The Pony Club

Ukarumpa is definitely a unique place.  There were so many things I had no idea about before I came here 9 years ago.  And some things it took me years to even figure out... like I had NO idea there was a weight room till just a couple of years ago!  Now I faithfully use it 2-3 times a week.

For those of you who don't know, Ukarumpa even has its own horse club!  There are maybe 15 (??) horses that have come from various places around PNG (I think most are left over from when the Australians were here).  I think too that most of the horses here are on the older side... teens and up.  But there is a fairly large group of people who own horses and spend hours weekly taking care of them and riding them.

Kaitlyn, our animal enthusiast, has wanted to join the Pony Club for some time now.  But we've always been gone from Ukarumpa when the orientation class has been offered.  Today, however she was able to take part in the orientation training that is necessary for her to begin riding lessons or to join the club.

Today was a quick overview of all the basics.  We learned how to feed the horses (they have lots of grass, but no hay available, most of them also eat ground copra,and they also need salt and calcium supplements).  Then Kaitlyn got to learn how to use and put on a rope halter, how to curry and brush the horse, clean out it's feet and put the saddle and bridle on.  She also learned about being safe around horses.  It was a lot of new information for her for one morning.  At first, she was a bit wary of getting too close to the horse.  Granted, the horse was big, especially when you're only 10.  But it was encouraging to see as the morning went on that she lost some of her fear.  When it was time for her to lead the horse back to the pasture, she went with much more confidence.

learning how to care for the horses

Now that she's had the orientation class, she'll be starting riding lessons next week.

And Kaitlyn, in true MK fashion, peeled off her tennis shoes the instant we were out of the horse paddock and gleefully walked home barefoot.