All activities will be determined by each camper’s age, experience, and preference.
HORSE RELATED:
Fun Stuff~ Make horse treats, Learn to draw a horse, Teach your horse to bow, count, say yes/no, Come when called. Learn how to mount without a saddle. Horse games- egg and spoon races, canter competition, tied strings, ride a buck, tandem bareback, flag race, and more.
Riding/ all disciplines~ Independent, quiet, soft hands, Centered riding, Posting on the correct diagonal, correct position on horse, balance exercises, building a partnership with your horse, vaulting for confidence, bareback lessons, learn your arena dimensions- learn letter markers, 5,10, and 20 meter circles, center line, quarter line. Also conditioning programs for the rider, equitation vs. pleasure, safety lessons. Learn collected, working and extended gaits.
Showing(all disciplines)- proper attire, how to prepare, how to enter, grooming for the show ring, what is a class? How a class works/ Definitions of : open, amateur, pleasure, equitation, showmanship, aotr, aaotr, maiden, novice, gate hold, victory pass, etc.
Farrier lesson~ soundness/ purpose of trimming, pads, weights/ Types of shoes, hooves, etc. Corrective shoeing, club feet, quarter cracks, pigeon toes.
Jumping- walking a course, counting strides, 2 point position, follow through, what is a sight pole? Difference between Show Jumping and Cross Country. What is a jump off? Learn how faults are given and what that means.
Games~ Keyhole, pole bending, bridge, barrel racing: improving your time, calming your horse, staying off horses mouth.
Sport Horses (of Western and English)- proper warm up, cool down, protection legs, liniments that work, conditioning programs, etc.
Stable Management & Safety~ Barn maintenance, tack care, safety, fire hazards.
Trail Riding- How to pace and condition your horse, Trail courtesy, what to do after every hill, how to cross a river, how to calm a nervous horse, what to pack in your first aid kit. Basic trail first aid.
Nutrition- Supplements that work, proper hay/ grains for specific breed/ age, human foods that will make them shine for cheap, when to feed grain and when not to. Feeding schedules.
Vet Lesson~ Horse Anatomy/ Conformation, identifying faults, avoiding splints, How to know if your horse has stopped growing, health care program, how to worm, how to check for lameness, giving shots, proper maintenance of your horse. Horse science.
Foals halter training, leading, weaning, introducing to clipping, farrier, friends. How to tie, trailer, load, blanket, and lunge the young horse.
Horse Terms~ Definitions of: paddock, pad, all pieces of tack, pasture, rail, hunt, half halt, diagonal, spook, leg yields, colt, filly, mare, gelding, flaxen, learn all horse colors, difference between a jog & trot, a lope and canter, conformation faults, difference between a breed and a color, all horse parts, crop, green horse, under saddle, stall, and much more.
Guest speakers will include vets, farriers, trainers, and other professionals. All lessons will be hands on, no boring lectures or videos.
NON HORSE RELATED:
Swimming, hiking, Volleyball, badminton, croquet, flashlight tag, drama, bon fires, camping on the beach, singing, dance, environmental awareness, BBQs, sports, FUN!
6:30 a.m. Rise, breakfast, every camper responsible for cleaning up behind themselves. One camper each morning assigned to oversee that area is clean and table wiped clean.
8:30 a.m. Brush teeth, prepare self for going to barn. Long pants or shorts w/chaps, hard hat, crop, sunscreen, water bottle.
9:30 a.m. Catch up horse. (note: campers are never without counselor supervision even when using the buddy system.) Have a buddy to oversee opening and closing gate, securing animal in barn . Always keeping safety in mind of other horses and human safety, then return and help buddy. Groom horse thoroughly, fly spray (roll on when doing face, center of back with one complete strip on back of ears, center of face, and back of saddle area to point of tail. Tack up: saddle pad, saddle, bridle.
10:15 a.m. Lesson (adjusted to individual level of riding). You may ride Western, or any phase of English- Dressage, Hunt Seat, Show Hack, Jumper, or Cross Country.
11:30 a.m. Small group clinics on how to pick out great hay, grooming tricks for the show ring, teaching your horse to bow, mounting correctly, riding bridleless, etc. Clinics vary depending on the campers experience. But they are expansive enough to teach even the most advanced riders.
12:30 p.m. Lunch – all pitch in and help set table, clean up and put away.
1:30 p.m. Hang out at the barn, play with foals, swing under the shade tree, read horsey magazines, etc.
2:00 p.m. More clinics, with lots of hands on opportunities. No boring lectures ever!! (o:
3:00 p.m. Groom and tack up.
3:30 p.m. Ride, games, trail ride, depending upon group some days this time can go to swimming
4:30 p.m. Clean up and care for horse.
5:00 p.m. Campers clean themselves up and help prepare for ranch style barbeque dinner . We all eat outdoors by a bon fire. After dinner campers help clean up and put things away.
6:00 p.m. Can be voted on, perhaps a trail ride, work with young horses, games, sand or grass volleyball, nature walks, videos and popcorn, line dancing, card games, etc.
8:30 p.m. Songs and stories by the fire, roast marshmallows, S’MORES etc.
9:30 p.m. Campers clean up for bed, say goodnight, etc.
10:00 p.m. Lights out, nighty night!
This is a SAMPLE day at camp. Some days change, but in general this is what to expect. Some days include trail rides, treasure hunts, beach combing, soccer, swimming, touring Seattle, various games. The majority of the time is spent developing each camper into accomplished horse people.
Our number one priority is the safety of our campers. Campers are never with out counselor supervision. We only employ people we know well and who are VERY experienced in both teaching children and handling horses. They have also passed an FBI background check for the peace of mind of parents. Our horses have been through careful screening as well. They are all very mellow and suitable for complete beginners.
