th grader). She's gone to one of those other types of camps in West
>Virginia that you say you're not. However artistically talented she is,
her
>passion is horses. What, if any, is the minimum riding ability accepted?
> What is the range of ages of your campers? She does not have a horse.
>
>If possible, I would like to talk to some of your campers about their
>experience at Long Acres. Do you have a lot of return campers? The links
>on the website for e-mail are not working.
>How can a camp survive with so few campers and so many horses? I
understand
>your emphasis on riding and only riding, but what do you do on rainy or
>extremely hot days, especially without a pool? How often do you go into
>town? What town? Is that the limitation of night time activities? I
>guess what I really want to know is what else I'm paying for (camp fee)? I
>understand that if She participates in any shows that she'll have to pay
>that once she's at camp, and if you're in town at dinner time that's
>out-of-pocket too.
>
>Is Long Acres an accredited camp? How long have you owned it? Have you
had
>many accidents? Don't get me wrong, I realize there's a high risk with
>riding, and even higher when attempting new things. Look at Christopher
>Reeves, a very experienced rider I'm sure. How many instructors do you
have
>and what is their experience?
>
>I want to know everything there is about Long Acres to aid me in
determining
>whether it's some place I'd like to send my daughter. Enlighten me please.
> I look forward to hearing from you.
>
Tom Says:

I sent the following e-mail to your friend, Xcountry pony. She said to also write to you.

Yes, you can bring your own horse; one or two students do so almost every session. If you do you have full choice of whether to ride your own horse or one of ours in each lesson. Most students with their own horses ride them about two periods a day and then rest them, riding one of ours on alternate periods. There is no additional fee for bringing your own horse, except that we expect you to pay for your own grain or feed. We supply bedding and hay for you.

Hope this helps.

- Tom Kranz

Tom Says:

Yes, you can bring your own horse; one or two students do so almost every session. If you do you have full choice of whether to ride your own horse or one of ours in each lesson. Most students with their own horses ride them about two periods a day and then rest them, riding one of ours on alternate periods. There is no additional fee for bringing your own horse, except that we expect you to pay for your own grain or feed. We supply bedding and hay for you.

Hope this helps.

- Tom Kranz

-----Original Message-----
Subject: I have a question about your camp.
Hi!
I have a few questions about your camp. First of all, I was wondering if we could bring our own horses. Second of all how much is it to board there? Third, do we have to ride different horses if we bring our own horse. And also, could you E- mail my friend about your camp as well her E- mail address is Thanks cant wait to hear from you!
Alana

Tom Says:

we sometimes do scholarships for people who have been here before, but very
seldom for first time students.
-----Original Message-----
Subject: Re: Hi your summer riding camp


> thanks !!! oh ya father would like to know if you do schollrr ships for
my
>cusion her famley isnt that rich and we are going to help her out with
money
>thanks so much
>
> Love Always
> Kelly >
Tom Says:

Many students do bring their own grooming kits and braiding supplies, but if
you don't, the barn has braiding supplies, and many students borrow back and
forth when getting ready for shows.
- Tom Kranz
-----Original Message-----
Subject: Showing @ LA


>In your riding camp, I read that the campers are allowed to show. Does this
>mean they should bring supplies to braid the horses' manes?
>~Ruby
>
Tom Says:

If someone needs laundry detergent, usually they buy it when we go into town
or share with someone else. Few people pack it and bring it with them, so
far as I know.
-----Original Message-----
Subject: Re: Long Acres...


>would campers need to bring detergent?
>
Tom Says:

No, we go to town on Sunday afternoons to a laundramat and plaza for "town
day" shopping.
- Tom Kranz
-----Original Message-----
Subject: Long Acres...


>Do you have washers and dryers available to your campers? If so do they
need
>to bring their own detergent and such?
>
>--Ash
>
Tom Says:

We do still have openings for the July 9th two week session. Deposit is
$150. Most studetns are between 12 and 14, with a few 10 and 11 and a few
15 and 16, sometimes 17 years old.

