Horse Camps
Meet our Trainers
Angie
Keith
Amelia
Horse Camp Information
Saddles and Smiles will be offering three horse camps in 2024 along with a Barn Rat Assistance Training Camp for volunteers who have an interest in becoming a barn rat. Please note that each camp is limited to 15 campers. We have reached a point where we must have a limit, which helps us be able to spend more time teaching the campers about horses while letting them have extended time on horseback. If you miss the deadline, you will have to wait until the following year. Deadline to register for these camps is July 1, 2024.
B.R.A.T Camp (Barn Rat Assistance Training) Camp
June 24-28, 2024 (Apply by June 1, 2024) Limited to 15 trainees
Apply to camp by filling out the application above stating why you would like to become a barn rat and your level of experience with horses. This camp is for volunteers who aspire to become a barn rat for the 2024 season to learn and work on the skills involved to help assist in individual sessions at Saddles and Smiles.
Barn Rats will learn:
- The anatomy of the horse
- How to handle a horse safely
- How to tack up a horse
- How to fix the length of the stirrups
- How to manage a horse on your own
- How to mount and dismount a horse on your own
- How to practice interpersonal communication and group skills such as sharing, leading, cooperating, and supporting one another
- How to assist during individual and group sessions with S&S participants
Experienced Camp (ages 6-12)
July 8-12, 2024 (Register by July 1, 2024) Limited to 15 Campers
Camper MUST have attended at least 2 camps and ride with Saddles and Smiles on a regular basis.
Campers will:
- Understand the anatomy of the horse and how to handle a horse safely
- Learn western tack and how to tack up a horse
- Learn how to mount a horse and sit correctly in the saddle while riding
- Learn how to control and manage a horse while riding in the arena
- Learn how to control and manage a horse while riding in the pasture
- Learn how to control and manage a horse while riding on a trail with various terrain
- Learn the various speeds/gaits of a horse and some campers will learn how to ride at a trot, lope, or canter (this depends on skill level and experience)
- Practice interpersonal communication and group skills such as sharing, leading, cooperating, and supporting one another
Beginner's Camp (ages 6-12)
July 22-26, 2024 (Register by July 1, 2024) Limited to 15 Campers
Campers will:
- Understand the anatomy of the horse and how to handle a horse safely
- Learn western tack and how to tack up a horse
- Learn how to mount a horse and sit correctly in the saddle while riding
- Learn how to control and manage a horse while riding in the arena
- Learn how to control and manage a horse while riding in the pasture
- Learn how to control and manage a horse while riding on a trail with various terrain
- Learn the various speeds/gaits of horse and some campers will learn how to ride at a trot, lope, or canter (This depends on skill level and experience)
- Practice interpersonal communication and group skills such as sharing, leading, cooperating, and supporting one another
Ages 13-18 Horse Camp
August 5-9, 2024 (Register by July 1, 2024) Limited to 15 Campers
Campers will:
- Understand the anatomy of the horse and how to handle a horse safely
- Learn western tack and how to tack up a horse
- Learn how to mount a horse and sit correctly in the saddle while riding
- Learn how to control and manage a horse while riding in the arena
- Learn how to control and manage a horse while riding in the pasture
- Learn how to control and manage a horse while riding on a trail with various terrain
- Learn the various speeds/gaits of horse and some campers will learn how to ride at a trot, lope, or canter (This depends on skill level and experience)
- Practice interpersonal communication and group skills such as sharing, leading, cooperating, and supporting one another
Camp Information
Camp will begin at 10:00 AM and end at 4:00 PM Monday through Thursday. On Friday, camp will begin at 10:00 AM and end at 1:00 PM. All friends and families of our campers are invited to join us at noon on Friday for a pizza party celebration, skills demonstration, and awards ceremony. We will provide pizza, chips, and drinks for the lunch. If you plan to attend, we ask that you bring a food item such as fruit (our kids love cut up fruit!), veggies and dip, cookies, or whatever you would like to contribute. Please let us know by Wednesday how many will be attending so we will have enough pizza for everyone!
Monday through Thursday, each camper will need to bring a lunch. We will have extra bottled water available daily. We have sunscreen available but suggest putting sunscreen on your camper(s) before dropping them off each day. We also suggest each camper bring a light jacket as it can get chilly without much notice! We will also be providing the campers with fun arts and crafts projects as well as games.
Each camper must wear closed toed shoes – no sandals or flip flops permitted. Shoes can be sneakers or boots. This is to protect their feet during camp. We also prefer that campers wear pants as the saddles are leather and may rub or pinch skin that is exposed.
Each camper must have a registration form AND a release form completed before he or she can participate in camp.
Each camper will get a T-Shirt and we ask that campers wear their shirts on Friday. We will do a group photo on Friday. During the week, we will be taking photos of all camp activities. All photos will be posted on our Saddles & Smiles Facebook Page. You can go to the page and save any of the photos you would like to have.