Dave’s World

 

What does one call a father, a brother, a mentor, a friend? In this case, his name is Dave and I was lucky enough to meet him when I was 8 years old. And now, many many years later, my boys ages 7 and 12, got to meet Dave at his horse farm, Heritage Acres, and experience Dave’s World too.

 

 

 

left: Dave gives the Big Dude instructions on driving a four wheeler.

 

 

 

 

right: The Lil’ Dude explores a nearby creek.

 

 

 

 

 

It all began when I joined the swim team at the West Shore “Y” in Cleveland, Ohio. Dave was the swim coach and Youth Director. He not only taught me how to be a better swimmer, he also taught me how to teach swimming. Through his guidance (and misguidance) he managed to take a ragtag group of kids and turn them into a family of sorts who found the “Y” a place to grow, learn, teach, have fun and earn their first paychecks.

 

 

below: New babies on the farm:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The “Y” was my home away from home. Under Dave’s tutelage, the kids in the Leaders Club taught classes, worked the desks, did pool and ground maintenance and worked as camp counselors at his summer camps. In our youthful eyes, “we ran the Y!” I remember my first paycheck for $19.00. I was quite proud of it. He gave us opportunity and responsibility in equal measure and for the most part (barring a few digressions here and there) we rose to the occasions.

 

 

 

left: The Lil’ Dude (sitting on the bench) observes riding lessons.

 

 

 

right and below: The Lil’ Dude saddles up and takes a lesson.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But, it wasn’t all work and no fun. Dave stirred an adventurous spirit in all of us by taking   us on cycling trips in Ohio, skiing trips in New York, canoeing trips in Canada and I even hiked to my first summit, Mt. Marcy, on a backpacking trip he led to the Adirondack Mountains. At ages 14 and 15, I traveled to North Carolina and lived with he and his wife to work at his summer camps there. Forty years later, there is a group of us who grew up with Dave at the “Y”, who still stay in touch.

 

 

 

left and below: A painting party to spruce up the jumps.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dave eventually left the “Y”, bought a run down horse farm in Pennsylvania and started teaching kids to ride. He has since grown the business boarding 50 -60 horses and hosting 14 horse shows a year in addition to the classes. I anticipated that his farm was going to be a fun and easy stop for us to make on our way through Pennsylvania. What I didn’t anticipate is what would happen next.

Below: The Lil’ Dude “attached” himself to “Burger” and worked HER for two days. She has been with Dave since she was about 11 years old.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

right: You never know when you’re going to need a hoof pick.

 

Within 24 hours of our arrival, the Dudes were no longer “ours”. They very quickly assimilated and became part of Dave’s “barn family”. The Lil’ Dude would get up early, get dressed, eat breakfast, brush his teeth and sprint out the door before I could make my first cup of tea and all without prompting. Normally it takes a painful 12-15 reminders for him to just get his clothes on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

left: The Big Dude removes swallows nests from the indoor arena.  right: The Lil’ Dude shovels sawdust for the stalls.

 

above: The Big Dude hauls trash to the dumpster using the tractor.

 

Maybe it was the novelty, maybe it was the other kids, I’ll never know. But, they both became totally engaged. At a time in our culture when kids seem to be languishing, lost and unmotivated, it brought a tear to my eye to see them totally turned on even to clean horse stalls! I believe the real reason is that Dave, has once again, created a unique family, a valuable environment for kids to learn, grow and have fun.

 

 

 

left: “Burger” takes the Lil’ Dude for his “drivers” test.

 

 

 

 

 

right: The Lil’ Dudes receives his official Heritage Acres golf cart driving license. (despite the fact that he ran into his Mother)

 

 

 

 

 

left: The Lil’ Dude shuttles the girls out to the pasture to bring the horses in.

 

 

right: The Big Dude found all kinds of reasons to drive the golf cart too.

 

 

 

 

Of course it helped that there were things to do like drive golf carts, four wheelers and tractors – a boy’s dream!  The farm was like a Disneyland for them where everything was exciting even the chores. They took it upon themselves to join in the bustling activity around the barn and help with whatever chores needed to be done and would spend the whole day there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

left: We watch an ultrasound being performed on the leg of an injured horse.  below right: The Lil’ Dude learns how to shoe a horse.

 

above: “Barn cats” Moe and Batman.

 

We ended up staying a few extra days because our tow bar was broken and the new part was delayed in shipping. But, it worked out well because I don’t think any of us would have been ready to leave any earlier.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

left and below: The Big Dude and Hippygeek saddle up for a family trail ride.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On our last day, Dave, unexpectedly, handed the Dudes each an envelope. Their eyes became very wide as they peered into their envelopes followed by a look of pride. Inside was a “paycheck”, their first ever.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 above: Another generation of “Dave’s kids”

 

I was excited that the Dudes got to meet Dave and experience a little bit of what I experienced during my childhood. I also wonder how many other kids, like me, Dave has influenced in a profound way.

 

 

“Every kid needs a mentor. Everybody needs a mentor.”  Donovan Bailey