Hello Everyone!! I hope you have a wonderful and healthy New Year! Let's make 2011 even better than 2010!!!
We are getting ready for the Pony Party season for next year!!! :) Vinnie can't wait!
Oh and we are adopting another dog from Griffin Pond! :) Once we actually get her I'll post some pictures and her info! :) Please adopt a dog and give them a forever home! Go to www.griffinpondanimalshelter.com!!! :)
For those of you that are looking for other birthday activities while each child takes their turn riding Vinnie...check out these girls!!! :)
www.justplaincrazyfaceart.com
How cool is that??? LOVE IT!
This to me sounds like a win win birthday party!!! Make sure you visit their website for all their information and TONS of pictures!!!
Hope all is well with everyone! Christmas is near! No matter what Holiday you will be celebrating this year, I wish you well and hope that you spend it wisely...with the people you love the most! :) Cherish these moments for a lifetime!!!
Love,
Liz and Sasha (she's sitting between my feet under the computer desk...what a ham!)
Well we did our last pony party of the season! What a success this year has been!!! Yesterdays party was wonderful! The weather was just perfect!!! The kids loved it and other than getting attacked by two very angry dogs (I was scared too so I couldn't blame Vinnie, but he did a great job being a good boy even though he was terrified!), it was a great day!!!
Our horse trailer is official up for sale! $2700 OBO. Hopefully we'll have a new trailer soon! I can't wait, but I will miss the old one, she was good to us! It's just time for something new and bigger!!! :)
I am not sure why I never posted this! But here's an awesome picture!!! This is my best girl Jessi and her son Johnny!!! He's only a year or so in this picture!!! I also have pictures of him riding on his own (Jessi was close by of course!) And here's one of my nephew Kyle and I! He's a great help!!!
Brycen had wonderful day today celebrating his 4th birthday!!! :) We had a blast as always! Vinnie made a hole in the ground where a woodchuck had his tunnel! Oops! But he was a good boy and didn't miss a beat!!!
We did also loose our brakes on our trailer on the way there! :( but don't worry, Chris can fix them! The truck can still stop the trailer, it just makes it harder without the trailer brake assist.
Tuesday I pick up Dude, Melissa's horse! Can't wait to meet them!!!
I guess that's all! I'll be posting some pictures from the Grand Prix de Penn National soon!!! :) We had a GREAT time there last night in Harrisburg! I wasn't feeling too well in the morning (and had to miss my friend Jenn's wedding...CONGRATS JENN AND JASON!!!) but I felt a little better after I slept til 4:30!!!
It's a beautiful, but chilly day here! :) Well sort of!
Busy weekend again! We have a wedding Saturday and a party down in Plains on Sunday!!! Vinnie, AKA Bullseye from Toy Story, is going down in Plains. Can't wait!!!
Last weeks party went awesome!!! Brittney and the other kids had a great time!!! The horse show Vinnie was in was also a huge success! For those of you who don't know how college shows work...each person draws a horse they do not get to choose. They may or may not have ridden this horse before (some horses the schools bring so they can draw their own horse or they may have ridden this horse at a show before). The riders can watch the horse be schooled over the fences or walking and trotting as the case my be. Now even though the judge looks at the rider only, a good horse can make or break a good ride. Out of about 10 people in each of Vinnie's 5 classes, he got...6th, 5th, 5th, 3rd, and 3rd!!! Not bad! The only place to 6th so he got a ribbon in all of his classes!!! That's a really good thing!
We also have a few more horses coming to the farm that we keep Vinnie. Trigger and Breezy are already moved and we have at least 2 more horses coming! We have been doing a lot of trailering jobs. Well have a great weekend everyone!!!
...ok not really. But I was doing a lot of research about other pony parties across the country, and I noticed that will all of the formal rules and regulations, the other party people seemed more like party poopers!!!
Safety is my NUMBER ONE concern when doing these parties. I could look my horse, my house, and my whole life if something goes wrong. That's why I make each child wear a helmet and that's why I have an insurance policy. I hope that my insurance is the BIGGEST waste of money I will ever spend. I hope to never use it, but I have it just in case.
Reading through the rules these people have in place made me think about how cold they make themselves out to be. I understand that they put them in place for their own safety and the safety of their animals, but kids are kids. Face facts people!!!
I always go over general rules before the event starts. Don't stand behind the horse. Don't make loud noises. I always let the kids know that it is because they don't want to scare the horse and make them sad. I would never say "OUR HORSE WILL GET SCARED AND KICK YOUR MOM!!!". That just seems mean.
