8 Tips To Help You Choose a Summer Horse Camp For Your Child

If you’re thinking of sending your child away to a summer horse camp, then it’s time to start looking at potential camps. Finding the right camp for your child can make for a positive experience. These eight tips can help you to choose a summer horse camp.

Consider the Distance From Home

It’s important to consider how far a camp is located from your home, especially if your child will be going to camp for the first time. It may be easier for a new camper to go to a camp which is in the same state – your child can always try a camp which is further away next year.

Look Into Available Camp Lengths

Many summer horse camps offer sessions of different lengths. Some are as short as a week, while others may extend up to a month or more. If your child has never gone to camp before, then a shorter session may be the best route. However, if your child loves camp, they may prefer a longer session.

Find Out How Much Riding Your Child Will Do

You should definitely find out how much riding your child will do during camp. Some camps are marketed as horse camps, but campers only ride once a day. If you’re looking for an intensive horse camp, then look for a camp where campers ride or participate in horse-related activities multiple times a day.

Ask About Who Will Be Teaching Your Child

Be sure to also ask about the teachers that the camp employs. Are they professional riding instructors? What are the qualifications that the camp requires of instructors? You’ll want to make sure that your child is in good hands.

Find Out About Horse-Related Activities

Ask about the horse-related activities that will be available to your child. Activities like trail riding, horse shows, and swimming with horses are common camp activities that your child may enjoy.

Ask If Campers Can Take Camp Horses Home

In some cases, camps allow campers to take a favorite camp horse home at the end of the season. If this is an option that you would like your child to have, then find out the camp’s policies on campers free leasing horses during the off season ahead of time.

Check Out Reviews

Don’t forget to check out reviews of the camp, both by campers and parents. You can learn a lot through reviews, so definitely try to track down some independent reviews or recommendations.

Evaluate Cost

Finally, evaluate the cost of the camp and compare it to the facilities and the activities that the camp offers. Horseback riding camps tend to be more expensive than more general summer camps, but they also give your child the opportunity to learn a lot about riding in a short time.

Will you be sending your child to horse camp this summer?