Tips for Finding a Riding Barn
Posted on September 13, 2014
First things first, we just wanna give a big Faulkner’s thank you to all of our Pony Campers and their awesome parents, grandparents, family, and friends who helped make this summer’s camps a huge success!
When pony camp is over, we usually get several inquiries on where to further your children’s riding experience. So we thought we would share with you some tips that Emily, our Pony Camp Specialist, gave us on finding a great lesson barn, as well as some recommended locations.
Tips for Finding a Great Lesson Barn
After picking a barn to check out, arrange for a visit. It is best to visit during a lesson so you can see what it is like. Saturdays are usually popular lesson days.
Here are some things to be on the lookout for:
- Is the barn/facility clean? People who take pride in doing a good job of teaching usually want their barn to be clean.
- Do you see anything that can cause an accident? (things like loose wire, things to trip over)
- Do the horses look well cared for? (this means a clean coat, happy expressions when you pass by, clean stalls/pens)
- Look at the arena – you want a place that has good footing (not hard or dusty) and a safe fence/wall (nothing that a rider can get hurt on poking out).
- Are there safety rules posted? A good instructor will want to have rules posted.
- Are riders wearing helmets? This is a must!
- Is the instructor kind to the horses? An instructor that yells at or is aggressive with a horse will not be a good role model for your child.
- Do the students seem to be having a good time? A good instructor will be able to engage a student and assess needs.
Questions to Ask:
- How long have you been teaching? It is best if your instructor is seasoned.
- Do you have any qualifications/certifications? CHA , CCHI, USPC are respected certification agencies for riding instructors. If the instructor is not certified, find out who they learned from. It should be a well-known or certified individual.
- What is your policy for missed lessons?
- Are you CPR first aid certified?
- When was the last time a student had an accident? How did you handle it?
- What measures do you use to determine if a horse is safe for kids? A good instructor will give specifics, not just talk about how safe his horses are.
Red Flags to Watch Out For:
- An un-welcoming intro
- Horses that look mad or scared when you pass by them
- Dirty facilities
- A ‘gut feeling’ that this is an unsafe facility
Good Signs:
- Happy horses, happy students, a professional and welcoming tour, a certified instructor who has been teaching for years, a clean facility, posted safety rules, and helmets for every rider. If you see these things, chances are you are in a good place!
Recommended Lesson Locations
Ransomed Heart Ranch (This is where Emily, our Pony Specialist, teaches!)
204 E Casey Rd, Lone Jack MO 64080
Emily’s number is 816-560-8535
Painted M Ranch
12631 Homestead Ln. Olathe, Ks 66061
Abby Rd Farm
19608 J Hwy. Peculiar MO 64078
Woodson Hill Equestrian Center
http://www.woodsonhill.org/
7990 NW Mace Rd, KCMO 64152
7990 NW Mace Rd, KCMO 64152
Once again, thank you to everyone who joined us for Pony Camp 2014!
We are already taking reservations for Pony Camp 2015 so grab your spot early! Plus, what a great Christmas gift or stocking stuffer!
We are already taking reservations for Pony Camp 2015 so grab your spot early! Plus, what a great Christmas gift or stocking stuffer!
Have a great rest of the summer ya’ll!
The “Before They Say I Do” BBQ
Posted on September 3, 2014
On August 1st we hosted the Soloman’s wedding rehearsal dinner. This event was so special because of all of the love that they put into it.
First things first, let’s just talk about this decor! It was WONDERFUL! This family did an excellent job of combining rustic chic with personal touches.
Before guests even entered the building they got a taste of the cute details that were in store.
The banner initials were not only a nice touch, but they are also great because the couple can hang them in their home afterwards. Party decor that doubles as home decor is always a great investment!
I think it goes without saying that we absolutely LOVED the name of this event.
They used it on the invite to right outside the door. Such a great touch! Plus, it helped set the theme for evening.
The decor inside was fantastic as well. Every square inch was covered with meaningful details and memorabilia. They met at the University of Arkansas, so of course there were Razorbacks sprinkled throughout.
When guests entered they were asked to sign the wedding window.
As stated in the description next to it, the window represents the past, present and future of your life. You can read it’s entire description right here. Such a neat idea and a wonderful keepsake for the newlyweds!
Of course, we adored the use of burlap and garland.
Once again, more things that they can display in their new home together!
Also, see this barn wood?
It is from their family farm. There was so much love put into this decor and it showed@
We also LOVED what they did with our barn doors! It so fun seeing how each wedding decorates them.
They really knocked it out of the park with their decor. Their cocktail napkins were even some of the cutest we had ever seen!
Even cuter was the party favors.
