Rainmakers learn horsemanship at Rolling Stone Ranch

DINGMANS FERRY — The Rainmakers of Troop 5 went camping at 10 Mile River in Tusten, N.Y., when they also took a field trip that helped them earn a badge.

The Boy Scouts visited Rolling Stone Ranch in Bethel, N.Y., where they met farrier Mike Van Blargen from Horse Help. He gave a detailed presentation on his job, and how to care for horses.

Rolling Stone Ranch, with its knowledgeable staff and beautiful, clean facility, offers the Boy Scout Horsemanship Merit Badge. The ranch has an outdoor ring used in good weather. But, living up to their Rainmaker name, the boys brought some inclement weather along with them and so took advantage of the spacious indoor ring.

The staff took the scouts through the course step by step, teaching about horses, their tack, and their up-keep, and answered all of the boys' questions. The scouts learned how to saddle and ride horses with difference strides. They even mucked the stalls.

Troop 5 and their leaders "thank Farrier Mike Van Blargen and the entire staff of Rolling Stone Ranch for a great and educational time!"