Summer Camps with Horses
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Summer Camps with Horses
May 2011
These stables in the Oakland hills offer lessons and a
summer camp. I'd love to hear any feedback on the camp or
anything about them. We're thinking of sending
our almost-8-year-old to this summer camp as a first
experience with horses. I visited and got a good
impression, but would really like to hear about someone's
experience with them. Anyone??
Our son and one of his female classmates (both 7 at the time) did a week of
horeseback riding camp at Redwood Ranch Stables last summer. It was by far my
son's favorite camp of the summer. He begged to do multiple weeks of it this
year. They ride for a number of hours everyday, and spend most of the day
outside. He was clearly very comfortable around the ranch (got to pet the
bunnies, interact with other animals there). The kids also care for the horses,
groom them, feed them, etc. I was really impressed with the show the kids did
at the end, where they exhibited their riding skills. My little guy was up
there riding this giant horse, even trotting. Honestly, he has been to a ton of
camps and never loved one as much as this. I highly recommend. Maybe we'll see
you there!
Redwood Stables Rocks!
My almost 8-year old daughter currently takes lessons at Redwood
Ranch, and she will be joining the summer camp for the last two
weeks of June. She LOVES it there because she LOVES horses.
She is still a beginner rider, but she is extremely comfortable
around horses. You might want to think about having your
daughter take a few half hour lessons to figure out whether
she'd be happy spending an entire week around the ranch. They
have horses for all different levels. The people are wonderful,
and it's a tight-knit community. I highly recommend it! Aya's
mom
April 2011
I'm looking for a good summer camp that is oriented to riding for my
7-year-old who is new to riding. We're interested in ones near
Berkeley/Oakland, such as Chabot or Redwood Ranch. I'd like to hear
people's experience with these camps. Thanks.
My kids have been riding at Skye Valley Training in Castro Valley for over 8
years now. It is a fun barn to be at and easy to get to off 580. Skye Valley
runs summer camps several time each summer and they involve horse care, riding
twice a day and as a special treat they get to take care of a miniature horse
and do carting with the mini at the end of the week. My kids loved it!
http://www.skyevalley.com/Day_Camp.html
Dede
I can highly recommend any of the horse camps offered by
Roughing It Day Camp!
They offer a horse day camp (English), a Ranch Day camp (Western, trail rides,
farm animals, etc.), and a Hello Horse Camp, which is an introductory program.
My daugher did both both the English and the Ranch Day camp growing up, and is
now a junior counselor for the Ranch camp. In all her summers of going to
camp, not once did she complain about getting up and going to camp every day --
in fact, it was quite the opposite . . . she couldn't wait to get there. She
was always full of stories of what happened during the day, and was so proud to
participate in the ''show'' at the end of each session. The entire Roughing It
experience is fantastic for building confidence and self-esteem, and your child
will develop a wonderful working knowledge about how to handle and behave
around horses. Here is a link to more information:
http://www.roughingit.com/horse/
Good luck!
Mary Beth
Try Skye Valley Horse Day camp in the Castro Valley hills. It is close to both
580 and 680 freeways and has a great staff and program. You can check out their
website at www.skyevalley.com. The facility is clean and has a friendly
atmosphere in a beautiful location. They do a variety of horse activities
including twice daily riding instruction and general care & knowledge of
horses. They even have miniatures that they use for some of the camp activities
such as bathing and driving. Best of all they are extremely safety conscious!
They also offer year round programs!
J
We love Roughing It.
It's a great summer camp for horse lovers and all other
kids. My three (boy finishing 8th grade, twin girls finishing 6th grade) will
be going this summer for the fourth summer in a row and look forward to it all
year. They are all nuts about horses and have become quite proficient riders.
They have mostly gone to the Day Camp, but there are also Horse Camp (English),
Ranch Camp (Western/trail), and Hello Horse camp (more introductory). The Day
Camp, Horse Camp and Ranch Camp have free transportation which is awesome for
parents. You can get all the dates and info at roughingit.com .
