Summer Horseback camp--how do I search for one?

[HappyCamperToo]

Hi,
DD13 wants to go to a sleep-away summer camp for horseback riding. I tried googling, but can't seem to find one. We're looking for something no more than 3 hours drive from our home, which is about 1 hour west of Chicago. I can't seem to find the right search engine. Keep coming up with places too far, or that don't really specialize in horseback riding.

HELP. Any ideas???

Thanks.

 

[Disfan1]

Have you tried this one?

Camp CILCA Outdoor Ministries
Cantrall, Illinois, USA Phone: 217-487-7497
Year-round Christian Retreat Center & Summer Camp for all ages. Special camps: Bike, Volleyball, Drama, Sports, Rocketry, Divorce, FatherSon, Canoe, MotherDaugher, Horse, Night Owl, FamilyCamps, Senio

I work for a magazine that hosts a Camp Expo every year but this is the closet camp to Chicago that I could find in our database.

Good Luck!

 

[clh2]

Have you checked out Hoofbeat Ridge? It is in Mazomanie Wisconsin, about 1/2 hour west of Madison.

My DD will be going for the 3rd summer this year. She loves it there. They also do a wonderful camp in between Christmas and New Years.

Their website is not the best IMHO, but don't let that deter you.

Hoofbeat Ridge

There are several weeks already full, but there are some openings.

If it works for your schedule, IMO, and my DD's opinion, the best of the weeks that are left are July 23-29 and Aug 6-12, since those weeks they do a Mystery Trip during those weeks. It generally isn't a mystery, they've gone to the Kalahari (a water park in Wis. Dells( for the day) the last couple of years.

Good Luck.

My DD 12, LOVES this camp!!!

 

[PrincessCLM]

Don't know if this is helpful, but I went to sleep away Horseback riding camp through Girl Scouts a couple times.

 

[HappyCamperToo]

Thanks for the tip!!

I checked out their website--I don't think this one will work for us, but I appreciate the lead.

We have a resident camp at a ranch somewhat near us that offers a trail ride or two each day, but DD is hoping for less general "camp" stuff and more "horse" stuff.

I think I'll ask one of our librarians if she has any ideas about where I can look. When I get really desperate, and given that it's May next week, I'm almost there, I'll probably call all the stables near us to see if they've heard of any and are willing to share a name.

I was just hoping there was some way to find them off the internet. The camp I knew about didn't even pop up, so I'm just not sure how these search engines work.

Thanks again!

 

[HappyCamperToo]

Don't know if this is helpful, but I went to sleep away Horseback riding camp through Girl Scouts a couple times.

Good idea, too!

Still, I've got to search for a camp that is "more" horse than the Girl Scout horse camps around here are. I will call council though and check into it. Maybe the programs have changed since I last looked. Also, maybe they'll have catalogs or info from other councils.

Thanks for posting!!!!

 

[HappyCamperToo]

Have you checked out Hoofbeat Ridge? It is in Mazomanie Wisconsin, about 1/2 hour west of Madison.

My DD will be going for the 3rd summer this year. She loves it there. They also do a wonderful camp in between Christmas and New Years.

Their website is not the best IMHO, but don't let that deter you.

Hoofbeat Ridge

There are several weeks already full, but there are some openings.

If it works for your schedule, IMO, and my DD's opinion, the best of the weeks that are left are July 23-29 and Aug 6-12, since those weeks they do a Mystery Trip during those weeks. It generally isn't a mystery, they've gone to the Kalahari (a water park in Wis. Dells( for the day) the last couple of years.

Good Luck.

My DD 12, LOVES this camp!!!

OMG I almost missed your post, as we're all posting at the same time!!!

I'm checking the link you posted right away!!

Thanks!

 

[clh2]

Just another thought on where to find a horse camp - again I am totally biased in favor of Hoofbeat

Someone mentioned Girls Scout Camp - Camp Alice Chester (which is part of the Milwaukee Girl Scouts) is about 15 or 20 miles southwest of Milwaukee, has some horse related camps. Unfortunately, it looks like the horse-related camp for older girls has been cancelled - I am assuming your DD would have been in the 7th-11 grades.

Milwaukee Girl scout overnight camps

Another idea is to ask at an equestrian store. Although I've not been to Hall Saddlery lately, they are just west of Milwaukee, they seem to really be "in the know" about anything going on related to horses. If you want to call this store, they are extremely helpful, and if they have any ideas on other horse camps, they'll pass them along. Their phone number is (262) 782-4499.

