My first time on a horse was in Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek when I was three. The first time I climbed up onto the giant animal was exhilarating, although it was hard, at first, to entrust my wellbeing to this animal.
Fast forward to 2018. I started to go to horse camp at Malachi Acres in Parkland, thanks to a recommendation from the Parklander. It’s something I have looked forward to each summer since.
When COVID-19 shut down my school, I began to worry there would be no horse camp this summer. I missed seeing all my friends, but somehow, I knew I would see my friends from Malachi.
When they reopened the camp, I was delighted. New protocols are in place, mask-wearing when necessary, constant cleaning, not standing too close to each other, and not sharing food have become our “new normal.”
All the horses at the barn are great for different reasons, but Cosmo is my absolute favorite because she listened to me immediately. My favorite parts of camp are seeing my friends, feeding after camp, being in control of a thousand-pound animal, and just having fun.
Coronavirus may have shut down other camps but at Malachi — as long as we are on our p’s and q’s — camp lives on, and I hope to be able to attend horse camp next summer!
By Madeline Bernstein