Ann
Feb 2010
My 7 year old daughter would like to go to a local summer
camp for horseback riding lessons and care of horses. She
has ridden a few times prior and is comfortable on a
horse. Wondering if anyone can suggest a local camp, not
too far from Oakland or Berkeley. Most of the information
on the website is pretty outdated. Thank you.
-Mom of Horselover
My daughter has loved going to Castle Rock Arabians summer camp in Walnut
Creek. It takes us about 20-30 minutes with morning traffic to get there by 9
during the summer. She started going there when she was 5 and is now almost
8. They also do holiday camps on 3-day weekends, spring break, winter break,
etc.
also with a horse-lover
May 2009
We just moved back to the Bay Area but are returning to an
amazing co-ed horse camp in New Mexico. They are a family run
camp that taught our daughter independence, self esteem and
responsibility while giving her the summer experience of her
lifetime. Camp is two weeks long - July 12 - 25 and is only $800
for everything. Our daughter is flying from Oakland and being
met by camp owner. If you are looking for a wonderful experience
that is cost effective this is a great camp. Greg Evans the
owner is from Berkeley and has an amazing family owned camp.
Would love to see some Bay Area kids at this exceptional camp
this summer.
Rebecca
Jan 2009
Hello Group:
My 11-year old intense, animal-loving daughter is dying to go
to sleep away camp. Can anyone recommend any good ones? I'm
especially interested in camps that offer one-week sessions,
since this will be her first time away for more than a couple
of nights. Thank you!
-Ann
The Girl Scouts have a horse-oriented sleep-away camp in the
Santa Cruz mountains called Skylark Ranch. You don't need to
be a girl scout to go, and the prices are very fair. My
daughter went last year at age 8 and is going again this year,
and she had a blast!
Their website is camprocks.org. Look for Skylark Ranch (they
have several camps).
HTH,
Erin
Check out Girl Scout camps! The Bay Area Council has two horse
focused camps: Skylark in Santa Cruz Mtns. and
Sugar Pine in
the Sierra foothills. Well run programs, relatively inexpensive
(compaired to others), and I know many girls who have had a
blast there. Go to http://www.camprocks.org/
Girl Scout fan
The Girl Scouts have a week-long horse camp in the Sierras at their
Sugar
Pine
location, which is very nice. If your daughter is not a Girl Scout, it
costs $10 to join
and the camps are affordable, too (horse camp is more).
For a sleep away camp with horses, please check out Far View
Ranch Camp. Go to www.farviewranch.com. Although the sessions
are 2 weeks rather than one, the times flies by for the kids. I
went there almost 40 years ago and my two kids went as long as
they could and absolutely loved it. In addition to horses they
have many other animals that the kids help taking care of -
goats, cows, pigs, kittens, etc. The staff do a great job
making sure each camper is happy and making friends. The only
downside is the drive to get there as it's about 2 1/2 - 3
hours from Berkeley, but it's worth it for the kid's sakes.
former camper
Jan 2007
The postings about local horse camps are outdated. Tilden horse
area is being renovated and Wildcat Creek seems to be defunct.
Can anyone recommend other horse camps for my 9 year old
equestrian?
Betsy
Rancho del Lago
in Briones has a great camp for young riders.
Camps are offered in the summer, but also during school breaks
as well, ie. spring and winter breaks. Most of the horses are
ponies, which makes them a great size for learning to groom and
tack-up. My daughter started at camp there and continues to
take lessons there. There is a newly formed pony club for the
older riders as well. Check them out at http://www.rancho-del-lago.com/
aki
Jan 2003
Greetings - We're interested in recommendations for horse-
riding sleepaway camp for our almost 10-year-old daughter.
She's old enough to welcome a sleepover camp for a week or so
next summer, but short of that, a regular day camp within a
reasonable drive from North Oakland would also work. Have
checked the archives but there's nothing on sleep-away riding
camps. Thanks very much.