Also, the person hosting the party signs my contract that states that there are risks involved and I do have my PA State Law sign as well. But the other day, I saw someone doing pony rides at a certain Fall Festival at a certain Mountain and they had all sorts of "RIDE AT YOUR OWN RISK" signs. I understand that riding a horse can be dangerous, but these kids came to have fun. You basically scared the crap out of their parents and made them not want to ride the pony!
The other one that broke my heart was the one party place that said there is a weight limit on their ponies and if they think that your child is too heavy they will bring a scale and weigh them right there!!! HOW MEAN!!! :( I understand that ponies (and horses) shouldn't carry weight that is unsafe, but to make a child so embarrassed by weighing them in front of everyone, I would just cry!!! Please keep in mind that I won't put an adult on my horse that I think is too heavy but that is only because it is hard to get them off if there is a problem. But adults understand and so far everyone has been in a safe enough weight range.
Please let me be clear. When it comes to my parties, I will do EVERYTHING I can to make it safe for everyone. But I really want your kids to have fun! I want you to relax and I want your family to thank you for such a neat idea!!!
Now to this weekend! Good luck to the Scranton Royal Riders!!! We have an IHSA horse show at Birchtown on Sunday! I can't wait!!! Vinnie is pumped!!! We also have a Party tomorrow!!! Happy Birthday to Brittney!!!
Everyone out there, enjoy the cold weather!!! Burrrrrr!!! :)
It's October and apparently this is the most popular month for pony parties!!! We have 5 so far!!! Rock on!!! Remember this folks if you're looking to book for next year! It might be a good idea to look at dates pretty soon so we can make sure we are there for your special day!!!
Chris and I went looking at a new trailer yesterday. We found a GREAT dealer down by Williamsport, PA. Check out their website: http://www.joramaranch.com/
They could not be more helpful and their line of Adam's Trailers speaks for itself! So our trailer will be up for sale soon!
I forgot to mention that we have a new baby in our family! We adopted a Chocolate Lab/Pointer Mix from the Griffin Pond Animal Shelter! Her name is SASHA and she is AMAZING! We love her soooo much! Please don't forget to spay or neuter your animals!!! It is VERY important to make sure that we control the pet population so that there aren't animals without a loving home!!! And please adopt rather than going through a breeder!!!
A Special thanks to my nephew Kyle for helping me this year with parties and my friend Marci for helping me out with parties AND for getting my butt on my horse more!!! :) Thanks guys!!! Love you!!!
The new farm is GREAT! We love it Sandy! Keep up the awesome work!!!
I will be adding pictures soon of different color options for Vinnie. Again, we don't like to make it too cheesy, but it can be a great way to personalize the party for your child!
Well I guess that's all for today!!! Keep checking back!
I'm sitting here at the new barn by myself. I'm waiting for Sandy and Marci to come join me. I'm on my laptop, with the horses looking at me like I'm insane. I tried to get them to type for me, but they didn't want to ruin their hooves.
Looking out of the barn is just amazing. I have a beautiful view of the trees and a huge pond (Gravel Pond of course)! I really missed this. When I used to have my pony Baywatch, I could do this for hours. Now with a job and two businesses, who has time??? I special thank you to Marci for kicking my butt in gear and also for Sandy for putting up with us!!! :)
Man, the poines and horses look so happy out there. Bruce is snuggling with his two mares, Vinnie and Graydee are eating every blade of grass in sight, and Beau, Rusty, and Sundae are chillin in the indoor. What a perfect day! I wish I felt better, otherwise I wanted to ride. Maybe this week sometime.
I'm so glad I was able to update this more than once a million years! To all my friends out there in cyberspace, HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!!!!
So this summer has been great! We have done 2 parties in Throop, had two parties at Clayton Park Recreational Area at Lake Henry, and we have gone all the way to Milford, Pa!!! Check out the picture of Sonya from Clayton Park! The image is a little small but you get the idea!
We are truly blessed with the clients and friends we have!
The biggest news is that the boarding stable that we were at has moved to Gravel Pond Road in Clarks Summit. The new place is AMAZING! It's nothing fancy, just simple, cozy, and inviting! The horses love it!
If you know anyone interested in boarding let me know! Also, I will be starting lessons soon because we will have a great outdoor and hopefully (crosses fingers!!!) an indoor riding ring!!!
I will post more pictures soon!
Other than that we are getting in gear for the end of the summer and looking to next year! We already have people interested!!! I can't wait! We just keep getting bigger and better!!!