The groom is a geologist, so they had chocolate rock candy for party favors. So clever!
Doesn’t that idea rock? ;o)
As for the centerpieces, they were rustic and chic.
Isn’t it awesome how just a little ribbon can completely transform some mason jars?
We adored how they tied in the Razorback’s colors with this fun chevron table overlay. It added a nice pop of color and some whimsy!
This was also at every place setting.
The picture in the background is of their family barn. The message written on it is so incredibly sweet! We just loved what it said about their guests being their favorite people in the world. That is what a rehearsal dinner needs to be, very intimate and personal.
Their guests were also treated to a delicious BBQ dinner, plus some ice cream and brownies for dessert. This is a nice switch up since your guests will be enjoying cake the next night.
Overall, this was just a wonderful rehearsal dinner filled with so much love!
Congrats again to Mr. and Mrs. Soloman! You two have something really special!
For more information on our rehearsal dinners and weddings, click here!
Have a great day, y’all!
The Beauty of the Backup Plan
Posted on August 14, 2014
Did you know that in many cultures, rain on your wedding day is actually a sign of good luck?
However, despite the good fortune, most brides are hoping that for clear skies on their big day. But, as you know, you can’t control the weather (especially here in the Midwest where it is unpredictable). What you can control though is making sure that you have a back-up plan in case the drops start to fall. That is why we are so thankful to have a beautiful backup plan for rainy days at Faulkner’s Ranch!
We’re sure that Jessica and Tyler agree. After all, on June 28th it was a very rainy day for this sailor and his beautiful bride. While for some, that might mean the entire day is ruined, that wasn’t the case for them. Our Plan B was ready to go with all of the accommodations that they would need to let the wedding continue without a hitch and to keep their guests nice and dry.
Instead of having the ceremony outside under the arbor, we moved it into our banquet barn.
We’re sure that Jessica and Tyler agree. After all, on June 28th it was a very rainy day for this sailor and his beautiful bride. While for some, that might mean the entire day is ruined, that wasn’t the case for them. Our Plan B was ready to go with all of the accommodations that they would need to let the wedding continue without a hitch and to keep their guests nice and dry.
Instead of having the ceremony outside under the arbor, we moved it into our banquet barn.
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| Photo by CWeaver Photos |
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You would have never known that this wasn’t the original plan. A big reason for that is because of the wonderful attitudes of everyone involved. The family was so nice and the couple remained calm and flexible as decisions were being made. Evidence that their love will survive any rainy day.
Do you have an outdoor wedding planned? Here are a few things to consider if you are concerned about the weather:
1. Always have a backup plan and draw up a “wet weather” run sheet. Luckily, we already have that for you! That is one of the beautiful things about having a wedding at the Ranch. In addition to the lovely alternate indoor venue, we will also guide your vendors if a change of plans has to be made. There is no need for you to worry about those things. Let us take care of it!
2. Check the weather report that week. If your wedding is on a Saturday and you check the weather on Thursday to see an 80% chance of stormy weather, take that as an opportunity to call your vendors. For example, your florist may be able to secure more items or tailor them to your Plan B so that this location looks as good as it would have outdoors.
3. Think about your guests! It might be your dream to get married outside, but your guests won’t be near as happy (nor will they stick around as long afterward) if they are getting wet. Happy guests means a fun reception!
4. Protect your dress. You might be able to sneak outside at some point for photos. Make sure that you have a white sheet (many photographers bring one, but it doesn’t hurt to have one on hand) to place under your dress to keep it from getting wet and dirty. A few Shout Wipes on hand are also a good idea just in case you do have a run-in with a little mud.
5. Stay positive and flexible. This is your wedding day after all! You don’t want the weather to ruin one of the biggest days of your life. So, take some deep breaths, put all of the worry on your coordinator (that’s what we’re here for), and just have fun! While it can be a bummer to accept defeat to the rain, the sooner the decisions are made the better everything will flow. Plus, let’s face it – your day will be amazing no matter rain, sleet, wind, or snow!
Jessica and Tyler did just that and they had a truly beautiful wedding! And what do you know – the storm clouds passed and we were able to enjoy the reception outdoors!
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| Photo by CWeaver Photos |
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| Photo by CWeaver Photos |
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| Photo by CWeaver Photos |
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| Photo by CWeaver Photos |
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| Photo by CWeaver Photos |
Congratulations Jessica & Tyler! It was an absolute honor to host your wedding at the Ranch! We wish you both the very best!
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| Photo by CWeaver Photos |
For more information on how we can make your dream day come true, click here!
Have a great day, y’all!
What a Ball!
