Ride Tall This Summer at Equestrian Camps
Looking for some equestrian activities to keep your children--or maybe even yourself--off the streets this summer?
A new day camp for riders is based at The Club, a private riding organization at Ortega Equestrian Center, 27252 Calle Arroyo, San Juan Capistrano. It offers weekly sessions for children and adults, beginning June 21 and running through the summer.
Open to riders age 10 and older, the program includes two riding lessons per day. Groups are limited to five participants.
“The groups are being kept small so that we can offer an intensive learning situation,” says Paula Voorhees, manager. “There will be two textbooks, with homework assignments to complete. Campers will really come out of this learning a lot about horses, horse care and riding.”
The Club provides the horses and riding equipment, but riders will need a hard hat (riding helmet), boots, a crop and gloves. Nearby Ortega Tack is offering a $120 equipment package to participants at the camp, which includes the required textbooks.
Camp sessions run Tuesday through Saturday at a cost of $300 per week for Club members and $400 for non-members (including daily lunches).
For more information or to register, call (714) 661-3090.
A similar day camp for riders outside the county is L.A. Children’s Riding Center, 9211 Del Arroyo Drive, Sun Valley, 91352; telephone (818) 768-5470. The co-ed camp for children 6 to 14 is completely about horses. Small groups of five to six students per instructor learn English hunt seat equitation. A typical day consists of: horse turnout, grooming, riding lesson, horse bath, lunch, vaulting, tack cleaning and care, and games on horseback. Weekly sessions cost $155 and run June 13 through Aug. 29.
If you’re looking for an overnight camp, the following sampling of resident summer camps in the state offers intensive equestrian programs:
Foxfield Riding Club, 1250 E. Potrero Road, Westlake Village, Calif. 91361; telephone (805) 495-5515. Resident camp for girls ages 7 to 16. Ten-day sessions cost $700. Sessions run June 19-Sept. 9. Waiting list.
Intensive horseback riding program includes daily lessons, combined training events, dressage clinics and horse shows.
K Arrow Ranch Children’s Camp, 11400 Highway 108, Jamestown, Calif. 95327; (209) 984-3925. Co-ed resident camp for children 8 to 17. Western and English horsemanship, equestrian events and rodeo. Two-week sessions cost $875. June 26-Aug. 20.
The Meadows of Moorpark, 8333 Waters Road, Moorpark, Calif. 93021; (805) 529-3043. Co-ed resident program for horse enthusiasts 8 to 21. June 27-Aug. 27. Weekly sessions cost $375.
English riding program and trail riding through private lake grounds. Includes four hours a day of horsemanship (beginner through advanced), with riding lessons and instruction in total care of horse and tack. Videotaping of lessons. Complete facilities for three-day eventing (dressage arena, cross-country and stadium jumping courses). School horse show at the end of each session.
Shady Lawn Farm, 6255 River Road, Oakdale, Calif. 95361; (209) 847-1942. Resident camp for girls 6 to 16. June 26-Aug. 27. Two-week sessions cost $775; four weeks, $1,510.
Extensive riding program with a one-hour daily lesson in choice of: English (hunt seat or dressage) or Western (pleasure and trail). Facilities include six riding arenas. Advanced riders receive lessons in cross-country and stadium jumping. Electives include recreational riding and vaulting. Horse science course available (grooming, working with foals and yearlings). Each session includes gymkhana, play day and camp horse show.