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Meet the Full-Time Staff
 Miss Ellen
Ellen is a Level III certified English & Western horsemanship instructor through CCHI (Christian Camping Horsemanship International) which is a Christian organization that was started by the same man who started CHA (Certified Horsemanship Instruction) when the management of CHA decided not to continue to have Christ be the center of the organization. CHA founder “Uncle Bill” Wiley decided to allow CHA to continue on in its own path and to start another horsemanship instruction organization that would ALWAYS keep Christ at the center where He belongs!
 Casey
Casey is a Level IV certified English & Western horsemanship assistant instructor through CCHI (see above). Casey has been riding all her life and has 2 horses at PDR, Roamin’ and Ember who are used for trails and lessons.
Our 2008 RanchHands are top notch!
Most of the 2008 RanchHands wrote their own autobiographies this year... this is what they had to say about themselves:
 Kelly (weeks 1, 4 & 5)
I am 14-years-old and I will be a sophomore at Schoharie High School this year. I did HorseCamp last year and I’m a returning RanchHand. I don’t have any horses at my house so this is the only place where I’m around them.
I was actually debating whether to come back this year, so I prayed every night to see if I was supposed to come back this year and I never got an answer. Then one morning I woke up and I knew I had to come back this summer and ever since then I have been so excited!
I live in a house of 6 people with 2 sisters and 1 brother. When I was little I took riding lessons and rode both English and western.
 Tayla (week 1)
My name is Tayla, but I prefer to be called J.T. I have 3 horses and 1 pony. I have been riding for many years. I show my paint pony Mak in western classes. I have one brother who also rides and shows western.
Horses are my therapy. I If I didn’t have horses I would probably go crazy. Before I started riding I had many problems in my family, but after I started hanging out with my horses things got much better. I have been coming to Camp since I was 11.
I feel that riding and horses are God’s gifts to me.
 Elizabeth (weeks 2, 3 & 6)
I am 15 and I have loved horses ever since I saw a wild pony on Chincateague Island. I immediately demanded money for horse camp for my birthday, and when I came to Pinnacle Diamond Ranch I knew I was going to have the best summer ever!
I am deaf, but with cochlear implants so I can hear. I have two younger sisters who also have cochlear implants. They are not as experienced as I am with horses. I have a wonderful mom and dad who homeschool me. My sisters go to Christ the King Catholic School. I look forward to meeting young people and helping them get to know God more.
 Emily (weeks 4, 5 & 6)
I’m Emily. I am 15 years old and in 9th grade. This is my first year at this camp and I can’t wait to start! I live in western NY. My favorite sports are soccer, volleyball, football and tennis. I have been riding western for 4 years. I’ve tried to ride English, but I’m not very good and I’ve fallen off! I’m very grateful that my friend, Melanie has reintroduced me to horses and brought me to this Camp. I have one brother and one sister. I am the youngest in my family. I play the violin semi-professionally.
I can’t wait for this summer helping with the horses and having fun at the same time.
 Melanie (weeks 4, 5 & 6)
I am 15 and have 2 horses of my own, Lady and Jet. My love for horses began when I first laid eyes on a horse. I began riding at 6 and started taking lessons at 7. My mom bought me my firs horse at 11 and she is my life. I got into the sport f fox hunting in the fall with the Limestone Creek Hunt Club. Lady got too old to fox hunt and I no longer had a horse to ride, so my grandparents bought me Jet for my 14th birthday and after a little (well, a lot!) of work he is an amazing horse.
My mom and brother fully support me and my love for horses. My father left us before I turned 1 and it has been just the three of us for 14 years. I live near Syracuse and even though we don’t have much land for my horses, we have made it work and I could never ask for anything more perfect than to hear and see my horses every morning when I wake up. My horses to me is how Christ is in my life, live with me and how incredible He is. I am a Christian and have the most perfect life I could ever ask for. I ride bareback and prefer English way over western. Miss Ellen calls me the English brat! I found Camp Pinnacle after searching on the computer for hours. Pinnacle has filled the empty place in my heart and I have found another family here. It’s my home for sure. This is the most amazing place to be at any time of the year!
 Alyssa (weeks 3, 4 & 5)
Alyssa, or “Bottom” to her friends, comes to us from North Carolina. Alyssa is a really good rider who doesn’t get to ride often other than here at Camp.
She is excellent with the HorseCampers and has a sense of humor that keeps us all in stitches.
Alyssa is a writer and a poet whose family just expanded this spring when her mom got married and she gained 3 new siblings! Look for some of Alyssa’s work on our “Your Stuff” page.
 Amber (weeks 3, 4 & 6)
Amber was a HorseCamper last year and came back to Camp as a Camper, HorseCamper and RanchHand this year! Amber’s favorite horse in the barn is Yankee and she is really good with him.
Amber has had horses of her own and knows a lot about them She’s really good with horses on the ground and is a really good rider as well.
 Terrina (weeks 2 & 6)
Terrina, or “Tink” to her friends, is 16 and lives pretty close to Camp in Altamont. Terrina’s family has been involved at Camp for many years and will hopefully continue to be involved for many more!
Terrina has 2 horses, both Morgans named Blue and Kid - yup, the Kid who is in the pasture up here at Camp! Terrina takes lessons at another barn throughout the year and rides a LOT. She is very comfortable with horses both on the ground and in the saddle and is a really good rider.
 Mercedes (weeks 2, 3 & 4)
Sadie has been coming to Camp Pinnacle for a couple of years and has been riding for many! She is excellent with horses both in the saddle and on the ground. She has been riding for a long time, and is an excellent teacher as well as a really good rider.
Sadie has one brother and lives with her Mom in Catskill, NY. Sadie has put in her application for Youth Board and to be a CIT so we hope to see a lot more of her in the near future!
If you are interested in being a RanchHand at Camp Pinnacle’s Pinnacle Diamond Ranch, please feel free to print and fill out an application and send it to:
RanchHand Application
621 Pinnacle Road
Voorheesville, NY 12186
Attention: Ellen Preckel
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