Kathryn Karns

My international experience began and ended before I knew it. Time flies when you're having the time of your life! The 2008 USPC International Games Team included Isabel Brennan (VA), Isabelle Brace (MD), Carin Brown (VA), Gretel Briand (KS), and myself (SC). We had a wonderful 4-day training camp in New York with our coach, Rachael Atlee and chaperone, Janey MacFawn. The camp would not have been possible without the hard work and hospitality of the Crowley family (THANK YOU!). Two weeks later we were off to Perth, Australia.

After about 30 hours of travel we arrived to cool winter air, a welcome change from our 100+ degree weather at home. The next few days were spent getting to know the other teams from Great Britain, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. It wasn't long before we were all a big family. The days sped past with all of the fun things we did. Some of the activities included visiting a wildlife park and petting kangaroos, a day at a local Pony Club rally, a trail ride on ponies, a trail ride on camels, a game of Supa Golf and much more. Four of our days were spent at a place called Fairbridge. It is a camp that had activities such as a giant swing, ropes courses, archery, a rock-climbing wall, and a Flying Fox zip line. The ropes courses and the rock-climbing wall were nice and slippery from the rain we experienced every day. During the downpours we passed the time by sitting by the fires in our cabins and learning lots of new card games.

The competition was upon us quicker than we imagined and we were soon getting ready. After the braiding of hair and the tying of ties were complete, we boarded the bus for a short, quiet ride to the State Equestrian Center. We were fortunate to have a day of gorgeous, sunny weather and an enthusiastic crowd. Several group pictures and a brief meeting later and we were warming up our first set of ponies. The five teams were battling it out and giving it their all. The 20 races were exciting but over in a flash and in the end we came in fifth. The more I think about the exchange, the more I realize how incredible this whole experience has been. I can look back and see how lucky I was to have this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.  

Carin Brown

Our journey started on June 21st when we had training camp in New York at Kelsey Crowley's house riding her ponies and the ponies at her barn. Janey left us on the second day to go to Australia with her other team and we continued training and playing hard we were so excited and would meet 3 weeks later to leave for Australia. We all bonded really closely that week and gave each other nicknames.

On July 8th Gretel Briand and Kathryn Karns and Racheal Atlee came to my house to spend the night. Isabelle Brace Izzy Brennen were at there own houses. On July 9th we all met at the airport at 1pm to start our trip. We lost July 10th as we flew there we had about 2 hours over the pacific as our July 10th. (37 hours of travel total)When we got there it was about 60F which felt nice from our weather here at 100F. The first night that we were there we met the Australian team first and then Great Britain and New Zealand, the Canadians came in so late that we didn't meet them the first day we went home with our host families and went to bed!

The next day we went to the wildlife park and got to pet kangaroos and koalas. Everyone had a great time and the teams got to know each other a lot better than we did the night we all first met. We went to the gravity center, a pony club rally, and a trail ride the next few days. The pony club rally I went to I talked to a group of Aussies about games and then we played games and played cushion polo, it was so much fun.

Then we went to Fairbridge and we did high and low ropes, rock wall, zip line, giant swing, and some team building activities. We spent 4 days at Fairbridge spilt in 2 cabins they were heated by a small fire in the living room. With a temp outside of about 48-52 at night. Then we went to muary pony club the next day and stayed with another host family for just a night and the next day we went back to muary and had a friendly competition. It was really fun to play with one of each of the other countries after we went back to Michelle's house and met our new host families.

The next few days we rode camels and went on a hop on hop off tour of Freemantle. We were supposed to have a tour of Perth as well but the bus was not coming for 2 1/2 hours so we walked about 4 miles into Perth and shopped. Our team spent the morning together and got manicures and pedicures. That night we went to the river retreat the next day we went super golfing and spent the day as a team and that night we had the formal dinner. Ashley one of the boys from New Zealand stood on the table and sang and danced its ranning men. He did it in front of the president of Australia and president of Western Australia too. It was the funniest thing on the trip by far and everyone was cheering him on.

Gretel Briand

DAY 2 Today we woke up and had the first Australian breakfast, which consisted of toast, and "Milo", the best chocolate mix ever!!!  I quickly became addicted to the sweet taste of the drink.  After breakfast we quickly rushed to Caversham Wildlife Park.  There we got to feed and pet many kangaroos.  Some were small, tall, red, grey, white, and some even had a little Joey in their pouch.  It was so cool to get to interact with kangaroos, I have always wanted to.  Honestly, I think that was one of the biggest things I was looking forward to, seeing a kangaroo.  After we learned about the kangaroos we took a tour, and saw Tasmanian devils, koalas, wombats, dingoes and many more native animals.  The koalas were really soft, and slow, and the wombat was big with a fat tummy, and a somewhat wrinkly face.  Each was way cooler in person than you could ever imagine.

