Davie County Enterprise 5-20-04

B10 - DAVIE COUNTY ENTERPRISE RECORD, Thursday, May 20, 2004

Marissa Johnston and Kris Brzescinski dreams come true in Davie County.

are making their

Marissa Johnston shows how it is done on Phantom a New York event.

at

Chad Hansen is rewarded with a "You're my hero" , pushes Lady over the jump.

Rec DepartmentOffering Horse Camps At DixielandFarm Mocksville/Davie

Parks

and

Recreation will sponsor its horse camp

again

this

year

with

Dixieland Farm. The camp will be under the direction of Marissa Johnston. who boughtthe

farm in 2003 af-

ter moving to North Carolina from Long Island. N. Y. The camp will be open to a maximum of 10 campers a week for six weeks.

Johnston moved 10 Davie last spring with her fiance. Kris Brzecinski. in order 10 follow their dream

of owning

ating a

seat board and

hU1l1

and oper-

train-

ing stable. leaving behind in New York a television career in which

she had nominated for an Emmy in 200J for came ra work. Dixieland became available and their dream came true, Johnston is finn yet and in her methods. and relaxed and amusing in her dealings with her students. "Way to go. dude. My hero," are frequently heard phrases at her classes. She brought to her farm an extensive background in competition. training and stable management. Here students are winning in show after show across the state.

Weeks of June 7-11. 11-18 and July 12-16will be for beginner/novices. Participants will learn basic equine safety and riding: skills. Weeks June 28-Jllly 2 and luly 5-9 will be for intermediate campers. Participants will need to have basic understanding of equine safety and riding skills. and have the ability to develop their skills to a controlled posting trot and canter. July 19-23 will include advanced riders. Campers must have all basic and intermediate skills and be ready to advance to pre and beginner jumping techniques. All campers will develop their riding skills in Hunt Seat (English) while sampling Stock Seat (Western) and Bareback. The morning will include a divided program with two participants sharing a schooling horse. Campers will be divided into two groups. Both campers will prepare their horse for the day's activities by grooming and tacking the horse. Camper #1 will then take the horse to the arena for their riding session while Camper #2 participates in

the equine management part of the program. Halfway through the morning they will switch, each having ridden from I-I 1/2 hours each day. Dixieland has a large indoor arena as well as a nice outdoor one. so weather will not affect the camp instruction. Before lunch the team will join up forcooting, unracking and grooming their horse before it is turned out for the rest of the day. After lunch the campers will load into the recreation van to be transported to the afternoon's activities. Monday and Friday will be swim days at a local campground (weather permitting). Tuesday and Thursday will be back at the recreation department to work on their notebook and crafts. and Wednesday will include field trips to horse related facilities. The afternoon part of the program is being designed and conducted by Kathie Streit. Special Olympics Davie Equestrian Coach and Special Olympics North Carolina Equestrian Sports Development Team Member and Clinician. The camp is $185 per camper for the week. Each camper needs to wear long pants and boots or

heeled shoes. No sandals are allowed. Dixieland provides the required helmets. Campers need to bring a bagged lunch and are encouraged to bring jugs of ice water. There is a drink vending machine at the farm and Rec. Dept. They will need a swimming suit. towel, sunscreen, change of clothes (shorts and tee) and sneakers each day for the afternoon. Call Streit at 751-2325.

Marissa Johnston

watches

----.~---

Delaney

Hansen practices

her posting on Sam.

as Cathy Hansen guides Zack over the jump.