Selecting A Riding
Camp
reprinted with permission
of Horseman
Sending kids to riding camp for a few weeks in the summer can be the
experience of a lifetime,
but it is up to their parents to do some research beforehand to make
sure that it is money well spent.
In many cases, riding camps are unregulated by the government, and some
may not provide a safe
facility or even properly-trained staff.
Parents should, if possible, visit the camp first, or at least ask tough
questions by phone. Inspect the
housing, kitchen facilities, riding areas and horses. Talk to the staff,
and if possible, ask other campersÆ
parents what they think. If the camp boasts a high rate of return campers,
that is a good sign. They should
also be able to provide references if asked.
Here are some other important questions to ask the operators of a
potential summer riding camp:
1. Do you have liability insurance, and can you provide proof of coverage?
Because of the risks involved,
most insurance companies insist on extensive safety precautions before
they will insure, which means a
safer camp.
2. Are your head instructors certified? (CEF, CHA, Pony Club, etc.,
which indicates they have riding
knowledge and experience) How long have they been working for you? (The
longer a staff member
has worked at the camp, the more familiar they are with the horses,
equipment, trails and emergency
procedures).
3. Are assistant instructors under the supervision of a head instructor
while teaching? How old are
they? (A minimum age of 16 is recommended).
4. Does your staff have CPR training and a valid first aid certificate?
5. Are fire precautions and emergency procedures posted and understood
by all staff?
6. What is your ratio of campers to instructors? (A maximum of 8:1 is
recommended). You may also
want to know the horse/camper ratio, which indicates whether the horse
is overworked or your child may not have enough contact with one.
7. Are beginners supervised by a knowledgeable employee while tacking
up, grooming and mounting?
Are beginners always accompanied on trail rides?
8. Do you require that hard hats and safe footwear be worn by all campers
when riding?
9. Is your tack in good condition and properly fitted for each horse?
10. What kinds of horses do you use in your lessons? (No stallions,
horses under five years of age,
sick, lame or blind horses should be used).
What To Bring
Here is a list of basics to pack to make your camp experience go smoothly.
Try to label all belongings,
as things can easily get mixed up or lost in a large group. Being around
horses often means getting dirty,
so make sure to have enough clothing and footwear packed to change out
of dirty or wet duds without
having to do laundry all the time!
Pillow
Running shoes or muckers (sandals are not suitable around horses)
Sleeping Bag
Towels and face cloth
Waterproof boots or shoes
Toothbrush, soap, shampoo
Rain clothing
Brush or comb
Blue jeans and sweat pants
Sunhat, sunscreen and bug repellant
Socks and underwear
Sleepwear
Warm jacket
Small flashlight
Riding shoes or boots
Riding helmet (if you own one)
Thank you to Mountain View Trail Riding Summer Camp in Smithers, B.C.
and the Association of
Riding Establishments of Ontario for their assistance with this article.
Other Horseman articles Archives
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Questions to ask when selecting
a riding camp your your child.
1.Liability insurance?
2.Head instructors certified?
3.Assistant instructors under proper supervision?
4.CPR training first aid certificate?
5.Emergency procedures posted?
6.Ratio of campers to instructors?
7.Beginners supervison?
8.Hard hats and safe footwear?
9. Horses & tack in good condition?
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