You’ve waited months for this—it’s finally time to reserve your spot at horse camp! You need to do this in January or February to avoid camps running out of space or so you can get an early-bird discount. Here are some questions to think about to make sure you’re making the best decision.

Do you want to attend a day or overnight camp?

If you’re on the younger side, it’s best to ease into camp by attending a day program and then coming home every night. Once you’ve gone through a few summers and get the hang of camp this way, you may be ready for overnight and more intensive programs.

How far do you want to go from home?

When it comes to overnight camp, distance from your home is important to consider. If a camp is 10 hours away and you decide you don’t like it and want to come home, it may not be possible for your parents to come get you immediately. Think about finding a camp that is close enough to be con-venient while still having all of the activities you want.

What is your parents’ budget for camp?

Your parents will want to come up with a budget for your camp experience. Camps can vary widely in price, so this is super important. You don’t want to get your heart set on one that your par-ents can’t afford to send you to.
Usually this information is avail-able on the camp website. You may end up having to go for fewer weeks if your camp of choice turns out to be a more expensive option, but together with your parents, you can decide what type of trade-off makes sense.

Do you want an all-horse camp?

There are two types of camps with horses: those where horses are one of many available activities (where you may only spend an hour or two each day at the barn), and those camps where horses are the focus almost all day long.
“All horse, all the time” camps are usually easy to pinpoint by their ads and websites, but make sure to have a parent call up to find out exactly what the daily schedule looks like. You don’t want to get there and find out “horse camp” is actually swimming, archery, sports, crafts and a million other things when all you wanted was a horse-crazy experience!

How much time will you spend in the saddle?

As part of the investigation into your camp options, find out how much time you’ll get in the saddle. Will there be multiple rides per day, like a jumping lesson plus a trail ride? Will you get to work in the barn, if that’s important to you? Some camps may saddle the horses for you so you just have to hop on for your lesson.

Will you ride one camp horse or several?

Some horse camps may allow you to bring your own horse from home, but we recommend trying a new horse so you can experience something different. If you aren’t going to be riding your horse, find out if you’ll get to ride the same camp horse all week so that you get to bond and learn his quirks. Maybe you can switch from western to English (or vice versa) so that your camp experience is really fresh and new.

Many camps end in a horse show for campers, which is great fun as your parents get to watch and take pictures of all the new skills you’ve picked up.

Can you visit first?

If at all possible, it’s always best to visit a camp before deciding. Many have open houses in early spring so you can meet the owners and managers. This will give you a good feeling about whether or not it matches up with what you’re looking for. It may even give you a head start on meeting your new camp friends, one of the best parts of all! These kids can become your pen pals or BFFs as you continue on your horse-crazy journey through life.

This article on choosing a horse camp appeared in the January/February 2020 issue of Young Rider magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Choosing a Horse Camp appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Sending your child to any camp requires research, and horse riding camps are no different. The search can be overwhelming, so we’ve compiled some information to help you find a camp, pack for the camp and more.

Types of Summer Horse Riding Camps

One of your first steps in your search for the perfect summer horse camp is to decide what kind of camp you want your child to attend. Various factors should weigh into this initial decision.

• Length of camp term:

  There are camp options ranging from day camps to week-long camps to even month- and summer-long overnight camps. Your child’s comfort level of being away from home is an important factor in deciding what camp format is best.

• Horse ownership:

  Many camps have their own horses for campers to ride, and some camps allow or require you to bring your own horse.

• Riding facilities:

  Some camps are strictly arena-based, some are strictly trail-based and others are a mixture of the two.

• Riding discipline:

  There are so many different disciplines within the horseback riding sport: English, western, trail, hunter/jumper, eventing, dressage, vaulting, reining and more. Some camps offer a variety of disciplines while others focus on one or two specific disciplines.

• Riding format:

  Some camps will assign a specific horse to each rider for the duration of the camp, and others will purposely rotate riders and horses. Additionally, some camps ride twice or even more than twice a day while others ride once and day and then focus on other traditional camp-related activities, such as swimming and arts and crafts, for the remainder of the day.

If your child is interested in riding but has not yet had the opportunity to ride, make sure the camp you choose has experience introducing young riders to the horse world.

How to Find a Reputable Summer Horse Riding Camp

There’s no one way to know if a camp will be a perfect fit for your child. However, there are some things you should absolutely confirm before dropping your child off for his or her horse-filled days.

Consider:

• Safety:

  The camp’s website and marketing materials should promote safe horsemanship and horse keeping. For example, riders should be wearing helmets, horses should appear to be in good health, and facilities and fencing should look well maintained.

• Recommendations:

  The Internet is full of various forums and feedback tools for all sorts of businesses. While it’s hard to know if everything is believable, do take some time to see what others have written about a camp. Your research will allow you to generate some good questions for the camp staff. You can also ask around your local horse community for recommendations.

• Instructor qualifications:

  Make sure to find out the qualifications for camp staff and camp counselors. A reputable camp will have a hiring process that requires staff and counselors to have a wealth of horse knowledge as well as a passion for teaching and a clear emphasis on safety.