If you have any questions about Hoofbeat, just let me know. If I don't know the answer, I'll just ask my DD.

 

[HappyCamperToo]

If you have any questions about Hoofbeat, just let me know. If I don't know the answer, I'll just ask my DD.

If you get a chance, would you please ask your daughter if she could roughly estimate how many hours out of a typical 12 hour day she spent actually with a horse? (riding, grooming, etc.) DD was at a camp last year (White Pines Ranch in Oregon, IL) where it was only 1-2 hours per day, and she definitely wants more than that. She liked that camp, she just wants more now.

Thanks for all the leads!! I 'm not sure why you thought their website wasn't much to look at--it looks good to us!

 

[Jennasis]

I do a summer horse camp. We don't do sleep away, but I can give you some pointers for researching any potential camps:

1. Do the horses look healthy (no ribs showing, well groomed)?

2. Does the stable area look/smell like it's being taken care of? ALL barns will have a "horsey smell" but it shouldn't be overpowering.

3. Staff credentials. Watch (if you can) some of the staff working with the horses or teaching a riding lesson. MAke sure their demeanor is one that will mesh with your child. There should NOT be junior high school age children teaching your children to ride. Get references.

4. Do the saddle and equipment look to be in good repair (clean, no popped stitching)?

5. Assuming you are familiar with horse equipment, there should not be ANY harsh bits or gadgets used by the campers to control the horses (no side reins, no draw reins, no german martingales, no bit burs, NO SPURS). I prefer all my horses to go in simple snaffle bits especially in the hands of a novice, but certainly no gag bits/elevator bits/hackamores/anything with a shank or curb chain. However, if it is a western riding camp, a bit with a short shank and curb strap are ok, since they will be neck-reining and not pulling directly on the hroses mouth.

6. In a typical 12 hour day of horse camp, there should be NO MORE than 4 hours of riding per day (that would be 2 hours in the am and 2 hours after lunch). In the summer heat, exhaustion sets in quickly for both the horse and an enthused rider. There can (ands should) be additional "horse time" spent grooming, bathing, cleaning tack, mucking out stalls, learning about all aspects of horses etc. And...

7. I totally believe that any camp worth their salt should absolutely be having the campers do all the routine barn work (with help and guidance from staff) including mucking our stalls and paddocks, cleaning and refilling all water troughs and buckets daily, feeding the horses, turning them out and bringing them in. EVERY horse-person should well-versed in these particular jobs...it's all part of the package.

8. A mix of other activities like swimming arts/crafts etc.

9..oh yeah...NO riding without a helmet...EVER! Also no riding without long pants on (preferably breeches if riding English, but jeans are fine) and they must wear a boot with a heel (sneakers are DANGEROUS footwear for riding).

For example, my day campers show up at 8am and stay until 1pm doing all things horsey (riding, equine education etc), they eat lunch at noon and then at one they are bussed to their afternoon activity (swimming, arts and crafts, a field trip or two) and picked up at 5pm at the rec center. Each Friday we invite the parents to come and watch what their kids have learned, sort of like a mock-show (no ribbons or prizes awarded) but each kid gets a picture of them with their equine partner to take home.

Good luck in your search!

 

[Hannathy]

My DD is a horse nut and she said to check in the Horse magazines like Horse and Rider, Equus, there are a few more check in the library.

We have found the problem with the Girl Scout camps are they generally only do the Horse part for a couple days in the middle and like my DD, your DD wants horses everyday

Wisconsin United Methodist Church has a reasonable priced Horse camp-Whispering Pines, where they ride everyday and spend a lot of time with the horses but it is in the Northwest part of the state so further West than you wanted. My DD did enjoy this camp. Many were out of our price range.

I'm sure you googled horse camps. Good Luck my DD would like to go but with softball, soccer,History Camp, spending a week in PA, I'm not sure it is in the budget money or time wise.

 

[BrerLizzie]

My DD is a horse nut and she said to check in the Horse magazines like Horse and Rider, Equus, there are a few more check in the library.

Young Rider usually has a lot of camp adds.

 

[MosMom]

St. Mary's of the Woods college near Terre Haute, IN has a horse camp. We're considering it for my daughter. www.smwc.edu is the website and there is a spot at the bottom that says "Camp at the Woods".