DAY 3  Today a couple other international riders and I went to an Eastern Hills Pony Club Rally.  So far these people are amazing, and they are becoming some of my greatest friends, I can already tell that my departure to the States is going to be hard to deal with.  In Australia Pony Club Rallies are basically giant pony club meetings.  It was really different, and well organized.  Every member participated in about four different lessons, and as they did they all had to dress formally in a sweater and tie, and everybody had to wear tall boots, except the really little kids.  We got to watch many lessons, and I thought it was fascinating how advanced most of the riders were at such a young age.  We also got to ride some and play games with some of Eastern Hills Pony Clubber's.  Towards the end of the day we got to play cushion polo, a very unique game played in their pony club.  It had to be one of the coolest things I have ever played.  The object of the game was to get the cushion (a taped up pillow) and hand it to each one of your teammates before you can score, and each person had to carry it under their left arm when they had it.  At first it was nice and easy but when some of the native pony clubbers joined it was wild!  They were so good and completely showed up all of the international games riders.  Another difference I learned with the pony club style in Australia was that their ratings are different, for example D, D*, C, C*, B, A. I was able to talk to different members and learn about their competitions and how everything worked. 

DAY 4  Today was the group trail ride, which I was really excited to do, because it seems like I haven't ridden a horse in years.  We woke up early and met at Michelle's house and all got some type of horse or pony to ride.  I started off on "Big Boy" a huge eventer, about 16.3-17h who was really wiggy when he is not with his friend.  His best friend was a pony about 14h max, it was really cute.  I soon was told to switch onto a little pony named "Tommy".  Tommy was a fluffy white pony and he was really fuzzy.  We got to see beautiful countryside, and everyone had so much fun and really bonded together nicely.  I never, realized how many llamas and alpacas there were in Australia, they were everywhere!  After the trail ride we all hung out and then went back to our host families. 

DAY 5  Today we went to the Gravity Center, where we went on a bush walk, and got to play with all the hands-on experiments.  The weather was really bad, and constantly raining.  Our group was split and half went on a bush walk, while the other half stayed inside to learn all about the experiments.  They were all really cool.  So far I have made great friends, and it just makes the trip better and better each day.  Then when it came time for the groups to switch, my group couldn't go outside on the bushwalk because it was raining so much so we just looked at pictures of edible flowers, and plants.  After both groups finished we ate lunch, then painted boomerangs, with the Aboriginal dot painting method.  There have been many different opportunities on this trip that I don't think I would have ever done if it wasn't for this tour.  After we finished painting the boomerangs we had some free time, and a bunch of us went up to the top of the leaning tower.  I can't remember how many sets of stairs that there truly was but there had to be at least 13, and once we made it to the top we were able to drop water balloons down, and see how long it took them to fall before they hit the ground.  Then the whole tour group walked to another building, where we saw all the different microscopes, and we learned about the different solar systems, and the planets.  We later did a funny experiment to show how far away the planets and different stars were from another, and a couple of people (including myself) had to get up and wear a tall paper hat with the star we were representing.  It was so funny!!

DAY 6  Today was the last day with our first host families.  It's sad leaving Sean and Tash, because I have grown to love staying with them, as if they were my second family.  We woke up early and packed everything and all met up at Michelle Wilkie's house.  When we arrived, there was a giant tour bus waiting for us to put all of our stuff in, because today was the day that we would leave for Fairbridge.  I had no idea what Fairbridge was when I had heard of it.  Once we arrived, we learned that Fairbridge was an old orphanage that would take orphans from England.  We had a village tour, and visited the graveyard of people who had asked to be buried at Fairbridge (past orphans).  I learned so much, and some of the kids and their stories really touched me.  After the tour, we unloaded our stuff into our assigned rooms.  The village was very old, and it almost felt like we were in a strange little world, that was always cold.  I roomed with Katie (Australia), and Stephanie (Canada).  Then as it began to get dark, everybody went to the campfire, which was a lot of fun.  We had a counselor and we played fun games, where you would really have to get involved.  Some of the activities he had us do were really funny.  It was a blast. 

DAY 7  So far the meals here at Fairbridge haven't been the best.  Today the group went to the low ropes course.  The ropes course was a great team builder for all of us riders.  We started with the giant swing (which was the only thing I could do because I injured my knee).  Then I soon became the groups' photographer, while everyone else was doing various activities.  Although I was bummed I couldn't participate much, watching everybody was fun and funny at the same time.  There were trouble shooting and physical activities that really involved lots of teamwork.  After each group finished we had a break for lunch.  Then half of the group did archery, while the other group did the high ropes course.  The entire time we were at Fairbridge it was raining non-stop.  I stayed and played cards with Janey, because I had to ice my knee which wasn't any fun.  

