PONYSITTERS
We cater to what kids love!
Our popular PONYSITTERS program is available exclusively at JL Performance Horses and has been featured on tv and in USA Today. Our PONYSITTERS program is perfect for horse crazy kids. The PONYSITTERS program is better than traditional afterschool or day care or babysitters! PONYSITTERS is open to children 4-16 years old, every Tuesday and Thursday afterschool from 3:30-7pm and every Saturday from 12 noon to 4:30pm, with early drop off and late pick up available. PONYSITTERS is also available on days when there is no school (like holidays & snow days).
Our PONYSITTERS program is designed to promote safety and knowledge while developing and educating youths. We teach the children about English and Western styles of horseback riding. Children learn all about horses in a positive environment with daily hands-on horse activities with friendly, well-trained horses & ponies, participate in creative projects & crafts and play fun games like equine trivia with barnyard game buzzers. (think Family Fued with horse questions).
Children use their math skills weighing buckets and the horse's grain to determine how many pounds of grain a horse eats. Grab your stethoscopes as they enter the world of equine veterinary science taking their horse's TPR. Children develop leadership skill, responsibility and build self-confidence taking care of, handling and riding horses.
Our popular PONYSITTERS program is much more than a horse play group. At a minimum, children will learn and be able to demonstrate success at individual & team activities, recognize and demonstrate safe horse handling techniques, basic equine care skills and proper horse grooming techniques, be capable of demonstrating critical thinking skills, problem-solving & decision-making, demonstrate the ability to perform basic mathematical calculations required to analyze equine rations, understand basic training and behavior of equine, have the skills and abilities to communicate effectively by verbal & written means, be capable of assesing a horse's general condition and take equine vitals, be able to properly take care of their equipment and tack and demonstrate tacking & untacking, mounting & dismounting and basic skills for riding.
In addition to their barn time, PONYSITTERS are encouraged to take a pro-active role within their community and are invited to attend public functions, like commuinty days and parades with their PONYSITTERS teammates and their equine ambassadors, providing equine educational demonstrations and presentations.
NO PRIOR EXPERIENCE IS REQUIRED!
PONYSITTERS is open to all children from all school districts. PONYSITTERS is a comprehensive equine educational program designed for children who love horses. PONYSITTERS runs from the start of the school year in September thru the end of school in June. We offer a full summer horsemanship camp during the school's summer break and encourage PONYSITTERS to attend.
Our PONYSITTERS program is like no other and is free of so many of the restrictions of other boarding/lesson barns. We are dedicated to producing capable, knowledgable horsepeople and setting your child up for success in the barn and to the board room.
Enrollment options include single day weekly attendance, weekdays only attendance, Saturdays only, 1 weekday + Saturday or sign your child up for the whole month.
We strictly limit the number of children in our care during the PONYSITTERS program to ensure the highest level of safety and positive experience.
We would love to welcome your child to the PONYSITTERS!
Give us a call to get started (845) 260-0962
SUMMER PROGRAM
We offer a 5-day a week SUMMER HORSEMANSHIP PROGRAM from 9am to 5pm, Monday - Friday beginning June 24, 2019 until school resumes in September.
If 8 glorious hours of horses isn't enough every day for your child, we offer early drop off and late pick up - Perfect for the full time working parent.
Enrollment is open now. Registrations forms are available now!
Parents will be able to sign their child up for the week, the month or the whole summer.
PONYSITTERS PHOTOS
PONYSITTERS' SPOTLIGHT
PONYSITTERS' PROFILES
PONYSITTER, Miss Molly (front & center) was just honored with the Determination Award at April Spring Camp and recently took her first solo ride on her favorite pony, Mr. Stubs. That's right no leadline or handler for this 5 year old PONYSITTER. Meet Miss Molly's PONYSITTER teammates.
Just scroll down to meet our ambitious, dedicated & passionate PONYSITTERS.
Founding PONYSITTER Member
Our pony princess, Miss Lacey is a founding member of our PONYSITTERS program. She actively participates in equine educational events within her community, including riding her horse in parades, preforming equine educational demonstrations and speaking at public events. She enjoys competing at horse shows, trail riding and takes great pride taking awesome care of her horse. Miss Lacey has already earned her Level 1 Horsemanship certificate and is diligently working her way thru Level 2. She takes an active leadership role in the PONYSITTERS program and likes to help others and share her knowledge of horses with new members. This year she is looking forward to participating in the 'Road to the Horse' Champion, Sean Patrick clinic in May & riding with the legendary, Tom Chown in June.
When she's not following her passion for all things equine, she enjoys being actively involved with her Girl Scout troop, earning new belts at her Karate classes, hip hop dancing with friends, playing with her Breyer horses and decorating cupcakes.
2019s First New PONYSITTER
Joining the PONYSITTER team in January 2019 is the beautiful and brilliant, Miss Carly, and horses are in her genes. This confident cowgirl is working hard on her Showmanship, horse handling and riding skills. She's looking forward to having the opportunity to ride into the show ring for the first time in 2019. Her favorite fellow is Nick, the wonder pony. Miss Carly is always smiling whether she's tossing hay to the ponies on the farm or tapping the buzzer showing off her ever growing horse knowledge during a game of Equine Trivia. Miss Carly is a valuable team player in the PONYSITTERS sharing her creativity and inspiring & encouraging others, in and out of the saddle.
When Miss Carly isn't in the barn, she enjoys being an active member of her Girl Scout troop, hip hop dancing, making slime, playing with her two cute puppies and teaching her friend, Tiffany, all about horses.
Meet a few of our other PONYSITTERS
Youngest PONYSITTER
Ponysitter, Abby Girl is out youngest PONYSITTER at just 3 years old. Abby is a valuable asset to Team PONYSITTER both in the saddle and assisting with pony chores. Miss Abby is famous for her adventures around the farm. She is looking forward competing in the Leadline division this year.
Sparkling PONYSITTER
There's nothing PONYSITTER, Miss Addison loves more than making a connection with every horse and pony on the farm. She's looking forward to her first horse show seaon. When she's not in the saddle, she can be found dancing on stage like the super star she is.
Smiling PONYSITTER
PONYSITTER, Miss Lydia loves taking care of all the horses & ponies and horseback riding. She is always armed for success wearing her smile and is excited about starting her horse show career this season. Miss Lydia was quite pleased taking her first trail ride on Nicky this Spring.
Oldest PONYSITTER
Miss Isis is the big sister to all our PONYSITTERS. She loves improving her riding skills and is busy planning her show schedule for this season. She travels between NY and Washington state riding.
Original Cowboy PONYSITTER
Our original cowboy PONYSITTER, Jackson got his first horse this year. With one horse show season under his belt, Cowboy Jackson is looking forward to winning ribbons with his horse, Wilma. Next to his horse, Cowboy Jackson loves spending time with the farm's dog, Chloe.
New Cowboy PONYSITTER
New cowboy PONYSITTER, Micheal's favorite ride is Mr. Stubs, our Shetland pony. Cowboy Micheal takes great pride in his newly aquired equine skills to make sure Mr. Stubs is always happy, clean & ready to saddle up.