THESE THREE YOUNGSTERS are having a fun time at their summer horse camp at the Son Rise Ranch in Vancouver. Pictured from left to right are Melissa Krementsove, Karina Yakimchuch and Olivia Krementsove.
RIDING HORSES IS just one of many activities offered at local summer horse camps. Pictured here, at a 2014 summer horse camp at Son Rise Ranch in Vancouver, are campers Victoria Bashkingly (on horseback, in black shirt) and (in front, leading the horse) Melissa Krementsove.
CAMPERS FROM A 2014 summer camp at the Son Rise Ranch in Vancouver show off their riding awards and ribbons. The Son Rise Ranch is one of many options for people seeking a summertime horse camp for their child or teenager. To learn more, visit www.sonriseranchwa.com.
Looking for a summertime horse camp for your young horse lover? Look no further. Southwest Washington has a ton of summer horse camps opportunities for all ages and levels of riders. Whether your child is dreaming about learning how to ride a horse or hoping to expand their already advanced horsemanship skills, there’s a summer horse camp designed to meet their needs.
And, while the lazy, hot days of summer may seem a long way off, many horse camps are already filling up. Now is the time to pick a camp, reserve a spot for your child and get that deposit money in.
Not sure where to start? We’ve rounded up information on a few horse camps in Southwest Washington and Northwest Oregon to help you find the perfect camp for your young horse enthusiast.
HORSE CAMPS IN SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON
Royal Ridges
20115 NE 354th St., Yacolt
(360) 686-3737
Founded in 1978, the 390-acre Royal Ridges Retreat is located in Yacolt and includes miles of hills, trails, pastures and streams that wind their way to Andersen Lake. The nonprofit retreat, a ministry of the Pacific Northwest district of the Evangelical Free Church, provides non-denominational programs throughout the year for youth in grades 1 through 12, as well as adults.
The Royal Ridges Retreat offers two summertime horse camps – a day horse camp and a resident horsemanship camp. Both are currently enrolling campers for the 2015 season.
The Day Horse Camp is a five-day, co-ed, multi-level horse riding camp that is available to campers ages 8 to 14. Groups are small in size and Royal Ridges promises to “send the campers home dirty, tired and with the fragrant odor of horses.” At the end of the camp, on Friday afternoon, parents are welcome to come watch their young riders show off their newfound horse skills.
The day camp runs from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday and is available throughout the summer, with the first camp starting on June 22 and the last camp ending on Aug. 21. The day camp costs $255 (on sale from the normal $275) for the five-day camps and $165 for the one three-day camp, held June 20 through July 1. For exact dates and registration information, visit www.royalridges.org/purchase_camps.html.
The Resident Horsemanship Camp is a week-long, overnight camp that includes daily riding lessons, horse science classes and fun-filled horse-related activities. Although these camps are mostly for girls in grades 4 through 12, there is one three-day co-ed camp for boys and girls in grades 4 through 9, June 28 to July 1.
The rest of the camps are broken into junior and senior girls’ groups (grades 4 to 9 for the junior girls and grades 6 to 12 for the senior girls) and run from 5:30 p.m. Sunday through noon the following Saturday. The first camp begins June 21 and the last camp ends Aug. 15. The camps cost $380 (on sale from the original $405) per week, except for the three-day, co-ed camp, which costs $230.
Silver Buckle Ranch
11611 NE 152nd Ave., Brush Prairie
(360) 260-8932
A nonprofit, working ranch located in Brush Prairie, the Silver Buckle Ranch offers equine-assisted ranch camps that incorporate ranch activities and ranch chores with daily horse riding lessons. Camps are available for a variety of ages and abilities.
The Silver Buckle Ranch does not yet have a finalized list for its Summer 2015 ranch camps, but check in at www.silverbuckleranch.org throughout the month of April for updates on summer camps and registration information.
Son Rise Ranch
24003 NE 44th St., Vancouver
(360) 834-9103
Located on 16 acres in Vancouver, the Son Rise Ranch offers year-round horse programs, including weekly riding lessons, horse leasing opportunities, work/staff programs and summer camps.