What to Bring to Summer Horse Riding Camp

The list of what to bring to a horse camp is likely never ending. Every child has his or her favorite items and necessities. However, here’s a starting point for the horse-related items:
Make sure to bring:

• An ASTM/SEI certified riding helmet. We recommend one with ventilation since it’s often quite warm in the summer months. Most camps will have loaner helmets available, but for safety and hygiene, it’s preferable for campers to have their own.
• Shoes with a heel (These can be cowboy boots, paddock boots or tall boots. No matter what style, riding shoes should have a small heel to prohibit the shoe from potentially slipping through the stirrup.)
• Tall socks
• Riding pants (Breeches/jodhpurs or jeans – whatever your child prefers and the camp recommends. If your child is going to any kind of overnight camp, make sure to pack several pairs.)
• Riding shirts (These can range from comfortable t-shirts to specifically designed horseback riding shirts. No matter what shirt style you pack for your child, make sure it is a breathable fabric. Keep in mind that riding and barn work are hard on clothing—if your camper has a favorite outfit that they’ll want for the school year, don’t send it with them to horse camp!)
• At least one large, insulated water bottle (Hydration is incredibly important for any athlete. Horseback riders are no exception!)
• Sunscreen and bug spray
• Gloves (optional depending on rider preference and camp recommendations)
• Camera. In an effort to encourage kids to unplug, some summer camps prohibit use of electronics, including cell phones. But you can send along your old point-and-shoot so your camper can snap some shots of his or her friends and favorite camp horses.
• And any specific camp-recommended items

If you choose to send your child and his or her horse to a camp, the camp should provide a specific list of what you need to pack for the horse.

What Your Young Rider Will Learn at Summer Horse Riding Camp

Every camp is unique, and what your child will learn at his or her summer riding camp will also be unique. What you can hope is that your child will return to you with can include:

• Even more horse stories to share
• More general horse knowledge, such as the anatomy of a horse, proper grooming and hoof care, different horse colors and horse breeds, general horse health and more
• Safety around horses and when riding
• Experience riding in a new place
• Experience riding a new horse or horses
• New horse-crazy friends
• New riding exercises

No matter what kind of summer horse riding camp you and your child pick for his or her horse-filled summer, remember that with safety in mind and you and your child’s expectations and goals driving the decision, you won’t go wrong.

At great summer horse riding camps, the passion for horses and the joy of sharing horse knowledge with others undoubtedly brings together a wonderful and incredible group of staff and counselors who will do everything in their power to help your child have the best horse-filled summer possible.

The post Summer Horse Riding Camps appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Choosing a Camp

Assuming you want your camp experience to be centered around horses and riding, this is a good place to focus your camp search. Look for a camp that is a good fit for your riding level and the amount of time you want to spend in the saddle.

Some camps only offer basic trail riding or introductory riding experiences. Others might specialize in beginner-friendly lessons. If you want more advanced instruction in a specific type of riding, like barrel racing or jumping, for example, check around for camps that offer opportunities for more experienced riders. Ask about the instructors’ backgrounds: Are they certified by any riding sport or equestrian group, or the Certified Horsemanship Association? Find out how long the horses have been with a particular camp if you want seasoned, experienced mounts.

If you want to balance your riding with other activities, like arts and crafts or swimming, add those to your search list.

Have your parents check that your camp is accredited by the American Camp Association, which means the camp meets over 300 standards to keep campers and staff safe, healthy and happy. You can also ask friends at the barn for their camp recommendations, look at camp ads in Young Rider, or search online.

When to Enroll

Popular camps and in-demand dates fill up fast. If you want a particular week or riding activities, you may have to enroll as early as January. There will often be “early bird” discounts through the month of February.

In the spring, many camps hold open house events. If you and your parents have a chance to visit in person, you can see if the camp feels like a good fit and know what to expect when you get there.

Get the Most out of Camp

Try to be open about learning new horsemanship skills. Riding with new instructors and having the chance to ride different horses can teach you a lot.

Camp is also a great place to explore all kinds of riding activities. For example, if you ride eventing, maybe you’ll learn how to ride hunters and jump a course more smoothly than ever before! Or perhaps you can add vaulting to your skill set—gymnastics on horseback is tons of fun and helps with balance and confidence.

Camp is also about meeting new friends. Even if you’re super shy, just smile and say hi to everyone, and you’re sure to make lots of new friends! Exchange addresses or emails and stay in touch with your new pen pals so you can talk about all your horsey news during the school year.

What to Pack for Horse Camp

Camps usually supply a detailed packing list, but here are some tips from our camp pros.

All of our experts recommend leaving cell phones and tablets behind. There will be land lines at camp in case of any emergency, and you can get a better experience by focusing on the horses and your new friends without digital distractions.

• Boots that fit well are a must-have. Break in new riding boots before camp so that you won’t get blisters. Pack extra socks so you always have a dry pair to keep feet comfy.
• It’s also a good idea to bring your own helmet. Most camps provide helmets, but you’ll stay safe and comfortable with one that you know fits you perfectly.
• Take long-sleeve shirts to ride in so that you don’t get burned (even with sunscreen!) while spending long summer days outside. Also pack layers for those chilly mornings or cool evenings around the campfire.

Now you’re ready to head out to the perfect camp and make lifelong friends and memories!

Special thanks to the following for help with this article: Forrestel Farm Riding Camp (forrestel.com), Valley View Ranch (valleyviewranch.com), Certified Horsemanship Association (cha.horse), and Camp Friendship (campfriendship.com).

This article originally appeared in the March/April 2019 issue of Young Rider magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Choose the Right Horse Camp appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.