Reflections on Camp Lipizzan
Mar. 5th, 2013 02:53 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dancinghorseFirst, the Feed the Ponies Sale continues. I've decided to extend it another week, to the 12th, and I will be adding some (less expensive) items and options later today. Ebooks, shorter mentoring options, like that. If you have requests, please do ask.
Meanwhile, we're in between Camps at the moment. The last one ended on Saturday; the next begins two weeks from today. It's a breathing space, a hurry up and get stuff done space, and a chance to reflect on what Camp Lipizzan has evolved into and where it seems to be headed. Having newvictims Campers for both is conducive to that kind of reflection.
When I first came up with the idea, I was looking for a way to keep the horses fed (having come off Publisherdammerung more on my shield than with it) while also sharing what I have here, both the writing and teaching skills and the horses themselves. I envisioned it as a fairly structured class, a writers' workshop with horses, and came up with various versions and incarnations that I thought might work.
That lasted about as long as the lead-up to the first Camp.
What happened was that Campers had their own ideas as to what they wanted and needed. And so did the horses. The people who came turned out to be, for the most part, experienced writers--professionals with books sold, writers with extensive workshopping cred, Clarion graduates--and their horse experience ranged from extensive to near zero. What they wanted, above all, was the experience of living on a horse farm for a few days, being part of the rhythm of the farm, having constant access to the horses, and expanding their knowledge of the species--while also writing and writing and, have I mentioned writing?
Meanwhile I was discovering what I could manage, because the farm itself is a full-time job, and I also have to do various things (besides Camp) to keep the bills paid. Writing, for example. Editing. Taking in boarders (which adds to the work of the farm). Caring for the horses takes priority, which Campers know coming in, but then comes taking care of Campers--feeding, mentoring or workshopping as desired, plus the bare basics of making sure the house is clean, organized, and ready to stay in.
The first few Camps (and also Lipizzan Weekends, which ended up folding themselves into the Camp Lipizzan concept) made it clear where I'd have to draw the boundaries, and also what Campers would be most comfortable with in terms of scheduling and amenities. More than three was too many, and even three was straining the resources. The idea of having some stay offsite never did jell, though we tried to offer it a time or two. The whole point, clearly, was to be here all day, every day, and overnight. To be in and of the farm as well as working on writing about horses.
I learned very quickly that it's not possible to be head chef, innkeeper, cleaning staff, AND master of horse, and that getting writing of my own done was heavily dependent on how much of the rest I had to do for the Campers' comfort. Menus tailored to the individual Campers--check. Dishes that were quick to make and/or easy to prep in advance--check. Bread machine: essential. Costco and Trader Joe's: cannot live without. Breakfast and lunch ad lib--necessary; horse chores eat cooking time, not to mention energy. Dinner in a group--also necessary, for the social aspect and the chance to share the activities of the day.
As Camp evolved, so did the horses and the personnel. I changed trainers from one focused on dressage to one with a much broader sphere of expertise, including equine bodywork and massage, equine body language, and groundwork as well as ridden work. One way and another, she made sure we got to know her friend and business partner who teaches horse-assisted yoga--and then the horses got into it, and now we have White Horse Herd Yoga, which is a thing, and nobody can really describe it, but it's...well. You have to be there.
We discovered, as we went on, that a weekend isn't quite enough, though it can work for a first time (because almost everyone comes back, sometimes annually or even more often); the optimal length seems to be four nights and five days, spread over weekdays as well as weekend. And the trainer comes, sometimes more than once, and the yoga teacher likewise. And sometimes it's about the horses, and sometimes it's a hardcore writing retreat.
Some Campers participate in horse chores. For some, the writing is central, and one hears them padding down to the barn every so often to pet noses and take in the sun and the wind and refresh their minds before they dive back into the project. Some want to interact as peers or students (and sometimes I become the student); some mostly do their own thing, with me as innkeeper and cook.
Now we have new people joining the family (because it is a family, or a herd if you prefer), with new talents and wants/needs/plans to bring to the mix. I never know what a specific Camp will end up being about. It's always different, and it always seems to make a difference--to the horses and me as well as the Camper.
It's become very important to some, who come back again and again for the Arizona desert and the quiet and the comfort of a somewhat ramshackle farmhouse where no one minds if you put your feet up or spread your project all over the living room, and the cats supervise and the dog keeps you company. And of course there are the horses--who more often than not decide who is "yours" for the week, and that one makes sure you know it early and often.
As I said, it's a thing. It seems to be a longterm thing. I'll be very interested to see how and where it evolves from here.
Meanwhile, we're in between Camps at the moment. The last one ended on Saturday; the next begins two weeks from today. It's a breathing space, a hurry up and get stuff done space, and a chance to reflect on what Camp Lipizzan has evolved into and where it seems to be headed. Having new
When I first came up with the idea, I was looking for a way to keep the horses fed (having come off Publisherdammerung more on my shield than with it) while also sharing what I have here, both the writing and teaching skills and the horses themselves. I envisioned it as a fairly structured class, a writers' workshop with horses, and came up with various versions and incarnations that I thought might work.
