Horse Camps
“Horse Camps – The Top Factors When Selecting a Horse Camp By Lisa Blackstone”
Horse camps are a great introduction to basic horsemanship and riding for young kids. Although the focus of the camp will be to teach your child riding skills, campers will also learn other important elements of horse ownership and care.
• Proper grooming techniques along with learning how to pick up all four hooves and clean them safely.
• The tack the horse wears and how to properly put it on the horse and adjust it to fit.
• Cleaning and taking care of their tack and how to properly store the equipment to protect it.
• Conformation of the horse, the parts of the saddle and parts of the bridle.
• And, miscellaneous topics regarding veterinary care, farrier care and proper feed and water.
“Finding The Right Horse Camp for Your Child”
Find the right place for your child. Ask for referrals from parents of other horse loving kids. Ask the local feed store, tack store, veterinarians and other horse professionals.
Make sure the facility is clean and well run. Ask to see the tack room, the bathroom, the rest area. Are things orderly, neat and organized? This will be a good reflection of the quality of the camp being offered and the level of professionalism in the instructor.
“Horses that are Push Button Trained and Not Excitable”
Ask what horses are used in the camps. Are they well seasoned, very broke, quiet and dependable? They should be “old troopers” who are push button trained and not excitable.
Besides riding, find out what other activities the camp offers your child. You cannot ride 6 hours a day! They will learn about all aspects of horsemanship, but hopefully, they will also have a chance to swim, engage in arts and crafts or some other similar activity.
“Important… What’s the Ratio Of Adults to Children?”
Ask how many instructors there are. What is the ratio of adults to children? Obviously, you will want sufficient adult supervision to keep the kids safe and on task!
From a parents’ standpoint, find out if there is a fee for early drop off or for a late pick up. Does the camp provide lunch or should your child pack a lunch each day? Be sure they provide plenty of good drinking water.
Campers will be required to wear a helmet. I would advise that you purchase a certified helmet that fits your child perfectly. The camp will probably have helmets for you to borrow, but be sure it fits just right.
If the get the right answers to these questions, you will likely have found a good camp for your child to learn all about horses. Don’t hesitate to use the internet to search for childrens horse camps. There are many good riding camp resources that will be helpful to you. And, besides the kids, think of a good family vacation to one of these horse riding ranch camps. They are lots of fun for all ages!
Good luck and happy camping!
Well… I hope this information helps you find the right horse camp for your child.
Lisa Blackstone
American Horse Association
If you want to know more about equestrian saddles or horses lessons in general visit www.RidingSaddlesGuide.com, www.HorseandRiderClub.com, www.HorseRidingSaddlesGuide.com or www.AmericanHorseAssociation.com
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