Learn about horse care: grooming, feeding, bathing and even horse first aid! Saddle a horse, learn about tack, and even explore different styles of riding! You'll find out interesting facts about the history, evolution and anatomy of the horse while picking up some horse lingo(did you know that horses are measured in hands?) and caring for and riding the horse you'll have throughout the camp session.
When not riding, you'll get to play games, make new friends and get crafty! Enjoy other farm activities: Want to help our garden grow? Look for fresh eggs in the chicken coop? Try a fresh tomato off the vine? Chaparral will give you a taste of the country life!
Bring your own lunch and don't forget your bottle of water!! Depending on the weather, campers may eat indoors or down in Chaparral's grove.
For riding instruction campers will be grouped based on experience and skill level:
Level 1: Basic seat, steering and riding technique at the walk, transitions from the halt to the walk and walk to the halt.
Level 2: Walking and posting the trot while staying centered and balanced. Ability to steer at both gaits and maintaining good control.
Level 3: Balanced canter, leg yields, headset and collection. Ability to regulate gait and ride patterns.
Campers are grouped together but each student is taught individually by our excellent instructors, prioritizing safety and fun while riding. Students who progress faster than others are not ‘held back’. Because our teaching staff represents well over a century of training and riding experience, advancement is decided by the instructor who primarily considers the safety, skill and maturity exhibited by the rider.
We encourage all our riders to set goals during their session and do our best to help them attain those, be it a first canter or a perfect halt from the walk.