Posted on July 29, 2014
This summer, we were once again honored to host Kansas City’s debutantes for one of their Jewel Ball parties!
Leading up to the big Jewel Ball, the families of the debutantes host a series of parties. We’ve hosted them many times before at Benjamin Ranch, but this was their first time here at Faulkner’s. Needless to say, we were so excited to welcome them and show them a wonderful evening!
This evening was so magical!
They arrived via buses which is always a great way to get the party started. Upon arrival everyone was served fresh squeezed lemonade and popcorn to enjoy while they played the ranch recreation.
Then it was time to hop on the mechanical bull!
For dinner they enjoyed chicken, beef, and vegetable kabobs with roasted red potatoes, salad, corn, watermelon, and warm dinner rolls with butter. For dessert, there was warm fruit cobbler with vanilla ice cream. Yum!
See this beautiful decor? All of the fresh flowers you see were grown on one of the host family’s farms. They looked absolutely amazing! And those cute little mason jar cups you see above? Those were the adorable party favors!
After dinner the talented Dana and Donna Schirmer taught the group how to square dance. They had a blast! This is a great activity for any event because it helps everyone loosen up on the dance floor – even those “non-dancers”. Dana and Donna are great at teaching it too! They start out easy with the popular dances to fill the dance floor, then gradually they move everyone into squares to teach them the basics of square dancing. After 45 minutes, they are do-so-do’ing and promenading like pros! Of course, square dancing holds a special place in our heart since it was the very start of how Faulkner’s Ranch came to be!
The evening ended with a full dance floor and the Garry Lincoln Band jamming the night away!
There’s nothing quite like dancing to country music in front of the bandstand under the twinkle lights and starlight!
Thanks once again to KC’s Debutantes for choosing Faulkner’s Ranch! Y’all are just wonderful!
To see pictures of their beautiful Jewel Ball, click here!
Have a great day, y’all!
A Beattie-ful Wedding
Posted on July 24, 2014
It was a beautiful evening at the ranch on June 14th when Stephanie Shifflet married Keenan Beattie.
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| :: photo by Derfour Studios :: |
This wedding was perfect on every single level…
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Besides having an adorable bride and groom (so in love!), this wedding had all of the elements that make for a beautiful ranch wedding.
The cowboy hats and vests…
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A bride in boots..
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And just how handsome does the father of the bride look in his western suit and bolo tie?
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| :: photo by Derfour Studios :: |
The groomsmen also looked fantastic in their jeans, vests, and boots. We love that the groom was the only one to wear a cowboy hat – it really set him apart! His turquoise shirt helped make him stand out too and added that perfect pop of color to the pictures.
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| :: photo by Derfour Studios :: |
The bridal party was stunning as well! We love the different shades of turquoise used for their dresses. Each dress fit each bridesmaid’s personality.
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| :: photo by Derfour Studios :: |
Plus, we just couldn’t get over how unbelievable cute the flower girls’ dresses were…
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| :: photo by Derfour Studios :: |
Seriously! Too cute!
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| :: photo by Derfour Studios :: |
This wedding was also just full of wonderful ideas (take notes brides!).
First things first, the cake!
Any brides on a budget can use this idea.
See this cake?
See this cake?
Guess what – only the top of it was real! That’s right, the bottom three tiers were faux. They had separate sheet cakes to serve.
This is such a clever idea for a few reasons:
- It saves money.
- As Deborah from Cakes by Deb said, it allowed her to bake the sheet cakes fresh on the day of the wedding instead of a couple days in advance (they have to do that for decorating purposes on the tiered cakes) and the cake tends to dry out in that time.
- It is easier to cut and serve.
Their cake flavors were so yummy: Lemon Creme with Crystal Lemon Zest, Death by Chocolate, Pineapple Carrot, and Wedding White.
Delicious!
Delicious!
They also had the cutest party favors – candy pecans in burlap bags!
If you are stumped on what to do for a favor, you can never go wrong with any kind of sweet treat!
If you are stumped on what to do for a favor, you can never go wrong with any kind of sweet treat!
Another neat detail that we were absolutely obsessed with was their guestbook.
Well, it wasn’t so much a guest book as a guest picture. Their friends and family signed this gorgeous piece of art in lieu of a traditional guest book. What we love most about this is that they are going to hang it in their home where they can see it everyday!
Another idea we really enjoyed was how they re-purposed items to add to the rustic vibe.
Like this for example…
They put the program/schedule for the night on old window frames!
Check out this old cowbell transformed into a kissing bell!
This is such a fun idea for the reception. After all, the bride and groom can never kiss enough on their wedding day!