DAY 8  Today we had breakfast and then went to our first activity.  It was the flying fox, otherwise known as a giant zip tie.  The zip ties looked so awesome!  You would never imagine that this little village had all these activities for us to do.  The other half of the group went rock climbing.  But it started raining really hard, so those activities had to be cut short.  Later after the weather had finally cleared up, the two groups who did archery, and high ropes switched.  The rain seems to be chronic at Fairbridge.  I went with the archery group, and it was fun because we had competitions, and the girls' team totally won.

DAY 9  Today was the last day of Fairbridge.  So far Fairbridge has been a lot of fun!  It was wet and very, very cold.  We went to breakfast, and then went to make boomerangs.  The boomerang making was the coolest thing ever; I was anticipating that art project the whole time I was at Fairbridge.  This time they were real ones that could be thrown.  I painted mine black with many different colorful designs.  We spent lots of time working on them and then we had boomerang throwing lessons.  Those were so cool, even though I failed on throwing my boomerang.  I guess it takes practice.  After we finished, the bus had arrived so we loaded our luggage in it and headed to the city of Pinjarra, where we ate lunch and shopped for awhile and it was fun.  We went into this shop called the "Reject Store" and we bought tons of random things for cheap, including these blues brother sunglasses.  Then we got back on the bus and went to the nearby Murray Pony Club.  This is where our friendly is going to be held tomorrow.  We were all given new host families to stay with for a night.  I stayed at a house with three young boys, who really enjoyed showing me their ponies.  They were very welcoming and nice. 

DAY 10  Today is the day of the friendly!  I am so excited to ride in the friendly; I think it will just be a great time.  We woke up and helped our host family load up a horse that was going to be used, and then we headed to the Murray Pony Clubhouse.  Everyone was given a pony to warm up and ride.  I rode a pony named "Tara", who was really good.  Then we went into the arena, and were divided into teams.  My team had my coach Rachael, Kate (Great Britain), Ashley (New Zealand), Lisa (Canada), and Jess (Australia).  We had all the big horses on our team, but that's what Rachael picked.  We did pretty good we got fourth.  Everybody won a prize, and it was different types of Australian chocolate, which you can't go wrong with that.  All the food in Australia has been so much better than American food especially the chocolate and the Solos (a delicious lemon flavored soda).  Then we all hung out and had a cookout and it was really fun.  Then we loaded on the bus and went back to Perth, where we were placed with new host families.  I stayed with a girl named Melissa, and she lived less then a block from Michelle's house which was nice because that was our meeting place most of the time.  

DAY 11  My whole team and I are so excited because today is dedicated to SHOPPING!! We went into the city of Perth, and did so much shopping; I love all the Australian clothes because most of it is surf wear.  We shopped for hours, and I don't even know how much stuff I bought, but it was a blast!

DAY 12  Today we loaded up on our tour bus at Michelle's, and drove about an hour and a half to a camel farm.  I have never ridden a camel, let alone come in a close encounter with them, so I am really looking forward to going to this farm.  The group was split in half and half went on a camel trail ride first while the other half learned how to play cricket, a common Australian sport.  Cricket is very different, and really long, I learned that one game can last more than one day.  I picked up on cricket pretty fast, and I really enjoyed it because it's different and ongoing.  After the first group returned we had lunch, and then the second group, my group, went on the trail ride.  Carin and I rode the bull camel that was named "major", and he was in season, so he wore a mask over his muzzle because he was foaming at the mouth.  It was really funny because he was roaring the entire trail ride, and foaming at the mouth.  I learned that they used a bull camel's roar as Chubaka in the Star Wars movies, which was really cool.  The ride was about two hours long, it was so fun, and it was hilarious when the camel walks.  Camels also chew really funny.  I think I am just going to stick to riding horses. 

DAY 13  Today we woke up very early and met at Michelle's house at 6:45 to leave to go to the city of Perth.  We took a trolley around the city and saw all parts of it.  We got to see a lot of Perth, which was really interesting.  From Perth, we took a ferry to Fremantle.  The boat ride was fun, all of us had such a great time, and we made some great memories.  The water was so beautiful and a deep teal blue.  Once we got there we went on the "Hop on-hop off" tour and went all around the city.  When the tour finished it was about time for lunch so we ate at a seafood restaurant, where you had to play for your condiments, which was very weird.  Then all the teams split up and went shopping all through Fremantle, our team had so much fun, even though it was raining.  I bought many things including authentic UGG boots!  We then finished our shopping and the whole tour met up and got on the ferry to go back to Perth.  Our bus picked us up from the city and we all went back to Michelle's house and then I walked to my host family's house.  There we watched some movies and had dinner.  I am having such a great time with all these great people.