 

[tkd lisa]

If I were you, I'd check again into the Girl Scout camps. My DD did one (granted, when she was a junior) at Camp Potomac Woods in VA. They spent most of the day at the barn. 2 hours riding morning and afternoon, worked with the horses, and general training the other times. I know they spent about 1 hour each day going over videos of the different types of equestrian events. They bussed from camp to the barn, ate lunch at the barn and bussed back to the main camp. The only things they did at the main camp were breakfast, dinner, and campfire.

Even if your local council doesn't have one, if there's a nearby council, you can apply to go out of council.

 

[PrincessCLM]

Good idea, too!

Still, I've got to search for a camp that is "more" horse than the Girl Scout horse camps around here are. I will call council though and check into it. Maybe the programs have changed since I last looked. Also, maybe they'll have catalogs or info from other councils.

Thanks for posting!!!!

I don't know what your's are like, but the one I did you ate breakfast at camp, spent the rest of the morning at the barn, ate lunch at the barn, spent the afternoon at the barn, and only came back to the camp in the late afternoon for dinner and "nightime" activities. I think we did get to go swimming a couple times, but the majority of your time definitely was spent with the horses and riding. I'd ask the councils to clarify how much time is actually spent riding vs other camp activities.

 

[clh2]

HappyCamper - My DD won't be home tonight until about 9, but I will ask her what a typical day is like. I forgot to mention I have 2 nieces who also go to Hoofbeat, one will be there for her 2nd time this summer, and the other will be there for her 3rd summer this year.

 

[clh2]

OK HappyCamper - this is what my DD told (assuming I remembered it)before I made her go to bed.

1 or 2 times per week, each group of girls gets the opportunity to do "early barn" which is grooming and saddling the horses, before breakfast. (smiley courtesy of DD)

A typical day is:

get up - get ready
go to breakfast
Riding lessons (about 1 hour)
Horse Science (about 1 hour) which is learning stuff about horses, including dental stuff, the herd pecking order, and grooming and other topics.
Activity of your choice

Lunch

"me" time (i.e. they can write letters home read a book )
Riding - about an hour, this varies between bareback, games, trail rides
Sports-related activity
Crafts-related activity
horse chores

Dinner

After dinner, the rest of the night depends on the day, it might be fires, games (they have a human checker board) , free time, cabin time etc.

Trading post
Showers
Bed

Hope this helps

And to address some of the comments the person who works at a horse day camp - Hoofbeat absolutely requires helmets, they require them to be SEI. Yes, the campers learn something about horses, as well as doing their share of horse-related chores. I wouldn't know anything about horse bits - and I wasn't close enough to see the shape of the saddles.

 

[makinorlando]

Very good information! My DD did horse day camps for the past two summers - one week the first year, and three weeks last year. It was really great for her, as we don't have our own horse (yet), and even though during lesson they have to groom, tack, and untack, and rinse down the horse afterward, this gave her an idea of what goes on all day, and that it can be hard work.

I love the shows on Fridays. They were always fun. To see girls (for the most part) that were really afraid of the horses in the beginning to the confidence to ride in the show!

DD is taking a hiatus from lessons, so I don't think she will be doing camp this year... but who knows!

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WOW - Hoofbeat is very reasonable... $577 for a week? I paid 1/2 that for 1 week of day camp......
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[HappyCamperToo]

OK HappyCamper - this is what my DD told (assuming I remembered it)before I made her go to bed......

Thank you so much!

And thank you everyone else who had suggestions for how we could go about finding a horse camp.

Boy, Hoofbeat sounds great! I'll bet we're too late to get in this year, but with advance planning, next year is a good bet! Plus I'll be, hopefully, a bit more comfy with her being so far away while doing a sometimes/potentially dangerous sport.

Again, many thanks all!!!!!!

 

[kendall]

My DD went to Albion (MI) College's summer riding camp for girls and enjoyed it so much she went back for the second week last year, and is returning this year. She would have gone 2 weeks this year but the first week conflicts with our extended family vacation. The equestrian center is beautiful, girls stay in the dorms, excellent instruction too. Definitely focused on horses and riding, and not a "camp" experience. The girls sleep and eat in the dorm on campus, swim in the college pool.

Albion College Summer Equestrian Camp