We also loved their use of signage. Signs are always a good idea to help direct the guests to where they need to be. Plus, when done like this they are just darn cute!
They even had special signs on burlap for the bride and groom’s chairs…
The drapery and lighting for this event was done by Innovative Lighting.
Drapery is always a great addition to the ranch. The combo of the soft flowy fabric and the rustic wood is visual interesting and helps create that rustic, romantic vibe.
Plus, we can never get enough twinkle lights!
We love how they draped them over the dance floor in front of the bandstand. It felt like we had traveled back in time to an old barn dance – so romantic!
Congrats once again to Mr. and Mrs. Beattie!
Your wedding was as beautiful as your love for each other!
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| :: photo by Derfour Studios :: |
Also, a special thanks to their photographer, J.D. de León from Derfour Studios, for sharing his pictures of the big day with us. Click here to like his Facebook page!
For more information on how we can make your dream day come true, click here.
Have a great day, y’all!
Wet and Wild with McDonald’s!
Posted on July 19, 2014
A couple of weeks ago the awesome folks of McDonald’s joined us at Faulkner’s Ranch for their Wet and Wild Company Picnic!
The Wet and Wild Package is one of our four exclusive company picnic packages. McDonald’s went all out with the activities and we were lovin’ it! (get it?!).
Seriously y’all, this picnic was SO MUCH FUN!
I mean, can we just talk about this awesomeness?!
This is the Surf the Wave Slip’n’Slide Inflatable. Needless to say, it was such a huge hit with everyone!
But wait, there’s more! Check out this super-fun game. It’s called Downpour Derby!
Downpour Derby is a one-of-a-kind water game where people of any age pump water as fast as they can to fill the bucket over their opponent’s head! The faster you pump, the sooner you tip the “downpour bucket” on the other person. A “tie” is lots of fun too! This game provides fantastic soaking fun for hot weather parties and special events – it’s a must have for any Wet and Wild Picnic.
McDonald’s also continued the Wet and Wild theme with a good ole fashioned game of leaky bucket and our dunk tank.
In addition to our Wet and Wild activities, their employees also enjoyed our other ranch activities such as the corn cannon, zip-line, cow milking, petting farm, and more!
McDonald’s also celebrated their employees by giving away some awards and recognitions. Some of these folks have worked at McDonald’s for 41 years – pretty amazing! There were lots of promotions to celebrate too and what a better place to do that then the company picnic!
Thanks once again to McDonald’s for choosing Faulkner’s Ranch! We had a blast with you guys!
For more information on our Wet and Wild package, as well as our three other company picnic packages, click here.
Have a great day, y’all!
Great Cakes!
Posted on July 12, 2014
One of our favorite things on Pony Party Saturday’s is seeing the awesome cakes that the mamas and papas bring to the table. Seriously, some of these look like they are from Cake Boss!
Just see for yourself…
We told ya they were amazing!
We are also loving the adorable and delicious trend of cupcakes and cake pops. Cake pops, along with cupcakes, are a great choice for a birthday party because they are easy to clean up.
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| From Ellie Kate’s Frozen Birthday |
Now we wanna know, if you could have any kind of cake at YOUR pony party, what flavor would you choose?
For more information on how you can have your little buckaroo’s birthday in our Indoor Pony Barn, click here.
Have a great day, y’all!
Catapult Into Fun!
Posted on July 11, 2014
On Friday, May 2nd, forty-one awesome folks from Catapult International, an international shipping software development company, joined us for a team-building extravaganza!
This was an amazing and inspiring group to have at the ranch.
For an idea on what they do, just check out this video:
This was an amazing and inspiring group to have at the ranch.
For an idea on what they do, just check out this video:
Near the end of the video, Matt Motsick, one of the owners talks about their company culture. He says, “We want to make sure we have happy employees because when you have happy employees you have a great amount of success.”
It was so apparent throughout the planning process leading up to their event that they truly do care about their employees. He, along with Bryan Luttrell, have created such a positive work environment for their group and it showed when they were all together at the ranch.
It was so apparent throughout the planning process leading up to their event that they truly do care about their employees. He, along with Bryan Luttrell, have created such a positive work environment for their group and it showed when they were all together at the ranch.
Most of the guests were out-of-towners, mainly from California, so they were excited to get in touch with their inner-country side. The international attendees were especially excited to get a taste of KC BBQ and to enjoy some real Midwest activities.
They arrived on buses ready for fun! After a warm welcome by their Ranch J, Ted, they enjoyed a delicious lunch. The menu included pulled pork, brisket of beef with all the fixins, and much more. So delicious!
