Longacres Riding Camp - Where else can you ride 5 hours a day?	(click on thumbnail for bigger pic)
Best people to answer your Longacres Riding Camp questions!! Check Here! 2010 Newsletter BACK to homepage - Click here Longacres 2010 References & Penpals Contacting Us

 

Ask Friends of Longacres! (Return to "Tour")

Exploring our website will give you many pages of useful information about Longacres Riding Camp and our riding programs. But in the end, nothing reassures someone considering coming here for the first time more than hearing from others who have come before you.

This "References and Penpals" page is a mix of testimonials from former students and email links to some of them who have offered to answer any questions you may have and act as "penpals" and references for new families interested in Longacres. There are several nice letters from former students and parents listed at the bottom of this page.

Penpals "Just for Fun":

This "penpals" page is intended as much more than a list of references to answer questions from possible new students. Once you have chosen Longacres and signed up, we encourage you to write to the other students on this list and become friends with some of us before you get here. The people listed on this page are like you - they like horses! (a LOT!)

The following have all offered to communicate with families new to Longacres:

(click on the blue name link to e-mail)

 NOTE: We suggest that if you are a first time Longacres prospect and want to contact one of the Longacres people listed below, e-mail them a little something about yourself or your daughter, including age and riding background. Then perhaps ask one or two specific questions, so they will have someplace to begin in their response. Many of our Longacres "penpals" families are also willing to talk with you on the phone if you ask.

 

Ofelia - will be returning to Longacres this summer for her fourth year and staying for five weeks, including mother - daughter week. She is unofficial President of the ILMFC - (I Love Merlin Fan Club). Although there are MANY who might choose to challenge her for that honored position! (GREAT pony!) Ofelia actually rode our thoroughbreds last summer, more than her beloved Merlin pony! Ofelia is a smart girl and a good writer if you want to correspond with her. She's one of those people who is already an "old soul" and at ease talking or writing with adults and kids of all ages. She is 14 and lives in New York City.

Ruby - is ten years old and returning to Longacres for her third year. She started at 8 years old! She'll be at Longacres for four weeks this summer, comes from Iowa, and has her own ponies.

Kellie - is 12 and will be returning to Longacres for her 3rd summer in 2009. She came first with her mom to mother - daughter week, and still does that. But Kellie comes by herself before and after her session with her mom. Kellie made huge strides as a rider in 2008 and is one of our most eager students. She's a good correspondent! Kellie is from Texas. 

Michelle - Is 14 and returning to Longacres for her fifth season - now one of our old timers! She knows the ropes and has offered to correspond with new students. Michelle is from the Rochester area.

Laura - is 14 and returning to Longacres for her fifth year. She started at Longacres with her mom at mother - daughter week, but now they come for different sessions. Laura's email name, "animalfreek202", is Tom's second favorite of all our students, right up there next to "zingzing"! Laura has experience taking Longacres horses home for the winter in past years, and have "Rocky" in New Jersey this year. Laura is from New Jersey and will be at Longacres for seven weeks this year.

 

Peyton - Is turning 15 this year and comes from Texas. Peyton is mentioned many places on this website, since she achieved great success as a student in 2006 and 2007. She came here in 2006 at age 12 as a complete beginner rider. She had never been on a horse. She spent the full eight weeks at Longacres and after just seven weeks of riding she competed in the 2' level of the Jumper Deby and Won! Peyton will always be part of the Longacres family whenever she visits!

Danita - is 19, comes from Central New York State, where she and her family run a large farming operation. (Danita drives 440 horsepower articulated tractors on the farm because her dad trusts her judgement more than some of the hired men!) When she wants to concentrate on just one horse power, she concentrates on training Majic to jump. She brought Majic to Longacres with her in 2008 and we really like his smarts and learning ability. We like Danita's smarts, too! She is a good writer and you'll find her a good penpal if you want a new Longacres online buddy.

 

Below - Adults, Staff & Parents:

 

Debra H. - is a mother of two girls who will be returning to Longacres in 2009 for their third summer. Debra has attended the Longacres mother - daughter week or Lazy Days week herself each summer with the girls. Her family also is boarding one of our horses, "Star", this winter. Debra is from central New York.

Alex & Molly H. - parents of Leslie (& horse "Max"!!). Leslie is 15 and returning for her 2nd summer here in 2009. Leslie brought her own horse, "Max", with her to Longacres in 2008 and can answer questions about that and general Longacres info. Thanks to Alex and Molly for their offer to talk with new parents. They are from Pennsylvania.

Amy S. - mom of Griffin, an 11 year old student who will be returning to Longacres for her second year this summer. Amy, Griffin, and family live very near to Longacres in Western New York, so we see a lot of them!

Mandy - Mandy Bartlett was our head instructor for the first part of last summer. Mandy spent several years at Longacres as a student, a year as Program Director, and was head of riding here in 2007 and part of 2008. She has her own horses and majors in equine science at college. Mandy's home is in Massachusetts and she goes to college in Vermont. She'll be glad to correspond if you have questions about getting ready for Longacres. She was a valuable part of Longacres for many years!

