It’s officially camp-planning season! If you have a child who loves to ride horses, then having them attend a horseback riding camp can be a great way to spend part of their summer. But as parents ponder summer camp choices, adding horses to the mix introduces a whole new level of inquiry. Here are some tips on how to choose the right horse camp for the summer.
Expectations
First, ask yourself what your and your child’s expectations from the horseback riding summer camp are. Do you want this to be a learning adventure, a character-building experience, something physically challenging, skill building, or just a plain summer fun for your child? Does your child want to learn about horses, how to care for them, how to ride them, or does he or she want just a pony ride? A lot of camps sell horse experiences, but that may mean riding a horse on a lead around a ring. Other camps also teach horsemanship: How to care for a horse, how to tack a horse and how to actually ride the horse. It’s a big difference. It’s important to choose a summer camp that matches your child’s interests and their riding level.
Level of Riding
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. To learn more about various horseback riding disciplines, check out the three-part series on this blog.
Research Online and in Person
Almost every horseback riding camp has its own website, or at least a dedicated web page on a larger site. You should be able to find a lot of useful camp information there, including camp’s location and contact info. Create a list of questions you really need answered, that were not answered by the camp website. Then call the camp; yes, even in the era of ‘live chatting’ and text messaging, you should really try to talk to someone ‘personally.’
With the web at our fingertip, you can easily “see” camps online for a cursory review of the facilities. Still, take a close look during your visit and when you drop your child off. Are the fences sturdy? Is it tidy? The stables should smell pleasantly of hay and horses. It should not smell like a super-sized version of a litter box. It should look well cared for, and the horses and ponies should be friendly, curious and contented. Older horses are fine, sometimes even better for the first-time campers, so you may not see lively, alert and energetic horses on display. Yet, the horses and ponies should always appear well cared for.
Camp References
Nowadays, a camp could also have an official Facebook page, or several ‘unofficial’ ones put up by previous campers. These would be good sources for testimonials and comments. These are typically all positive, so don’t be afraid to ask if you can speak to (or email) a previous parent or camper as a reference.
Horseback Safety
Verify if all instructors are certified (or trained) in CPR and basic first aid. Determine what happens if a camper is injured or becomes seriously ill. Helmets are a must. The camp rules should insist that participants wear helmets when riding or working around horses. These helmets must be horseback riding helmets that are properly certified. If any camp tells you that it’s okay for a kid to ride wearing a bicycle helmet or any other type of a helmet, run away! A bicycle helmet’s design could actually make a fall from a horse more dangerous. Campers should be able to bring their own riding helmets or camps should have a variety of helmets for kids to use at camp. Camp staff will help participants to find one that fits properly.
Riding Instructors’ Experience
You should always check on the experience level of those who will be directly in charge of your camper. Ask if the camp staff have experience with teaching your camper’s age group as well as their own riding experience and level of riding to make sure it matches your child’s needs and expectations. Not to mention, experienced instructors or horse trainers will keep your child safe!
Ground Skills
It is vital for beginner riders to understand how to “be” in a horse’s presence. Kids should learn about horses on the ground first. A reputable camp should teach children how to behave around horses on the ground and skills such as leading, grooming, and tacking and untacking (saddling). Ideally, they should also teach kids about horse psychology and behavior, horse anatomy, and first aid.
Get the Most out of the Camp
Most important, try to be supportive of your child learning new horsemanship skills. Riding with new instructors and having a chance to ride different horses can teach him or her a lot. Camp is also about meeting new friends. Even if your child is super shy, just smiling and saying hi to everyone, can help them make lots of new friends. Encourage them to exchange email addresses and stay in touch with the newly made friends so they can talk about all their horsey adventures during the school year.
Planning a great summer horseback riding camp experience, is like planning a great vacation. The more effort you can put into the planning, the better it will be. Summer camp can be one of the most personally rewarding and fondly remembered experiences in anyone’s life. Choosing the best camp for your camper is all about asking the right questions of the camp and listening closely to the answers.
