PONY CAMPS ARE A BLAST!
It's A Pony Party does pony camps during school trackout dates and summertime. Pony Camps are basically a combination of riding lessons and horseback games packed into a week of fun. The pony camper will not only learn to ride but will do so in a creative and exciting way. The week is not only just riding but also offers a realistic hands on view of what horse ownership may entail. The camper will care for, feed, groom, and interact all day with their assigned horse/pony and learn to appreciate these wonderful animals. Pony camp is for the beginner or advanced rider whom may want to enhance their current riding skill while having a blast of fun. Horses and ponies will be ridden depending on the size and experience of the rider. See pony camp pictures (all the way at the bottom of this page).
Why Pony Camp?
Pony Camp is for children whom: 1. may or may not of ever ridden a pony or horse before or 2. the child
needs more than the one weekly lesson and more "horse time". Camp is designed to give children
ages 6 and older an opportunity to spend most of the day riding and learning about horses. (For ages under 6, call or email for custom tailored pony camps for these ages. We will group younger ages together for a shortened modified pony camp.) We call it Pony Camp but horses and ponies will be ridden, depending on the size and experience of the child. See Pony Camp pictures at the bottom of this page.
What can Pony Camp offer?
At the end of pony camp, depending on experience, willingness to learn, and age many children can ride alone.
All children will learn to care, groom, lead, mount, and ride a pony or horse. Some children come to pony camp to learn to ride and others to have fun while riding a pony. We mix games with riding throughout the camp week and
keep them easy enough but challenging that everyone WILL accomplish riding goals.
My son has grown up with horses but other than a handful of times riding alone and many times being led in
lead-line classes at horse shows, he knew nothing about horses. And he didn't like them!! But I insisted he attend
a pony camp in April (2008) and he went from tears to smiles to blue ribbons and trophies at the local horse shows.
One week of intensive pony camp and he is riding by himself, showing at horse shows, and winning. Riding skill is
50% of a winning combination, having a good horse is the other 50%. But it all started with pony camp.
Activities Offered
Camp will include daily pony/horseback riding lessons, horse management, safety, stable management,
pony/horse care, equestrian demonstrations, grooming, group games, and christian devotion
during lunch. Children that have never ridden will be led at first, , then ride by themselves if able.
All riding is done in our riding ring. Utmost safety of all children is a priority. Children will have multiple
riding lessons throughout the day and may be in the saddle 3-4 hours per day. Each child will be
assigned a pony/horse, but may ride multiple ponies or horses throughout week. Larger children
may ride a small horse instead of a pony. At the end of pony camp week each child will be given
a photo book of their week at pony camp.
Go to the bottom of this page and see photos of our facility or click on the Facility Web Page at
the top.
Pony Camp: Schedule and games
Day 1
9:00am Introduce, Groom, Saddles and bits and bridles, learn to Saddle, learn to lead. Lead to the ring, learn
basics of horsemanship.
11:30-12:00am Unsaddle, Groom. Horse Managment: tying, feeding, hoof care, start on learning the parts of horses, turn
ponies out for lunch grass, kids have lunch.
12:15 Bring the ponies in, groom, saddle, lead to the ring, lesson. Getting familiar with your pony.
2:30 Lead back to the barn, unsaddle, talk over what we've learned. Horse psychology. Craft.
Day 2
9:00am Groom, Saddle, lead to the ring, basic horsemanship lessons. Getting comfortable on the pony:
bending exercises.
11:30-12am Unsaddle, Groom. Horse Management: feeding, health care. Turn ponies out for lunch grass,
kids have lunch.
12:15 Bring the ponies in, groom, saddle, lead to the ring, work the obstacle course.
2:30 Talk over what we've learned. Horse management: vaccinations, worming, basic horse care, training horses,
showing horses, work on learning parts of horses. Craft.
Day 3
9:00am Groom, Saddle, lead to the ring, work the obstacle courses.
11:30 - 12:00am. Unsaddle, Groom, turn ponies out for lunch grass, kids have lunch.
12:15 - Bring the ponies in, groom, saddle, lead to the ring, lesson and pony games
2:30pm Lead back to the barn, unsaddle, talk over what we've learned. Quiz the kids. Craft.
Day 4
9:00am Groom, Saddle, lead to the ring, obstacle course, pony games.
11:30 -12:00am Unsaddle, Groom, turn ponies out for lunch grass, kids have lunch.
12:15 Bring the ponies in, groom, saddle, lead to the ring, obstacle course, pony games.
2:30pm Lead back to the barn, unsaddle, talk over what we've learned. Quiz the kids. Craft.
