How are campers divided?

We divide campers by age and skill levels.  (Teenage campers who are beginning or intermediates are grouped with other teens.) Our riders work in separate arenas at Levels I, II or III depending on their skill sets. We have initiated a “Tiny Rider” camp for the 3 to 6 year olds as an introduction to horseback riding.  We use ponies that are just their size.  Our ponies work year long as “Birthday Party Ponies” and are gentle with children.

How are your instructors qualified to teach?

Our instructors are CHA certified and are trained to provide a safer, happier riding experience for each camper. To learn more about this CHA program check their website at www.cha-ahse.org.)

What does the camper do all day?

Our camps accommodate up to 30 campers per week and are separated into groups of approximately five campers per group. This will vary according to skill levels and could be up to seven in a class.  Our tiny riders are limited to no more than five children due to the need to have a one-to-one ratio while riding.  We have two arenas and two groups will ride immediately in either arena depending on their group.  The remaining groups will assume stations around the ranch where they will be assigned horses and activities with these horses such as caring for them, grooming, learning to put a halter on a horse and lead it correctly and safely, learning to lunge a horse and other simple training techniques. 

We also have a driving session where the camper learns to ride in a carriage and drive our carriage ponies around the ranch with Roger Cleverly, our driving instructor.

Beginners will practice mounting and dismounting on a vaulting barrel before actually mounting a real horse.  We also teach correct rein control as part of the ground work.  These groups will rotate positions and those who have not ridden will then mount up and ride. 

After riding in the morning lessons the campers break for lunch for some quiet time or visiting with other campers and their friends.

The afternoon is left to our Instructor's creativity and can include (but not limited to) "Painting the horse contest" as shown on the right. Other activities are bareback riding, Parts of a horse (there are 52 parts of a horse to identify!) Advanced campers will be taking a trail ride.  Trail rides are limiited to advanced campers who have full control of their horses.  The exception to that are the Tiny Riders who are led by their instructors on a short trail ride on their ponies.

What to bring to our Camps:

Pack your own lunch and bring a bottle of water. There will be plenty of cookies and juice drinks available all day. Wear sturdy shoes, preferably with a half-inch heel and a shoe that covers the ankle.  Jeans are fine and so are English riding pants-NO SHORTS! NO SWEAT PANTS, PLEASE!.  We recommend a shirt or top that either tucks in or fits – no baggy sweat shirts!  We provide their helmets or you can bring your own.

Please download the registration form by clicking the task bar and either fax the filled out form with your credit card information or mail to us with your check.  Or you may call us at 925 937 7661.

THE PAINTED HORSE CONTEST

This group was a contest winner with an artistic rendition of modern art. Sunny, the painted horse has unique blue eyes and inspired the artist to match them.

June 14 camp:  Nina rides Contessa, an Arabian mare and  finished western pleasure horse.