Most have ridden weekly for a year or more and are intermediates doing some
jumping. We had three complete beginners last summer and they did well. We
always have two or three extremely good show riders also. Hope this answers
your questions.
- Tom Kranz


-----Original Message-----
Subject: Longacres Camp...July session


>Hi,
>My name is Susan Flythe and I am interested in sending my daughter, Jana,
to
>your camp. I have some questions. Jana is interested in going to the camp
>session July 9th to July 23rd. Do you still have openings? I didn't
notice
>anything about experience of the rider and was wondering if this plays a
>part? What sort of a deposit do you require? What ages of the girls do
you
>accept? I will wait to hear from you, but Jana is very interested and
>excited. She went to a two week camp last summer in Rhode Island.
>
Tom Says:

Because of the small size of our program, it is very family style. I hire
one senior instructor and a teenage assistant instructor. I teach everyone
for an hour nearly every day myself, and spend a lot more time video taping
you all or watching my instructors teach.

Instructors live and work right with the girls with yourself and five or six
girls in a cabin.

You would be welcome to bring your horse with you. Our season is eight
weeks, from June 26 to August 20th, and my senior instructor usually starts
at the beginning of June to work with our horses and get things ready for
the arrival of students several weeks later.
- Tom

PS - i guess you were online when I sent the last e-mail.
-----Original Message-----
Subject: Re: summer camp


>Not at all- I am very confident in my self and love a challange- The
>small size is wonderful. Is housing available since I live quiete far away
>and the comute would be a bit long (I am in Wisconsin). What would my
>duties include. I looked over your site and I am impressed with the
>quality of horses and ponies you have. What are the dates of your camp for
>this year. I love taking care of horses and enjoy being with them at all
>times. I have a wonderful QH yearling that I am woeking with myself
>getting ready for a showing career in the hunter circut in the area. I
>hope to hear from you soon.
>

Tom Says:

Dear Janel,
I will have an opening this year for someone with your experience. I invite
you to review our website thoroughly to see if our program (and small size
with only 8 - 9 students) interests you. I think you would bring a lot to
Longacres, and I am confident that you would learn a lot while you were
here.

Longacres can be very rewarding, but it is never an easy job working here.
The high ratio of horses to students means a lot of physical work by both
staff and students taking care of the horses. I have a lot to offer you
personally, but I have high standards for the barn, and I can be a tough
boss. I find that I either get along very well with employees, or am
constantly in conflict with them and they do not last long. That is
probably partly the fault of lazy or irresponsible help, and partly
personality flaws of mine.

Scared off yet?????
- Tom Kranz
-----Original Message-----
Subject: summer camp


>Hello- I was wondering about possible summer employement with your camp,
>I am an
>experienced horse women. I am currently 21 but will be 22 at the time of
>camp. I would like a possible riding instructor postion to work with
>beginning riders. I have experience with hunter jumpers mostly and basic
>knowledge with western riding. I have shown and ridden many horses in
>hunter classes. I currently own a wonderful QH yearling gelding that I am
>training myself. I hope to train him as a hunter horse.
>I go to the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh studing Elementry Education and
>Special
>Education. I am currently a junior in the program. I hope you hear from
>you soon. Thank
>you.
>
Tom Says:

Do we teach dressage?
Most basically, dressage means "careful riding", so we are constantly
teaching dressage fundamentals like careful, accurate transitions, leg
yielding exercises, and proper bending. Not all riders are ready to do
these things well, and not all of our horses respond perfectly, but all
riders beyond beginner level should be working on these things.