Deborah
Try Skylark Ranch of the San Francisco Bay Girl Scouts. The
camp is a couple of miles back from the water near
Pescadero (between Half-Moon Bay and Santa Cruz) and
the most affordable riding and horse tending experience for
girls of all skill levels. You can find them via Google.com. My
daughter went two years and enjoyed it a lot.
Heather
Roughing It Day Camp
is an excellent local camp with horse programs.
http://www.roughingit.com/. If you are looking for sleep away camps the
best place to start is the American Camping Association
www.acacamps.org where you can search by area and activity. You
also have the peace of mind knowing that they are accredited.
Jennifer
April 2002
My 8 year old daughter is interested in spending part
of her summer at a horse day camp. I checked the web,
but anything I find is also extremely expensive.
Anyone know of a local horse daycamp that's reasonably
priced?
Cathy
Tilden Park's Pony Ride offers a horse day camp:
--Pony Ride at Tilden Regional Park, Berkeley, Camey
Thompson (operator), (510) 527-0421
http://www.ebparks.org/dropdown/horse.htm
carolyn
I highly recommend the farm/horse camp at Wildcat Creek
Stables, 6102 Park Ave Richmond, CA (510) 232-6344.
You can read more about it at www.wildcatcreekstables.com.
This stable is set as a rescue stable, which I think
teaches the kids a lesson about how animals should be
treated once they are past their prime, (not to say that
the horses there aren't GORGEOUS and well behaved - they're
just not going to win their race at Bay Meadows any longer).
Because it is a non-profit, their horse camps are much
less expensive. Be aware that the day is not spent riding
all day long. The kids also learn about animal care
(there are also goats, geese, a donkey and many dogs
and kitties roaming the property) and get involved in
clearing the stables. My son was lucky enough to attend
over the week a horse gave birth last year and saw a
colt take its first few wobbly steps. All in all it is
much less pretentious and casual than many stables I've
been to in the bay area. When they ride they do both arena
work and go on beautiful treks through the regional park
right behind their property. The only downside is that
I think they are closing soon as the owner is very involved
in animal research somewhere in Nevada.
- Jen (horse lover)
Tilden Park has a horse day camp--ask at the pony ride.
(no personal experience, but I've seen their flyer)
Deborah
Regarding a horse day camp, try the Girl Scouts Camp
Chameleon in the Oakland Hills. As far as I've been
able to tell, the Girl Scouts offer the only bargain
for horseback riding, though it is only two hours a day
at the stables. The camp is sponsored by the Girl
Scouts of the S.F. Bay Area. My daughter has participated
in Girl Scout sleep away, but not the day camp.
Good luck.
Ellen
1999
I have a daughter who loves horses and has been taking lessons for about 6
months. Can anyone recommend a good horseback riding day camp in the area for
the summer? Thanks.
Wildcat Stables on Park Ave in East Richmond has a summer day camp program
that I hear is great fun. It's very woodsy up there, next to Wildcat Canyon.
My son spent a fun week at Bottomly Farms one summer taking riding
lessons. It's near Martinez. Ginger
Feb 2008
Re: Walnut Creek daycamps for 5th grade girl
On a slightly different tack (no pun intended...), my daughter
has gone to Castle Rock Arabians for two summers now. It goes
week by week and they may give you a discount if you book
multiple weeks. They made riding really fun and the kids learn
lots about horses, grooming them, caring for the tack, etc. My
daughter adored it! It is up near the foot of Mt. Diablo past
Walnut Creek High School.
kl
April 2007
Re: Sewing, horseback riding, and cooking camps?
You might check into Roughing It Day Camp in Lafayette for horseback
riding. They
pick your child up each morning and drop them off in the afternoon
--less time in the
car for you! My neighbors' twin nine year old girls attended last
summer and had a
fabulous time (we live in Montclair). Some years ago, my sister was a
camp counselor
and her best friend was the riding instructor, so I know they've been
around for a long
time and have a good track record.
Monique
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