If you spend hours at school daydreaming about horses and time at home texting your barn friends about your latest lesson, you’re probably already thinking about how to get the most horsey time possible this summer. A summer horse camp might be for you!
Picking a horse camp isn’t always an easy decision. There are so many things to think about, like where you want to go, how long you want to stay, and what kind of riding you want to do. You’ll find lots of different options online, so here are some things for you and your parents to consider to help you find the best fit for you.
Keep in mind that the most popular sessions fill early, and discounts are usually only for earlybirds, so now is the time to dig in to all the options!
Safety First
Of all the things you should look for in a camp, safety is the most important.
The camp’s website should talk about safety practices and show a safe environment, such as riders wearing helmets and proper footwear, pastures with proper horse fencing, and counselors handling horses correctly. There should be information about the required qualifications for the camp counselors, too.
Riding and More
Decide what kind of riding interests you. Camps can focus on anything from general western horsemanship, jumping, or even something much more niche, like polocrosse. Many camps include opportunities to learn about horsemanship skills and horse health, which are very important.Â
Keep in mind that during those hot summer months, it’s unlikely you’ll be on the horse all day long. It’s important that you and the horses get a break from the sun and have a chance to drink lots of water!
If you’re really interested in riding the same horse for an entire camp session, make sure to ask if that’s the system they use. Some camps assign horses to campers, and others give you the opportunity to ride several different horses.
Day or Overnight?
The camp should have session durations that make you excited rather than nervous. Some camps are one to two weeks, while others can be a month or longer. Talk to your parents about the best schedule for you.
Day camps can be close to where you live. You don’t stay overnight, and you might not even stay at the barn the entire day. Sometimes the camp will provide lunch, and sometimes you’ll need to pack your own. However, you’ll definitely get horsey time.
Day camps, such as those offered by the Girl Scouts or your local YMCA, will likely include several different activities that don’t involve horses. Local barns in your area may offer day camps that are more horse-focused.
General sleep-away camps might be for you if you’re interested in horseback riding and other sports, such as swimming, archery, or arts and crafts. Just like day camps, there are many sleep-away camps that offer horseback riding as one of several activities.
The camp structure will dictate how many horse activities you participate in each day, and the duration of the camp will determine how often you’ll get time with the horses. It might be often, like twice a day, or horse time might be scheduled once or twice a week.
Equestrian-Focused Camps
Specialty sleep-away camps were made for the horse lover who can’t stop talking about horses, drawing horses, dreaming about horses, and wishing for any chance to learn about and be around horses.
These camps are often specifically equestrian-focused. Depending on the camp, counselors may focus on one discipline or a variety. Many will include trail rides as well as arena work. Some may offer camp horses and others might even offer the option to bring your own. Specialty sleep-away camps may still offer other activities, such as crafting, but the main focus of the camp is horses.
4 Ultimate Horse Camp Tips
If you like horses, a summer horse camp is a great idea. Keep these things in mind to make sure you have the ultimate camp experience.
1. Don’t be shy. If you tend to be more on the quiet side, get outside your comfort zone and say hi to someone. You just might leave camp with a new BFF!
2. Keep a diary. It might be tempting to text a friend back home about your horse, but sometimes writing down what happened on your ride each day (without having to worry about your cell phone battery dying) can be a great way to reflect on what you learned.
3. Bring sunscreen. Camp and lots of time outdoors in the sun go hand in hand, and there are few things worse than a terrible sunburn. Sunburns hurt and make the rest of your time at camp less enjoyable.
4. Enjoy yourself. Remember, it’s OK to feel homesick! This is a very normal feeling. Just remember that you’re at camp to have fun, meet new friends and learn more about horses. When you get home from camp, you’ll have lots of new horsey stories to tell your family and friends.
No matter what kind of camp you attend, if you’ve done your research, you’re sure to have a great time!
This article about finding a summer horse camp appeared in the January/February 2025 issue of Young Rider magazine. Click here to subscribe!
