Summer camps around New England
Riding Camps around New England
Sprucelands
Located in Java Center, NY Sprucelands offers programs for all levels! Ages 6-17, mainly english is taught, but you can ride western. The instructor's are CHA certified! They have CIT (earn $60 towards each wk of camp) and working camper programs to help you earn your tuition as well. This camp seems really fun, check the website, it's very informative!
Longacres
Riding Camp
Longacres is in East Aurora, NY. This is a hunter/jumper camp, with ages typically ranging from 12-16 (from what I know). I'm not sure if it is co-ed or not. You can ride up to 5hrs a day, with a trail and "free ride" included in that. There's only 7-10 campers/session so register today! They don't offer other regular camp activities such as sports and arts, but if you and your friends want to you have access to the tennis courts, basketball court, and canoes. They take day trips to the mall or movies if it's too hot and attend a schooling or A show every weekend.
"The Ranch" Lake Placid Academy
In Lake Clear, NY this all girls camps accepts all levels of english and western riders ranging in age from 7-17! Teenagers (I think ages 14-17) have the option of a new camp program. It's co-ed and you travel around Canada and the north east riding at different ranches and staying at inns, resorts, or camp sites. One of the owners said you ride once a day but for 2 hours, about 35% of the day is spent with the horses and the rest is either swimming in the inground pool or what ever activity you choose (volley ball, soccer, arts, dance, theater, etc), they have cook outs every week and a show every Friday.
MA 4-H Horse Camp
This camp is in Spencer, MA (middle of the state, west of Worcester). It is coed, ages 9-16 and there's a CIT program. I went last year and "Horse Lovers" was focused around the beginner/intermediate rider, I heard "Horse Campers" (where you bring your own horse) was more advanced -I rode in one of their lessons each day. However I just got their new info booklet and it looks like they'll be accomodating more advanced riders a bit more this year! The specialized programs are supposed to be really fun. Last year I was there during the driving week, it was cool, those kids run on a different schedule than everyone else.
It was a fun camp, I had wished they had more programs for the more advanced rider, but otherwise it was very fun. In "barn class" we learned (well I already knew) horse parts, markings, how to wrap with polos, did some crosswords, learned about fit+show class (last day you have to participate in fit+show -you get a first or second depending on your preformance), and learned about basic vet care (the one class I wanted to be at I had to be late for!). There's a "staff ride" where we sit and watch the staff - ride, hence the name :) It was supposed to demonstrate the different styles though on my week the dressage was more than lacking -turned into a poor drill team with 2 hyped up horses travelling above the bit, but the western was excellent and the huntseat riders were great. That was just that one day though, so don't take that too much into consideration! :)
A working family farm, the coed camp has a 65:36 horse:camper ratio. They teach dressage, cross-country, and stadium jumping in the twice daily small group lessons in addition to horse care on your own assigned horse/pony. Rates are the average horse camp price. There is a video available because I have it :) It's in Keeseville, NY.
For girls ages 7-15, this camp is located in Tyrone, PA and offers art, dance, and riding. The riding program, though geared towards the beginner, can challenge the more advanced english or western rider. You can only ride twice a day 5 1/2 days/week though, other activities you participate in are nature studies, hiking and camping skills. Stable management is also offered and does not count for your 2 hours/day of riding time. You can observe techniques like shoeing, horse massage, and general care and maintenance of the horse. They have 4 levels and encourage campers to complete each one in 3 weeks, look at them to see if this camp has a suitable program for you.
Located in Lake St Catherine in Southern VT, every camper takes care of a horse or small farm animal. This is a girls' camp for ages 9-15. Capers live in "cabin style tents" with 3-5 other girls and 1-2 counselors. June campers have one lesson and one free ride/day. July & August campers have lessons in riding, swimming, and choice activity 5 days/week and additional riding time can be requested at an additional cost. You ride different horses and ponies but care for the same one throughout the session. Riding instruction covers pony driving, equitation, jumping, dressage, trails, shows, horse health, and drill teams. Water sports, arts and crafts, and sports and also offered.
It is located in Preston Hollow, NY. The site did not specify camper age or if it's coed or all girls. Riding programs offered include, dressage through level 2, stadium jumping, cross-country, vaulting, drill team, trail rides, shows, and qualified riders can learn to/help train young horses.
This camp specializes in huntseat equitation and is located in Waynesboro, PA. Coed overnight camp for children ages 8-16. Daily activities include two riding lessons, horse care and maintenance, learning safety rules and parts of the horse and tack, trail rides. In addition to the horses, other activities include swimming, watching movies, field trips, crafts, and games. Also offers day camp and weekend camp.
Located in Simsbury, CT, this camp gives instruction to girls ages 8-16, beginner-advanced, in dressage, huntseat equitation, jumping, and cross country. I've visited there myself and found the staff friendly and competant, the horses of good quality (you can actually buy some of them at the end of the season!), and the facilities looked great. 5hrs of instruction is given in riding, learning various aspects of stable management, and horse care throughout the week. Session length is 2 weeks, you can stay for multiple sessions though (like all camps). My friend is returning for her 3rd year there, this is definately a camp to consider. She said you ride aprox. 1 and a half hours/day.
This camp is also in Lake Placid, NY. It has 2 programs: the Junior program is ages 7-10 and the Senior program is ages 11-13. Treetops offers many activities which the camper can choose from, but swimming and horseback riding lessons are required :)
Located in the Pocono Mtns. in PA, this camp offers many programs. The equestrian program is supposed to be for beginners-advanced. They have 25 horses and ponies, go on evening trail rides, riding overnights, and have inter-camp horse shows. The camp sounds really fun. It has a really nice/cool looking site too!!
Houghton Horse Camp
Houghton horse camp is a Christian camp for girls 10-16 run by the equestrian center at Houghton college in Houghton, NY. You adopt a horse for the week and are responsible for giving him baths, riding him and showing him off in the ring. What Erica thinks is cool about this camp is you get to stay in the college dorms, not some cabin thingy. You also get to eat college cafeteria food , which she's not sure is any better than your normal camp food :o). Houghton costs $300 per week. There is one week set aside for the guys (no you can't go the same week as the guys).
Got a camp you want me to add? Have some comments on one already listed?
E-mail me at [email protected]!!!!
Kris has more camps listed from around the USA and Canada, this can be found at: http://www.horse-country.com/college.html.