Sharon W. - Sharon has been attending Longacres mother - daughter week with her 13 year old daughter Laura for five years. Laura has spent month long sessions at Longacres and knows all the ropes. Sharon has become good friends with Meghan and knows a lot about our philosophy of running a camp and a riding program. Sharon and Laura are good contacts for new parents who want some reassurance about Longacres before signing up. Laura and Sharon are from New Jersey.

Kay H. - is the mother of Kellie, listed above. They will be at Longacres together for their third "Mother - Daughter Week" in 2009. Kay is a good friend of Longacres and knows how we think and what we try to do here at the farm. Kay is from Texas.

Martha E. - will be at Longacres in 2009 for her fourth year. She's a great parental reference since her daughter, Ofelia, has been coming to Longacres since she was ten. Martha attends our mother - daughter week every year so has great first hand experience here. They are from New York City.

Greg and Toni Millar sent now 23 year old Alex to Longacres for quite a few years beginning when she was a young girl. Alex is now away at college, but until this year, still took her beloved Longacres Pony "Brownie" with her to college during the off season when he is not working at Longacres. The Millars have kindly offered to answer questions about Longacres from new families. We are grateful that Alex still keeps in touch with us at Longacres and that the Millars have offered to act as Longacres references long after Alex graduated from summer camp!

Meghan Marie Kranz - "Well, YES!" I have been sitting here for two hours with wife Meghan updating this Pen Pals and References page. And I am not going to let her get away without being formally listed as a Longacres Pen Pal. She is that, believe me! I often go to sleep at night to the sound of Meghan tapping out late night answers to all of you on her trusty iBook! She loves hearing from you all and corresponding about anything Longacres. Meghan pretty much runs Longacres - or gets stuck with all the work, depending on your point of view. She will be a biased reference, of course, but all our other references will vouch for her unflinching honesty and realism about Longacres and all that we have to offer.

- Tom Kranz

 

 

 2006 Parent Testimonial; the following was one of our favorite messages from a parent that came in half way through last summer:

Meghan,
I just wanted take a minute to thank you and Tom for both the attention and care that my precious baby has gotten. I hear in her voice how much she has grown and enjoyed the summer. I can see from the pictures how much she is learning and what incredible new experiences she is having with your guidance and thru the camp. These are truly days that will shape her in the future and the two of you have made them such a positive challenge.
Wishing you a good rest of the summer,

Key

A Great Letter

It's always nice to hear from former students. I'm sorry when I hear that they can't return to Longacres, but I feel all the work I do is worth while when I get letters like the following. This letter came from Shelly L. and her mom several years ago, and I reprint it here with their permission. Thank you Shelly and Julie for your very kind comments about Longacres, and best wishes to you, Shelly, for a great future riding career!!!!!!!!!!

"Dear Tom:

We got your letter and news letter and application regarding camp this
summer. Shelly will not be attending this year, however I would love to
tell you what she has been up to. I think you will be proud.

When she got home from camp last year and went back to her lessons, her
instructor could not believe how far she had come in just two weeks. Horse
back riding has just snow-balled from there. Shelly worked as a counselor
at her barn (The Ridge) for the remainder of the summer. In October we half
leased a horse for her. So she has her own horse, she is a working student
at her barn, she gets a lesson a week for working and one I pay for.

In January the instructor who is part owner of the stable, who was touring
in New Zealand came back and saw Shelly ride. Well she has kind of taken
Shelly under her wing. She says that Shelly has incredible natural talent.
They will be on the road most of the summer showing with AHSA.

Since you are the one who gave Shelly first her real taste of working with
horses and you were her first really strict instructor, I just wanted to
thank you.

I remember something you said to us last summer. You said that when other
people teach the kids after you have taught them, you want them to say Wow
who taught this kid! not Oh my god who taught this kid? You can be assured
that everyone at The Ridge and now at Rabbit Hill Farm were saying Wow who
taught this kid. And her current instructor is the same way, strict, but a
great teacher. And she believes in Shelly and really wants Shelly to go
far.

I thought you would be interested in seeing where one of your campers has
moved onto. Thank you for everything."


Julie L. (Shelly's Mom).

 

Below: Great letter from long time Longacres mom, Debbie N.

Tom (and of course Meghan),

First I hope you are having a good winter. Ours has had ups and downs with snow and ice. The girls have been hoping for a snow day (no school) or at least a delay. Unfortunately, neither has happened.

I want to extend my e-mail address to parents who would like to know more about Longacres. As you well know I can attest to what it is like to be a camper and the parent of a camper(s).

