Black Dog Stables

Sunday's St. Patrick's Day Camp Update: Our morning session (10:30-12:30) has FOUR more spots. Comment here, message the page, or text Sarah if you're interested in joining us! Our afternoon session (1-3pm) is FULL. ... A few details about Sunday: - Please remember it's Daylight Savings! Clocks spring forward Saturday night to Sunday! - Registration will begin five minutes before each session, at 10:25 and 12:55. If you arrive before this time, please wait in your car - we may be moving around tractors, horses, etc. and want to keep everyone safe! - This is a drop-off/pick-up event. With Covid, we're trying to keep numbers around the farm low, and we don't have anywhere out of the way for parents to stay and watch. - Masks will be required during camp and at drop off/pick up. - Kiddos should come to camp wearing long pants and some kind of boots - rain boots, hiking boots, riding boots, etc. - Please dress for the weather - our activities are all outdoors or in an open-air barn. The high Sunday is 53 and partly sunny. Jackets/gloves/hats are a good idea! - Feel free to send kids with a water bottle. - Please let us know if you have any additional questions! We're looking forward to a fun day with your kids!

ST. PATRICK'S DAY CAMP - Sunday, March 14th!! Mini-camps are back in 2021! Join us for a St. Patty's Day themed mini-camp this Sunday, March 14th from EITHER 10:30-12:30 or 1-3. We'll play games on horseback, hunt for leprechauns, make a St. Patrick's Day craft, and spend time with our favorite Black Dog Stables' horses and ponies! ... Sessions are limited and generally fill quickly, so please comment on this post, message the page, or text Sarah to reserve a spot! Mini-camps are $60/child. A $20 deposit will be required to reserve your spot, and then the balance can be paid the day of camp. If you want to make your deposit via PayPal, our email address is [email protected]. Please send using "friends and family" to save us the PayPal fee, or we also happily take cash or check. Masks will be required at drop-off/pick-up, and for the duration of camp. Hand sanitizer will be provided at each station, and activities are designed with social distancing in mind. Covid is really getting old, guys. Sunday looks like it's partly sunny with a high of 48, and all of our activities are outside or in the barn, so please send your kiddos dressed accordingly! And remember - it's Daylight Savings, so don't be late! :) We hope you can join us!

OUR NEW PONY NEEDS A NAME! As many of you know, we brought home this adorable little fluffball in December... who then came down with a raging infection that we've been treating ever since. We just got the call today from the vet that he's ALL CLEAR, and we can't wait to let all of our lesson kiddos love on him!... But... he needs a name. Right now, Miss Meagan and I have been calling him horrible things like "Floofypants" and "Smooshy" but we don't think those are viable long term options. Two front-runners are Bear and Biscuit. Do you like either of those? Do you have other suggestions? Help us name this guy before he ends up as "Squishyface" for life!!! And a HUGE shoutout to Dr. Harvey and the team at Allegheny Equine for helping us treat this guy, and for all of their excellent care of the whole Black Dog Stables herd!

SUMMER CAMP 2021 UPDATE: I've been getting some questions about summer camps, so I just wanted to let you all know our tentative plans at this point. YES, we will have camps this summer (yay!) and YES, we'll follow whatever Covid-19 safety measures we need to to keep our campers and counselors safe.... We're not 100% sure on dates yet, but know that camps will likely be the last two weeks of June and the first 2-3 weeks of July, with the LAST camp likely being our advanced camp. We will have at least one pony camp in there for the 4-6 crowd as well as our regular horse camps for ages 6-12. We're working on finalizing some dates here soon and will hopefully have camp registration forms available by early March. Thanks for being patient, and stay tuned for more concrete info soon! - Sarah & crew

We have a few of these bags left, ready for pickup today or tomorrow!! Let us know if you're interested! :)

LAST-MINUTE GIFTS AND HOLIDAY ORDERS: Shirt orders are in! I think I talked to everyone who ordered, but if you’re coming for a lesson today, I’ll have your shirt at the barn, and if not, your shirt is on my porch bench labeled with your name and the cost of your order! Also, I have probably 30+ shirts from prior seasons for sale at a discount: $10 for t-shirts and $20 for hoodies. Lots of sizes and colors. If you need a last-minute gift or stocking stuffer, feel free to swin...g by the barn between 10-6 today. They’ll be in a box in the office. A shout out, as always, to my wonderful neighbor Christie at R&M Embroidery on Route 8 for always taking care of us! Loving the dark colors with the white logos!

Anyone interested in trying this during their lessons?

The boys enjoying the snow!

HOLIDAY MERCHANDISE ORDER: It happened again... December snuck up on me, and I wasn't ready for it! I talked to my awesome neighbor Christie of R&M Embroidery on Route 8 and she's going to be able to do some t-shirts and hoodies for us in time for the holidays. We've had some requests for some darker shirts white white logos, so we're going to try that this time around. ... If you'd like to place an order, you can either comment here, message the Facebook page, or text/call Sarah at 412-302-5181. I'm trying to get Christie an order by Monday morning! We'll be offering t-shirts and hoodies in kids and adult sizes. Color choices: Maroon, navy, and dark purple T-shirts are $15 and hoodies are $30. Also - I know a few people are waiting for some backordered items from the spring order (stupid Covid!). We'll print those remaining items when we print this new order!

LESSONS CANCELED TODAY! Please stay safe and warm! (The horses are LOVING the snow day... Oslo was laying down EATING the snow earlier today!)

LAST CALL FOR T-SHIRT AND HOODIE ORDERS! Maroon, navy, and dark purple with WHITE logos, hoodies and t's in youth and adult sizes. T's are $15 and hoodies are $30. I'm placing the order later this morning so please let me know if you'd like me to add anything for you!... I have orders for: Lacy, Slaters, Emily, Bernie, Aymara, Meagan, Shelby, Shannon, Chelsea, Erin, and Lindsay ... please let me know if I'm missing anyone on the list!!

A look back on last year's photos with the amazing Hilary of Elm Hollow Photography. Look how big these kids have grown in a year!!! I'm getting prints from Hilary today for anyone who ordered prints from this year's photo shoot - if you have prints to pick up, please text me at 412-302-5181 after about 3:00 today to arrange to pick them up. If you're not in a rush, you can absolutely wait til your next lesson!

If you're in a position to donate this #GivingTuesday, please consider donating to Flying Changes Equine Rescue. This is the horse rescue organization that Black Dog Stables is involved with, and we usually have at least one rescue horse in our care. Flying Changes is an entirely volunteer-run organization, so 100% of your donation goes directly to the horses in need. Black Dog Stables donates the feed, hay, and shavings to whatever rescue horse is currently with us to take some of the financial burden off of the rescue. Your donations, then, go to things like vet care and medications, that help to rehabilitate our rescue horses and ready them for their forever homes!

I meant to post this before Small Business Saturday, but please consider shopping locally this Christmas! Visit Shady Acres Saddlery on Dorseyville Road in Fox Chapel for all of your equestrian needs! The owners are lovely and super helpful, and will help you find the perfect gift for the horse lovers on your list. Tell them you ride at Black Dog Stables! https://www.facebook.com/shadyacres.saddlery

HOLIDAY MERCHANDISE ORDERS: We're planning to do a holiday t-shirt/hoodie order again this year. I'll hope to have a final order form posted in the next few days. Any color requests for t-shirts and hoodies?... Besides t-shirts and hoodies, is there anything else you'd like me to look into? I looked at some fleece pullover options, but the color choices for kids aren't that great!