That lasted about as long as the lead-up to the first Camp.
What happened was that Campers had their own ideas as to what they wanted and needed. And so did the horses. The people who came turned out to be, for the most part, experienced writers--professionals with books sold, writers with extensive workshopping cred, Clarion graduates--and their horse experience ranged from extensive to near zero. What they wanted, above all, was the experience of living on a horse farm for a few days, being part of the rhythm of the farm, having constant access to the horses, and expanding their knowledge of the species--while also writing and writing and, have I mentioned writing?
Meanwhile I was discovering what I could manage, because the farm itself is a full-time job, and I also have to do various things (besides Camp) to keep the bills paid. Writing, for example. Editing. Taking in boarders (which adds to the work of the farm). Caring for the horses takes priority, which Campers know coming in, but then comes taking care of Campers--feeding, mentoring or workshopping as desired, plus the bare basics of making sure the house is clean, organized, and ready to stay in.
The first few Camps (and also Lipizzan Weekends, which ended up folding themselves into the Camp Lipizzan concept) made it clear where I'd have to draw the boundaries, and also what Campers would be most comfortable with in terms of scheduling and amenities. More than three was too many, and even three was straining the resources. The idea of having some stay offsite never did jell, though we tried to offer it a time or two. The whole point, clearly, was to be here all day, every day, and overnight. To be in and of the farm as well as working on writing about horses.
I learned very quickly that it's not possible to be head chef, innkeeper, cleaning staff, AND master of horse, and that getting writing of my own done was heavily dependent on how much of the rest I had to do for the Campers' comfort. Menus tailored to the individual Campers--check. Dishes that were quick to make and/or easy to prep in advance--check. Bread machine: essential. Costco and Trader Joe's: cannot live without. Breakfast and lunch ad lib--necessary; horse chores eat cooking time, not to mention energy. Dinner in a group--also necessary, for the social aspect and the chance to share the activities of the day.
As Camp evolved, so did the horses and the personnel. I changed trainers from one focused on dressage to one with a much broader sphere of expertise, including equine bodywork and massage, equine body language, and groundwork as well as ridden work. One way and another, she made sure we got to know her friend and business partner who teaches horse-assisted yoga--and then the horses got into it, and now we have White Horse Herd Yoga, which is a thing, and nobody can really describe it, but it's...well. You have to be there.
We discovered, as we went on, that a weekend isn't quite enough, though it can work for a first time (because almost everyone comes back, sometimes annually or even more often); the optimal length seems to be four nights and five days, spread over weekdays as well as weekend. And the trainer comes, sometimes more than once, and the yoga teacher likewise. And sometimes it's about the horses, and sometimes it's a hardcore writing retreat.
Some Campers participate in horse chores. For some, the writing is central, and one hears them padding down to the barn every so often to pet noses and take in the sun and the wind and refresh their minds before they dive back into the project. Some want to interact as peers or students (and sometimes I become the student); some mostly do their own thing, with me as innkeeper and cook.
Now we have new people joining the family (because it is a family, or a herd if you prefer), with new talents and wants/needs/plans to bring to the mix. I never know what a specific Camp will end up being about. It's always different, and it always seems to make a difference--to the horses and me as well as the Camper.
It's become very important to some, who come back again and again for the Arizona desert and the quiet and the comfort of a somewhat ramshackle farmhouse where no one minds if you put your feet up or spread your project all over the living room, and the cats supervise and the dog keeps you company. And of course there are the horses--who more often than not decide who is "yours" for the week, and that one makes sure you know it early and often.
As I said, it's a thing. It seems to be a longterm thing. I'll be very interested to see how and where it evolves from here.
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:)
Date: 2013-03-05 10:26 pm (UTC)Re: :)
Date: 2013-03-05 10:33 pm (UTC)Re: :)
Date: 2013-03-06 12:29 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-05 10:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-06 12:29 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-06 03:26 am (UTC)I love Camp so much. We always get tons of work done--more in those four days than I manage in four weeks.
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Date: 2013-03-06 03:47 am (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2013-03-06 08:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-06 04:28 am (UTC)Sadly, our visit to Tuscon was before you had Camp going. Not sure I'll be able to convince hubby to travel there anytime soon (read: before retirement, at least five years), but if it does happen...how hard is it to find a slot to participate in White Horse Herd Yoga? Maybe more, but right now...kinda iffy.
no subject
Date: 2013-03-06 08:31 pm (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2013-03-06 01:47 pm (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2013-03-06 08:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-06 08:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-10 08:29 pm (UTC)All definitely fringe benefits. :)
no subject
Date: 2013-03-24 01:03 am (UTC)