Summer Camp

With summer just around the corner, it is a great time to be thinking about horse camp! Kids of all ages enjoy spending the summer around horses. When I was a child, I attended many camps with horses, and I learned a lot about discipline, safety, and hard work. Most horse camps have about ten to fourteen kids per week, and there are usually two to three qualified instructors.

Some of the things taught in horse camp are grooming, riding, bareback, games, and safety. One of the kid's favorite things to do is bathe the horses. The horses usually enjoy this process too because it cools them off after a long ride. The games on horseback include capture the flag, four corners, and simon says. The games build teamwork skills among the kids and also provide a break from the hard work of lessons.

At the end of camp, there is usually an in-barn horse show for the parents to see the progress that the kids have made during the week. The kids like to dress the horses up for the show, and it is often an exciting and creative event.