We do have a formal dressage ring laid out with letters and that stuff.
- Tom Kranz


-----Original Message-----
Subject: long acres


>Hi. Do you teach dressage at your riding camp? Thanks.
>
Tom Says:

None of that sort of thing is required, but many students do bring their own
grooming kits and it is nice to have your own supply of shampoo. We are
careful to control application of things like flywipe so it doesn't get in
the horses eyes or irritate them, but many campers keep some on hand and may
use it under our instructors guidance.
- Tom Kranz


-----Original Message-----
Subject: another thing about long acres


>What items should campers bring for the horses? (Shampoo, etc. etc. etc.)
>
Tom Says:

In theory, a crop and spurs are basic tools of any good rider and a
professional will never be without them. But first you need to learn to use
them properly, and to have steady enough legs so that you do not use your
spurs inadvertently, with unpredictable results!!!

Yes, you should bring spurs if you have them, and we require you to have a
crop. Hope this helps you understand some of my thinking on riding.
- Tom Kranz


-----Original Message-----
Subject: Long Acres


>Are campers allowed to use crops and spurs? Should they bring their own?
>
>~Ashleigh
>
Tom Says:

Glad you liked the website. We are just starting to take 2000 enrollments,
so we do have several spaces left for that session.

Some of our horses (Stoney, Gary) do use bounce pads, and some of the
"fatties" don't.

Decent wash room with sinks and mirrors; but kind of old and worn shower
room. We go to town once a week to do laundry at the laundromat and have
'town day" shopping trip.

If you have your own saddle definitely bring it, though we also have school
saddles. Some riders bring their own grooming kits, but that is not
required. Yes, we show at outside shows almost every week.

Nice outfits for riding? Yes, show clothes if you are a show rider. For
social events? Only what you would wear going to the Mall for an afternoon
and evening out which we do once or twice a week depending on the weather
and schedule.

Hope this info helps you!
- Tom Kranz

-----Original Message-----
Subject: LongAcres


>Hi Tom! I came upon the website for Long Acres Riding Camp and was
convinced
>that it was the ideal camp for me this upcoming summer, however i DO have a
>few questions!:
>well, first im wondering if you DO have spots open for the 2 weeks session
in
>July, i REALLY hope you do, because i REALLY would love to come here!!!
>Do your horses need extra padding? like bounce pads, etc.
>How are your showering facilities? (also do you have washing machines and
>dryers?)
>What supplies should we bring (horse wise)?
>Are we going to be showing the horses in shows?
>Should we bring a few nice outfits?
>I also was wondering if by anychance you could hold a few spots open for me
>and a few friends, we are looking into this camp, and 2-4 people could be
>coming, we really want to come here!
>Thanks! Sorry for asking so much, and i would love hearing back from you
with
>the answers to the questions i asked, i look forward to coming to Longacres

>over the summer!
>
Tom Says:

We do informal cross country on trails once or twice every day. Some of
these are just fun trail rides, but we usually jump some of the cross
country fences while on the trails. And often we do more formal cross
country training on bank jumps, jumping into water, slides in the woods, and
more. Hope this helps you.
- Tom Kranz


-----Original Message-----
Subject: Re: long acres riding camp


>That helps, thanks :) do you do cross country at all? Sorry for all the
>questions :)
>
Tom Says:

Yes, about half of our students do bring their own saddles, but we have some
of our own for your use if you don't have a private saddle.
- hope this helps!
- Tom Kranz


-----Original Message-----
Subject: Re: long acres riding camp


>Thank you. So you have saddles and pads there for the campers to use?
>
Tom Says:

We are lucky in the emergency response situation here. Our local rescue
squad is just four minutes away, and we usually have first responders on the
scene within minutes of placing a 911 call. There is a medical clinic with
X-ray about fifteen minutes from the barn (Mercy Ambulatory Care Center),
and a major hospital 20 minutes from the camp.

