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Summer of Horses
By Mary Jo Zanolli
The seemingly endless days of summer offer a great opportunity for young equine enthusiasts to become active in the horse world! Connecticut (and New England) has a variety of summer horsemanship programs, day camps, and overnight camps suitable for horse lovers of any experience/ability. With a little research the perfect summer equine experience may be right around the corner!
Below are some steps to help you find the right program for your child.
First, think locally - your area stable may offer a day program for the young horse lover. Many public lesson stables hold summer horsemanship programs where students learn riding skills, horsemanship theory, stable management and more. Some programs require previous riding experience; others offer sessions for complete beginners. A great web reference that includes many stables in this region is www.justhorses.com. This is a regional horse directory that gives contact information for all aspects of the equine industry, including public riding stables (which may offer summer riding programs).
If your child is ready for an overnight camp there are many choices, not just in Connecticut but also in New England and New York. A good web site to start with is www.kidscamps.com/ sports/equestrian. Another helpful web site is www.summercamps.com, which offers advice and articles about camp accreditation, licensing, and what to look for in choosing a camp. If your child has her own horse, there are of course camps where she can bring her horse with her! Many horse camps offer boarding for campers bringing their own mount.
Not only do summer programs offer the opportunity to improve riding skills and increase horse care knowledge, they provide a fun and memorable experience. Consider making horses a part of your summer this year!
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