The biggest item on our list for 2011 is a new trailer! We LOVE LOVE LOVE our trailer but we want something a little newer and a little bigger. We have been doing some odd trailering jobs for other horse lovers and it would be nice to have something a little more modern! So this fall we are looking! If anyone knows a horse trailer dealer let me know!!! I would love to advertise for the dealer if we can negotiate a good price!!!
That's all for now! Hopefully more frequent updates from yours truly!!!
A lot has been going on! First, the reason why I didn't get to post for a while, is that we bought a house! So we moved in about a month ago and things have been great but crazy! We also found out that we are moving to another boarding location, one with about 50 acres and an indoor! Not only are we going to a new place, but the whole barn that I'm at right now are going! So my horses will still have wonderful SANDY taking care of them! WE LOVE YOU SANDY!!! By the end of the summer we will be settled in I hope!
We had our first event at Clayton Park Recreational Area at Lake Henry and it was a HUGE hit! The kids were awesome, Vinnie had a blast (even though he had NO idea what the heck those cars were doing floating in the water (boats)), and Sonya was more than gracious to have us! We are going back on August 21st so we'll see you there and in the meantime, check out their website for more camping information as well as to check out their music series!!! http://www.claytonpark.net
I have also started selling LIA SOPHIA jewelry so if anyone is interested in booking a party let me know!!!!
So things are crazy but good!
Also, the Cow Flop isn't going to happen this year. They went with people that had "PONIES" this year. I was told I would have the opportunity to do it again. They didn't even call me. I was going to bring a pony this year anyway!!! I was borrowing a friends pony and I figured ALL kids of any age or size could ride! Oh well. I'm really bummed. But I guess that's the way things go.
Well, off to dinner! Hope everyone out there is doing well!!!!
So we went down to Mountain Top this weekend! Amy and I had a BLAST! Whitney from Lia Sophia had a party for her daughter and it was just the best time! It was a little windy, but we smiled through it!
If anyone knows a child with an upcoming birthday, let me know! What better way to celebrate than with a horse! Vinnie is on a roll, don't stop him now! He came galloping to me on Saturday when he saw me with the trailer (funny, I would have run the OTHER WAY!!!). That's right, I drove all by myself! I did GREAT! The wind didn't bother me one bit! Having Amy help me was awesome, but I did miss Chris! He had to work!
So the end of the month we are going to Clayton Park Recreational Area up at Lake Henry. Can't wait for that! Then next month is the Cow Flop already! This summer is flyin! Hold on tight!!!
Happy Mothers Day to all the mothers out there!!! Love you guys!!
Everything was AMAZING! We all had a great time! The kids were great! Vinnie was just perfect, and the weather was soooo nice! Can't wait for more just like that!!! :)
So Lisa from the Scranton Times Tribune contacted me about an interview! :) I will be featured in the Business Section. How cool is that??? I will post a link to the article when it comes out!
Also, the University of Scranton Equestrian Team is hosting the IHSA Zones Horse Show on April 11th!!! Graydee and Vinnie will be making an appearance, and I will be announcing for most of the day! How exciting! Good Luck Royal Riders!!! :) Check out their website...http://academic.scranton.edu/organization/riders/
Well the blankets are off! Graydee and Vinnie took a few minutes to soak up the fact that they were naked, and then they were off! They tore through the field like they were had 10 energy drinks! They rolled and played. Then they ate, because let's face it, they aren't horses, they are pigs! :) But I love my stinky pigs!
So first off, we are booking our first party for the 2010 season this week!!! YAY!!! Can't wait! I know Vinnie can't wait to get out and work! He has been so antsy since we ended last year!
Second, the Cow Flop is only a few months away!!! For those of you who do not know, the Throop Cow Flop is the social event of the Mid Valley Season! We gave pony rides last year and it was a HUGE success!! I can't wait til this year, it will be bigger and better than ever!
And Third, Chris heard Jim Bone (On 97.9x) talking about wanting a pony ride, so I emailed him! He responded in record time! How cool is that!!! I told him that we would be honored to give him a ride around the parking lot of the studio!!!! How awesome would that be!!! We are such huge fans of not only his, but the whole station!!! More on that to come!!!! :)
So for now, I am just doing everything I can to get our name out there! I really appreciate all of my facebook fans and all of my friends, you guys are my world!!! LOVE YOU!!!
Whether it's your significant other, a parent, or a friend; Send them love not just this weekend, but all year round. It's not about candy or flowers, it's about the relationships we build. Hug your special someone tight...even if they have a fuzzy nose and carrot breath! <3
I've been trying to get as many fans as possible on Facebook! This is the best (and cheapest) way to get noticed! Add us and have your friends add us too!!!