Last summer we had no EMS calls where we had to have them come here. We did
transport several girls who fell to the clinic for x-rays as precautions,
all of which turned out negative fortunately.
- Tom

PS - thanks for passing the info along to Suzanne's friend
Subject: Summer of 2000


>Tom,
>
>Suzanne has not seen your e-mail yet but I will forward to our home
computer
>and she will see it when she gets home from school (and gets done with
>mucking stall and exercising Moody). I'm sure she will appreciate this
note
>from you, and I'm sure she will respond to your note.
>
>Bruce and I want to thank you and Megan for the tour, talk and time you
>spent with us. We all left Longacres with a real good feeling about having
>Suz attend. I know she is always eager to learn (and she does like winning
>when she competes). She mentioned that she was going to ask her
>horse-friend from Conn if she would be able to go attend the same session/s
>with her so that they could spend some time together. They met at Vershire
>and always asked to be roommates since then, and Suz was invited to their
>home for a week last summer too. I told Suz that I would make two copies
of
>the material you gave us and she could send one to Katherine (at boarding
>school) and I would send one to her mom and dad.
>
>I have thought of one question. Do you have an emergency room or a doctor
>or nurse close by?
>
>Thanks again,
>

Tom Says:
>Audrey

Saturday should still be fine. Weather not very promising here, but I agree
with you that having a chance to get a "gut feeling" and talk more about
safety issues is very important. Particularly as we are an "achievement"
oriented program, we do let riders move along quickly as they are ready for
more challenging riding, and people DO fall off here. I think we do not
take reckless risks, but there is more risk here than in a very conservative
camp program where everyone is limited to the lowest common denominator in
what they can try to do.

Look forward to talking with you all more.
- Tom
-----Original Message-----
Subject: RE: Summer of 2000


>Good morning,
>
>Called last night but didn't catch you in -- I'll try during day today or
>again tonight. We will be able to come out Saturday, if that time is still
>convenient to you. Noon is good unless we hit bad weather/heavy traffic.
>Guess all we are really looking for is a good "gut" feel or instinct. My
>main concern is safety, as it probably is with all parents. My daughter is
>enthused about the way you give your students the opportunity to switch
>horses. At her program in Vermont they assign one horse for the entire
stay
>(she has never complained), and at home she mainly just works with her own
>horse. But anyway, I will try to catch you in sometime today to make sure
>Saturday is still open for you.
>
>I probably should give you our home phone no. just in case you have to
>postpone for any reason:
>
> ----------

Tom Says:
> Give me a call to talk about a visit (716-652-9495). I plan to be
>at the
> farm on the weekend of the 24th; I might have some business on
>Sunday, but
> Saturday would probably be a good day for you to visit. Around noon
>is
> usually good for me if that works out for you.
> - Tom kranz
> -----Original Message-----
> Subject: RE: Summer of 2000
>
>
> >Hi !
> >
> >I can't believe it's been almost a month since my e-mail to you.
> >Do you expect to be around w/e of Oct 23 or 24 and if so would you
>have a
> >preference which day would be better for you (and time of day) if
>we
> stopped
> >by? If these are not convenient days, we can easily find different
>ones.
> >
Tom Says:
> >
> > ----------
> > Subject: Re: Summer of 2000
> >
> > I am going on vacation for two weeks today, but will be back in
>East
> >Aurora
> > for a few weeks on October 4th, Would be glad to have you visit
> >then. In
> > the meantime, keep looking through the website. i just posted an
>up
> >to date
> > newsletter. Look forword to keeping in touch with you.
> > - Tom Kranz
> > -----Original Message-----
> > Subject: Summer of 2000
> >
> >
> > >Tom Kranz,
> > >
> > >I think my daughter would be very interested in your summer
> >program. She
> > >(14 yrs old) has gone to a summer program in Vermont for the past
> >four
> > years
> > >and a change might be great. (By the way she has a grey, t-bred
> >that
> > sounds
> > >just like Stoney.) Please let me know if you will have an open
> >house or
> > >what would be the best way for us to visit and make a decision.
> >Vermont
> > has
> > >already mailed us registration details for next year.
> > >
> > >Audrey