B10 - DAVIE COUNTY ENTERPRISE RECORD, Thursday, May 20, 2004
Marissa Johnston and Kris Brzescinski
dreams come true in Davie County.
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 and oper-
ating a hU1l1 seat board and 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 amus-
ing in her dealings with her stu-
dents. "Way to go. dude. My
hero," are frequently heard
phrases at her classes.
She brought to her farm an
extensive background in compe-
tition. training and stable man-
agement. Here students are win-
ning in show after show across
the state.
are making their
Weeks of June 7-11. 11-18
and July 12-16will be for begin-
ner/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 post-
ing trot and canter.
July 19-23 will include ad-
vanced riders. Campers must
have all basic and intermediate
skills and be ready to advance to
pre and beginner jumping tech-
niques.
All campers will develop their
riding skills in Hunt Seat (En-
glish) while sampling Stock Seat
(Western) and Bareback.
The morning will include a
divided program with two par-
ticipants 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
Marissa Johnston shows how it is done on Phantom at Chad Hansen is rewarded with a "You're my hero" ,
a New York event. pushes Lady over the jump.
the equine management part of
heeled shoes. No sandals are al-
the program. Halfway through
lowed. Dixieland provides the
the morning they will switch,
required helmets.
each having ridden from I-I 1/2
hours each day. Campers need to bring a
bagged lunch and are encouraged
Dixieland has a large indoor
to bring jugs of ice water. There
arena as well as a nice outdoor
one. so weather will not affect the is a drink vending machine at the
farm and Rec. Dept. They will
camp instruction. Before lunch
need a swimming suit. towel,
the team will join up forcooting,
sunscreen, change of clothes
unracking and grooming their
(shorts and tee) and sneakers
horse before it is turned out for
each day for the afternoon.
the rest of the day.
Call Streit at 751-2325.
After lunch the campers will
Delaney Hansen practices her posting on Sam.
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 permit-
ting). Tuesday and Thursday will
be back at the recreation depart-
ment to work on their notebook
and crafts. and Wednesday will
include field trips to horse related
facilities.
The afternoon part of the pro-
gram is being designed and con-
ducted 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 Marissa Johnston watches as Cathy Hansen guides Zack over the jump.
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