As a camper during Mother/Daughter/Alumni Week I had the opportunity to experience LA first had. The camp cottages, bunk beds, Perfume Lagoon, shower house, etc. There was also a cabin party given by Meghan late one night. Real food as my girls put it, not a lot of quick fix stuff, for meals. The camaraderie among the campers and staff in all aspects of LA - cleaning stalls, riding, doing laundry, shopping, etc. Of course the best part of LA is the riding. Being at LA a week early gave us a sense of accomplishment as the horses arrived. We trimmed manes, brushed and jumped several for the first time in months. The instruction was wonderful with a demanding instructor. The videos (the first I have even had done) were very educational. During this time the campers were given a lot of latitude (trust by Meghan and you) and expected to complete tasks with minimal guidance. A real education and training experience for some. Though I was quite a bit older than the other campers, everyone made me feel at home, not "the mom" on site.

As the parent of two campers, it has been a wonderful experience. As you know Beth (16 at the time) attended LA for two weeks the first year based on the encouragement of Emilee. Beth loved the camp and did not want to leave. She begged me to let her stay longer. She said it was the best instruction she had ever received. She raved about the meals, time at the mall, dinners out and the opportunity to compete in some very demanding jumper shows. The second year she stayed for a month and brought her horse Baxter (a.k.a. Polka Dot Soxs). Again she had a great time and Baxter learned some new skills. She returned home excited and ready to enter several jumper shows in the fall. Beth wanted to return to LA for the Jumper Derby in August however, we were not able to do so. This year the demands of preparing to attend Wilson College in Sept will preclude her from attending LA. If possible, she would like to enter Baxter in the Jumper Derby this Aug.

Michelle (now age 13), a.k. a. "Da Child", could not be happier at LA. Her riding skills were such that she had outgrown the riding camp she had attended for 3 years. At the urging of Beth she went to LA last summer for 4 weeks. She really enjoyed everything about the camp. She especially liked riding in all the jumper shows she could (a real treat over the number of shows I let her ride in during the regular year). We all know how she fell in love with Jenna. Jenna is now a very happy part of our family thanks to your help. Michelle loved LA so much she asked to return this summer as soon as the registration information was available. Besides the regular camp she really wanted to return for Mother/Daughter Week, which we are doing. She thought it was great painting, making jumps, training incoming horses, hammering, planting flowers and all the other activities she did to help open the camp for the official season. She will bring Jenna this summer. We know she and her horse will be in good hands during their time at LA.

Meghan and you could not be better suited for this enterprise. Both of you are very caring, placing the welfare of the campers first. When there were some homesickness concerns last summer, both of you were very supportive of the issue. The concerns were addressed immediately and I received several follow-ups.

Also I want parents to know this camp is not just for the advanced rider. Some of the campers attending LA are a bit on the novice side (myself included). You were extremely patience with us, teaching some basics before launching into more advanced lessons. Every rider (skill wise) has a place at LA and every camper supports the accomplishments of the various individuals.

Guess I've rambled on long enough. Looking forward to seeing Meghan and you in June.

Debbie

- What can we say? Meghan and I can only hope that if you are reading Debbie's letter above as a possible new student or parents of such, we will be able to give you the kind of successful summer horse experiences that we have given to Debbie and her children! - Tom Kranz, owner Longacres Riding Camp

 

AND one more letter that came to us in January 2005:

(introduction from Tom) - If I told you that I just got a letter from "Karina Busch", it might not immediately ring a bell. But if I told you that I just got a letter from the former Longacres student who is shown jumping "Tip-off" 5'3" in the old promotional video, and also riding "Tip-off" at Erie County Fair, probably everyone who has been to Longacres in the past fifteen years will know who I mean. Letters like this are what make this job worthwhile:

"Dear Tom,

I was surfing on the Chronicle of the Horse bulletin board and someone was asking about riding camps. I told them about you but said I didn't know if Longacres was still offering camps. Imagine my delight to see you guys still going strong, and also my surprise and glee to see so many of my old friends still there doing a great job teaching new generations of students. Pep Pat, Missy, Brownie, Dipper, Joey!! No horse will ever replace Tip Off. Ahhh, the memories. She was by far the best horse I ever rode, and I have ridden a lot of VERY fancy expensive horses since, and none could touch her. How I miss her.

Ahhh, the good old days. I am living in Lexington, KY now and am doing my residency in Emergencyy Medicine. I did eventing for a long time and have now come to my senses and switched back to jumpers. I now have an almost 6yo Zangersheide Holsteiner gelding who is still green but can JUMP THE MOON!! You would LOVE him! I'll try and attach a pic. I am not as good as I was back in the glory days, but when my residency is finished hopefully I will have more time and money and can ride several a day again rather than one horse just a couple days a week.

Anyway, I am thrilled to see you are still doing well and are even still at your old Mr. Mud antics! I still hope to come for a visit one day, and I still hope to make the Team someday so you can say "we knew her when". :) You taught me soooo much and I never had as much opportunity or as much fun as I did there.

All my best to you!
Love,
Karina Busch
PS: Pix of Lantus Z, aka Linus, aka Biggie below... :) My BABY!"