Quote of the day...
"When your horse follows you without being asked, when he rubs his head on yours, and when you look at him and feel a tingle down your spine...you know you are loved." John Lyons
My name is Liz Ghent. I have been working with horses for over 17 years. I recently decided to turn my hobby into my business with the help of my wonderful husband, Chris.
We own Vinnie, or should I say he owns us! Everyday I spend time with Vinnie, he always seems to amaze me. He is so gentle, patient, and understanding with children. He takes his job seriously, by putting a smile on every face he sees!!!
So without my friends, I don't know where I would be! These people volunteer their time and efforts to make my dreams come true! Here they are in no particular order!!!
Jessi...She is my Coordinator of Events and Public Relations. We spend many a day discussing marketing ideas at Olive Garden! Her son, Johnny, is also going to be my future poster child! Jessi's fiance, Jay, is also a big support! I would be lost without them! Amy...Even though she is a few hundred miles away, she supports me whenever she can! She always has a bag of carrots for our horses and they love Aunt Amy!!! Without Amy and her family, the Cow Flop would not have been as big a success last year! I love you guys! Amy K...As one of my students, she is amazing! She is so willing to learn and so great with the horses! She always helps me when I need her. From tacking up, to helping lead Vinnie, Amy is always there! Andy...I don't have a picture of him I can use, but I'll get one soon! When I need a driver or someone to help repair our truck or trailer, I call Andy!
There are many more wonderful people that lend a hand when needed! My friend and my family are my life! Thank you to all of you! I love you more than words can ever express!!!
In April 2009, We found a 1989 Shoop Trailer in amazing condition. The floor had just been replaced, along with all the rubber mats. The outside needed some work, but it was beautiful and suited all of our needs! In June 2009, right before the THROOP COW FLOP, I asked Chris, "I know the Cow Flop is in 5 days, but can you repaint the trailers?". And he simply said "Yes". I think it came out amazing! He worked for almost 30 hours in that 5 days! I love my wonderful husband!!!
This is our new truck! It is a 2007 Dodge Ram 1500 Crew Cab! In true horse fashion, we have named her Black Beauty! This vehicle gives us the power we need to haul our horses anywhere we need to be!
Welcome to our Blog! We are a family owned and operated "PONY" Party business in the Scranton/Wilkes Barre area of Northeastern Pennsylvania. So why "PONY" Party? Well, Large, Loveable, Horse Party didn't sound as good! Our horse, Vinnie, is actually a full sized horse, but don't let the size fool you! Children are drawn in by his warm personality, and parents can enjoy him too since he is just the right size!
It's that time again! The snow is melting, bathing suits are starting to come out in department stores, and parents are thinking about planning their child's birthday party! I know it's only January, but with temperatures reaching into the 40's, I can't help but think about the upcoming party season!
Call for a consultation and reserve your date today!!! 570.407.0622!!!
Here are some commonly asked questions! Please feel free to add to this list!
Why "Pony" Parties? We now offer both a full sized horse and/or a PONY! A real PONY is 14.2 hands (4ft 7inces, 14.2 hands X 4inces). Vinnie is 15.3 hands high, or 5foot 1inch. George our pony is about 10 hands high. Now that we found a pony that suites our needs, we are proud to truly be a PONY PARTY BUSINESS! Also, a side note: Ponies are NOT baby horses. They are a separate breed of animal.
Why have a Pony Party? What kid doesn't want a pony? It's a classic question children have been asking for hundreds of years: "Can I have a pony?". Horses (and ponies) bring out a smile on a child's face that you seem only once in a lifetime. There is something about the way horses make children feel that makes your heart melt. Not everyone is exposed to farm life, but there is nothing like it! This gives you a chance to bring the farm to any event your having!
Are you insured? YES! Insurance was one of the first items on my list to get once I started this business. It not only protects you and your family and friends, but it protects me and my horses! Animals act unpredictably and even the calmest horse can be dangerous. I have not had to, and hope to NEVER, use my insurance, but it is there, just in case!!!
Do we have to wear a helmet to ride? Anyone under the age of 18 is required to wear a helmet. It is just in case, but it is one rule I stand by! Adults can make a choice to wear or not wear a helmet.
What kind of helmets do you use? They are International Schooling Helmets. They are one of the most popular brands of riding helmets. They are ASTM and SEI certified.