This year’s summer camps include a variety of options for all levels of horse enthusiasts. All camps are offered from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday and some include a special event. Campers may arrive as late as 10 a.m. and be picked up as early as 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, if necessary, but are encouraged to stay until the end of camp on the final day. Son Rise Ranch is offering the following summer horse camps in 2015:
The Obstacle Camp, for beginners through advanced riders, ages 8 to 18, will be held July 13-17. Campers will create, build and learn to ride over, through and around obstacles on horseback. This camp covers all aspects of equestrian skills, including horseback riding, horse care and hands-on horse science.
The Parade Camp, which is good for all levels and offered to campers age 8 to 16, will teach campers how to care for and ride horses, as well as make costumes for and participate in the Camas Days Parade. This year’s parade theme is “A Time to Remember” and campers will be sporting “Back to the Future” costumes. This camp will be held July 20-25.
The Showdeo Camp, held July 27-31, is for ages 8 to 16 and recommended for “best beginner” through intermediate levels. Campers will learn about horse riding, horse science and horse care. The camp culminates with an awards show — a “showdeo” — for family and friends.
The Horse Show Camp, for ages 8 to 18, held Aug. 3-9, is a more advanced camp for those who want to learn and improve strutting their stuff in front of a judge. This camp includes a clinic with a horse show judge, practice with horse show paces and presentation, as well as lessons on how to turnout your horse. Campers will participate in an open performance show at the Clark County Fair.
All camps cost $240 for the week and campers should bring a sack lunch each day. A non-refundable, $50 deposit and three-part waiver is required to reserve your camper’s spot. The balance of the camp fee will be due on the first day of camp. Deposits may be mailed in or dropped off. To print out a waiver, visit www.sonriseranchwa.com and click on the “Fee/Schedule” tab, then type in the name of the class you want to take. You may also request a waiver by e-mail, at sonriseriders@comcast.net.
Each camp emphasizes safety and offers one counselor for every eight campers, plus a horse captain for each horse used at camp. For more information, call Son Rise Ranch at (360) 834-9103.
Quarry Ridge Farm
25604 NE Manley Road, Battle Ground
(360) 909-8605
The Quarry Ridge Farm in Battle Ground offers a riding academy with instruction in hunter jumper and equitation for all ages and abilities.
The Quarry Ridge Farm offers a four-day summer horse camp that offers a “creative and varied approach on teaching horsemanship.” Each day of summer camp at Quarry Ridge incorporates horse science, anatomy, safety, care and riding lessons with the farm’s stable of trained school horses. The summer camps are open to all ages, run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and are available various dates in June and July. The cost of each four-day horse camp is $365. For exact camp dates and registration information, call Julia Richard at (360) 909-8605.
HORSE CAMPS IN NORTHWEST OREGON
Country Girl Farms:
17531 S. Henrici Road, Oregon City, Oreg.
(971) 506-7416
Located in Oregon City, OR, Country Girl Farms offers a 110-by-50 feet, covered and fully enclosed arena, 14 stall barns, completely mud-free paddocks, two heated and secure tack rooms, a half-mile long cool-down trail and a climate-controlled clubhouse.
Students at Country Girl Farms “learn not only riding skills, but emphasis is placed on horsemanship skills that develop riders into safe, responsible and educated equine enthusiasts,” says Audra Gilpatrick, owner of Country Girl Farms.
The Oregon City horse camps begin in mid-June and are for riders ages 7 and older. To register for a horse camp, visit http://www.countrygirlfarm.com/horse-camp.html. Following is a description of the camps available at Country Girl Farms:
Beginner Horse Camp: Campers will learn horsemanship and all-around care of equine companions. Activities include crafts, grooming and washing, equine anatomy, mucking out a stall, saddle parts and tack cleaning. Campers should bring their own sack lunch each day and healthy snacks and water are provided throughout the camp day. The three-day June 15-17 and Aug. 17-19 camps run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and cost $225 each. There is one five-day camp still open. It runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily, from Aug. 10-14.
Intermediate Horse Camp: This camp focuses on more advanced horsemanship with lessons in ground work, feed and barn management, basic horse first aid, horse anatomy and more. Each day features a riding or ground work lesson and students will ride English, Western and Bareback throughout the five-day camp. This camp is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., July 6-10 and costs $450.