DAY 14  Today we went to the City of Perth to shop again.  Honestly, shopping just doesn't get old in this city.  This morning was the last day with our host family.  I really hate when I have to leave my host families.  We carpooled to the train station and then took the train to the heart of the city.  We first ate lunch and then we were off.  Our whole team got our nails done; it's what I would call "team bonding".  Each one of us had different variations of red white or blue.  I had a French manicure with red tips, it was so cute.  We shopped for hours, and occasionally we would run into other teams, and all shop together.  The shopping was all outdoors and as we walked there was a public entertainer.  He was a dancer that literally could dance to all types of music.  I was really jealous of his skills.  After all that shopping we went back to Michelle's house.  We took our luggage to the River Retreat where we all stayed in a little house as a team for once.  The Retreat was really fun because all the teams at this point were so close, and we just never ran out of things to do.    

DAY 15 The whole tour has been about meeting new people, and mixing us up.  But now that we moved into the retreat, we have been doing everything as a team.  This morning we went to play "Super Golf".  Super Golf is a cross between golf, and miniature golf, but with huge clubs, and a huge ball.  It was a lot of fun, but it takes getting used too.  Isabelle and Izzy tied for first, and Catherine and I tied for second, and Carin fell behind by quite a bunch, so we determined Super Golf wasn't her thing.  We then ate lunch at the restaurant at the Retreat, and it was delicious.  Then we took turns going to the nearby chocolate factory.  I bought white chocolate chips, and they were so good.  Then as the night approached, we went shopping at a tack shop, which we have been dying to do for so long.  The tack is a little different, for example their halters buckle on the top of the nose, instead of behind the horse's nose.  They also have lots of plastic bridles, similar to endurance bridles.  We were at the tack shop until it closed, and then were picked up and went back to our little cabin.  We all hung out, including the other teams and had a good time.   

DAY 16 Today we all hung out and looked at the games equipment that will be used in the competition.  Some of it was very different, and some was the same.  After the day had passed, we got ready for our formal dinner that would be at a nearby fancy building (I'm not sure if it was a hotel or not, we didn't see much of it).  Our team had to dress alike and we wore blue sweaters, and khaki skirts.  Everybody looked so pretty.  Then we all loaded on the tour bus and went over to the formal dinner.  Each team had their own table, and there was another table with all the executive pony club members.  This table had the President of the Australian Pony Club as well as the President of the Western Australian Pony Club.  It was such a pleasure meeting them.  Soon after the introductions the dinner started coming in different courses. The dinner was out of this world good.  Then as we were finishing desert there was a kangaroo outside right next to the parking lot, it was so cool!  After our wonderful dinner we went back to our cabin and went to bed. 

Isabel Brennan

The tour was a once in a lifetime experience. I had such an amazing time and it was so well organized.  Being part of a team that became such great friends and worked so well together, having the help of great coach and such an experienced chaperone was incredible. By the end they had become like family.  But what also made this a truly wonderful experience was the opportunity to meet and tour with 20 other games crazy kids from 4 different countries, getting to know host families and pony clubbers in Western Australia all of which provided me with new friends all over the world.  

            With only two weeks to go to Australia, the team was headed to training camp in New York State. The 4 of us were in the car going through Pennsylvania and the traffic was terrible, the journey endless, our chaperone Janey McFawn was driving, suddenly the cones surrounding the roadworks gave us an idea. Anyone who knows games knows that cones and the ability to weave around and retrieve objects from them, play a big part in Games, so the back windows came down and me and Izzy Brace while being cheered on by Carin and Kathryn, knocked cone after cone. A good job was done and our boredom was gone. The traffic behind us probably had a strange idea of what the international US mounted games team, as advertised in the dirt on the back of the SUV, was going to training camp to learn!

We next met at Dulles airport, we were pretty pumped and the screams could be heard from two terminals away.  30 hours and 3 flights later we finally arrived in Perth, as I described to my family later on feeling like we "had bathed in grease".  The night we arrived we met all the teams and in the matter of a few hours it felt like we had all known each other forever.  Then it was off to the first pony club host family.  They were in the business of raising and racing trotters, aka harness racers. My favorite character on the farm was the amazing "rearing on command" pony named Stumpy.  He was so much fun to ride I had to have my "Stumpy fix" every day.  The first day we enjoyed seeing, petting and feeding the cute Australian native animals at the Caversham wildlife park.  We then had our first experience of Australian pony club at Horsemen's pony club rally day, where we went "Bush bashing" aka off-roading, and in the afternoon we followed a more conventional track with a trail ride/cross country session.  

Then it was goodbye to Stumpy and his family and off to an outward bound center for 3 days of bonding with our own and the other teams.  After 3 days of rain and ropes courses we had a fun time but were ready to move back to a warm house.  By then it was time for the first competition a "friendly" where all the teams were mixed together.  I was happy about my team which consisted of an Aussie, Canadian, New Zealander, a Brit and a local Aussie, owner of the wonderful pony I was given to use.  We all had such fun and got a glimpse of what the Australian ponies and the other competitors were like.