After lunch, they were able to partake in some of our Ranch Rec activities such as horse shoes, washers, and tic-tac-toilet seat. Following the games, they had a short meeting with some recognitions and awards. For events like this, it is always nice to alternate between business and fun because it helps keep your employees energy up.
After the meeting, it was time to get down to some real business with Ranch Chores!
It was such a blast watching them do the team-building activities. After all, most of the attendees were IT or sales that work out of their homes, so many of them didn’t know each other well. What a better way to get to know your fellow employees than with some cow-milkin’, roller-ropin, tug-of-war, and more! Winners of the games went home with some awesome gift cards.
Throughout the chores there was a bar available and half-way through we provided a snack of cheese, crackers, and trail mix.
See that cowboy milking the cow? He is one of the two founders of the company. Christine got the chance to talk to him briefly after the event about his story and the journey that he went on to build this global company from scratch. He said it was a huge leap of faith, but that it takes assembling assembling the right people in the right places to succeed. Needless to say, we were very proud and honored to work with them here.
Thanks again to Catapult for choosing Faulkner’s Ranch! You guys really are an inspiration!
For more info on our Ranch Chores and Team-Building, click here.
Have a great day, y’all!
A Shout-Out to Our Ranch Hands
Posted on July 7, 2014
On June 19th we had a HUGE company picnic for the American Academy of Family Physicians for 800 people.
We were so excited to have them return to the ranch. Not only because they wore these awesome t-shirts…
…but also because they didn’t let a little rain spoil their fun!
Thankfully it didn’t start to rain until the very end of the party when most of the guests had already left. So, we took the opportunity to play in the rain with a fun game of water balloon toss. All of our amazing Ranch Hands even participated.
Speaking of our Ranch Hands, they are amazing. For those that don’t know exactly what a Ranch Hand is, they are trained to assist at each of our ranch specialties from the zip-line to the mechanical bull and more. It goes without saying that we couldn’t have the events that we do without them. Their behind the scenes efforts, friendly faces, and hard work are what make our events run smoothly.
On the day of this picnic, we had 27 ranch hands. They were so excited to cool off with a fun game of water balloon toss with our guests.
After all, work hard, play hard!
Can you spot Cowboy Bob?
We are so lucky to be able to work with such fun people! They really are the best!
Thanks again to the American Academy of Family Physicians for once again choosing Faulkner’s Ranch! We hope to see you again in another two years!
For more info on our fun Company Picnic Packages, click here.
Have a great day, y’all!
Sallaz Wedding
Posted on July 2, 2014
Ahh, we just LOVE wedding season!
It’s hard not to love it when you get the chance to work with wonderful couples like we do.
Couples like Shawna and Chuck. We were so excited to celebrate their special day with them on May 31st.
It was a PERFECT day!
Beautiful sunshine and beautiful guests!
The lovely couple was joined by about 100 of their closest friends and family and around 60 kiddos. Needless to say, Faulkner’s was the perfect venue for the little ones to stay entertained. They had the Wild Western Playground, Duck Races, and the ranch recreation right at their hands!
The wedding party was dressed so cute! These ruffled-denim dresses came from Cavender’s and were absolutely perfect for a ranch wedding.
So, SO cute, right?
The groom and his groomsmen looked so handsome in their dark wash jeans and button downs. We love how the groom stood out in his bright coral shirt. It really made him pop and it tied him to the coral necklaces that the bridesmaids wore (it’s those little details, y’all!).
And we couldn’t get enough of this flower girl’s dress. Look at the heart cutout in the back!
Of course, the bride looked STUNNING! She wore a short dress that was belted at the waist, complete with cowgirl boots. The look really fit her fun personality!
A little bit country and a little bit rock’n’roll!
A little bit country and a little bit rock’n’roll!
Aren’t they just the cutest?
As for the decor, our gal Kelly Acock from Monarch Flower Company blew it out of the park once again.
She used drapery to transform the arbor, as well as the pavilion entrance and exit.
Not too mention the twinkle lights that she used in the pavilion – magical!
One of the most important things to consider when you are planning your wedding is what your wedding colors will be. It’s important to not only choose colors that you love, but also colors that will fit in well with your venue and theme. The colors in this wedding were brown and coral, which was a beautiful combination and looked great against the ranch backdrop.
Of course, a great wedding is all in the details! We just loved the special rustic touches that could be seen everywhere from the card box to the signage to the cake.
Such a fun celebration! Thanks again to Chuck, Shawna, and their family for celebrating their special day with us!
Also, a special thanks to Kerri Miller of Rustic Owl Photography for letting us use some of her photos above.
For more information on how we can make your dream wedding day come true, click here.
Have a great day, y’all!
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