What does ASTM and SEI mean? The ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) is an organization comprised of thousands of skilled volunteers including doctors, engineers and physicists. It is the job of the ASTM to set standards for many types of safety equipment. The ASTM has created criteria for horseback riding helmets to adhere to. The SEI (Safety Equipment Institute) is an independent laboratory that tests helmets to be sure they meet the ASTM standard.
Why don't you require riders to wear proper shoes? I could enforce a proper attire rule and not let everyone ride if they are not dressed correctly. I really could. But, the problem lies in the fact that some parents will forget, or never get the message, or whatever. How do you tell a child that they cannot ride the horse because they didn't dress right? We make sure that little toes stay away from our horses' feet. We watch everyone and make sure that no one is in harm's way. In a perfect world, everyone would wear the right clothes, the right shoes, and I would be President!
Can we come to your farm? Well, no. I would love to invite you, but right now TRUE VENTURE FARM is only the name of my business. One day, I will put that name on the sign outside my own barn and everyone will be invited, but for now it is just a dream in my head!
Does Vinnie/George bite? Yes. He's an animal, he bites his food and he bites at itches. But, he does not bite people (unless you are me, he likes to play bite me). The only time you even stand the smallest chance of getting bitten is if you give him a treat. When giving our animals food; just make sure to keep hands and fingers flat. He cannot see what he is grabbing and it is best to keep fingers out of reach.
What do horses eat? They eat hay and grass on a regular grazing basis, which means they are continuously eating. They receive grain (oats, barley, molasses) every morning and afternoon along with any daily medication mixed in. They also eat carrots, apples, and treats. These are the most common food items they eat, though I have known a few horses that eat things like; cookies, ham sandwiches, beer, soda, peppermints, chips, etc...
Can we give the animals treats? Sure, we bring treats with us at all times!
Are there any weight limits? Vinnie is very strong, he can carry up to 300lbs easily but to help keep our parties safe, I prefer to set the limit around 250lbs.
What are the age limitations? We will let ages 1 to age 101 ride!
Why do you choose not to have side walkers? It makes it easier for me (as the walker) to have less distractions as possible. The children can concentrate on just me and the horse and if a child's mind wanders I can get them back on track. If a child does request someone to come with them, that is fine. I know some smaller children would feel more comfortable having a parent or family friend walk beside them rather than someone from my team. I have had children as young as 2 ride all by themselves. See also why I use an English Saddle for more information. Also, if a child is under two they may ride with an adult.
What months are "Pony" Parties available? My husband and I (as well as Vinnie) are available all year round weather permitting. In the winter the only two problems would be if there was a heavy snow storm and the streets are not cleared, or it is under 30 degrees. This is just too cold to enjoy the party. The fall and spring are perfect as long as it is not too rainy out. A drizzle is fine and if the weather is going to clear up we can move the party around a little bit. The summer is great for parties and the only hindrance may be if it is above 100 degrees. This makes it uncomfortable for the horse, us, and the children!
What kind of saddle do you use? I use an English Saddle for a few reasons. First, it is a lot easier to shorten the stirrups so that every child or adult can fit their feet in them. This helps make the rider feel more secure and gives us the opportunity to omit a side walker. Second, it is lighter on the horse than a traditional Western Saddle. This makes Vinnie more comfortable and more willing to perform. Third, if I need to get a rider off of the horse quickly for whatever reason, I can do so safely. A western saddle has the high back and horn in the front. This makes it difficult to pull someone off. In case of emergency, I am trained to remove the rider from the horse and also steer the horse away from both the rider and myself. And finally, it gives more freedom in the size of the rider. Most western saddles are either too big or too small for everyone. English Saddles are much easier to "fit" into.
Why choose True Venture Farm Parties? We offer a learning experience that cannot be topped. We bring the country to you. We do not just bring a horse to you and let you ride around in a circle. We encourage questions and allow petting. Plus, we do have a BIG rule: HAVE FUN!!! Kids are actually encouraged to be kids! But as always, safety comes first. If my horse(s) is not safe, or if your child is not safe, I am not doing my job. I make sure that every precaution is made so that everything is as safe as it can be, and even if there was some sort of emergency, we are prepared and can handle it most likely without anyone noticing there was anything wrong in the first place. I monitor everything around my horse and my husband monitors everything behind me that I cannot see. 360 Degrees of supervision keeps everything in check!
I am not sure why I never posted this! But here's an awesome picture!!! This is my best girl Jessi and her son Johnny!!! He's only a year or so in this picture!!! I also have pictures of him riding on his own (Jessi was close by of course!)