Day 5
9:00am Groom, Saddle, lead to the ring, pony games.
11:30 -12:00am Unsaddle, Groom, turn ponies out for lunch grass, kids have lunch.
12:15 Bring the ponies in, groom, saddle, lead to the ring, mini horse show.
2:30pm Lead back to the barn, unsaddle, talk over what we've learned. Awards. Craft.
Pony Games
1. Golf ball and spoon
2. Pony Camp Barrels/Cones - go around the cones like running the barrels, fastest time wins.
3. Bouncey pony - This race involves a pattern of cavelletti and poles. The horse has to walk over a cavelletti, and
then bend around a pole. This leads them to another cavelletti. They continue on until they complete the course.
Fastest time, with least faults, is the winner. A fault is: incorrect pattern followed, missing a pole; rapping a jump; refusing a jump.
4. Keyhole race -Running a horse into a keyhole shaped chalk mark, turning and running back out without stepping outside the
boundaries of the keyhole.
5.Obstacle race - This can be set up in a variety of ways. It can include cavelletti, a barrel to crawl through, poles to bend around,
a sack race to the finish. It tries to combine several different events in one.
6. Rescue race - Rider on horse picks up another person standing on the ground.
7. Tag You're It - toss a coin to see who is "it" first, that person walks or trots around till they tag someone else whom is it.
Repeat the process.
8. Relay race - pair against pair. Ride your pony around the cone, don't step on it, come back and touch your partner's hand and
then they run down and go around it, first one back wins.
9. Bun eating race (Buns or bread rolls are hung from strings from a crossbar. Riders ride to the bar, and then without using their
hands, eat the bun. First to eat the bun and gallop back to the start is the winner. The fun part is trying to stop your horse eating the bun!
10. Easter Egg hunt on ponies. Candy will be hidden, 2 riders will work together to find the candy, one on horseback one on
foot. First one to get the most candy in their basket wins. Everyone gets to eat the candy with your pony.
11. Bob for Apples - Kids compete bobbing for apples, then the ponies compete against each other. First child and pony to
get their apple, wins.
Games Ponies Play
All of the games can be customized depending upon the ages and ability of the pony campers.
Golf ball and spoon, bouncey pony, keyhole race, obstacle walk/trot race, trail course, bob for apples (kids
compete first, then ponies compete), rescue race, bun eating race, Easter egg hunt on ponies and Pony
Camp barrels. We do alot of obstacle course games which the kids love. To make it more fun, each child
gets to "be the judge" of who they think did it the best. Any age can be the judge, which makes it more fun!!!
Group discussions follow of "why, who, and how" so that everyone's opinion as the judge is given merit.
One person may win, (or may have a 5 way tie) but everyone gets the prizes as kids work in pairs and individually. Focus is on
sportsmanship and team building.
Schedule.
Camp hours: campers arrive each morning at 9am and stay until 3pm.
All camps are from Monday - Friday.
For 2009 the camps are specialty group camps that I will be holding. These are camps that parents/kids have requested that they will attend together with only their group kids. If you wish to attend a camp, please call or send an email and when 4 or more kids have responded, we will agree on a date for the pony camp.
Spring 2010
Specialty group (1) camp
Summer 2010
Specialty group (1) camp
Specialty group (2) camp
Camps can be made available based on attendance. For younger ages, modified camp hours can be made available with 3 or more campers. Please call or email for availability.
Camp Objectives
Camp is designed to teach skill in horsemanship and horse management. Campers learn a realistic
view of horse ownership and are educated on horse health, safety, care, and training. Pony camp is
not only entertaining and great physical excercise but teaches responsibility, sportsmanship,
and cooperation. The ability of working in small groups to accomplish projects, chores, and horse
drill activity is emphasized. Children will have a better understanding of ponies and horses at the
end of pony camp week.
Horse Shows
We teach english and western horsemanship skills. Children will learn proper seat and form for either style that they choose for the week. Though our end result is to have the rider look "show ready", pony camp is designed to have fun while learning, so games and obstacle courses that may be encountered in a class at a horse show are taught but in a creative manner. Campers will learn to guide their horses through a trail obstacle course and other fun activities and games on horseback. See our Horse Shows page for what english and western syles may look like.
What to bring and wear?
Lunch and bottled water.
Sunscreen (summertime and sunny days)
Cool or warm clothes and jacket
Long pants or breeches
Riding boots or shoes with a hard sole and heel (no tennis shoes for riding)
Optional: a change of clothes and tennis shoes
What do I not bring?
Jewelry
Cell Phones (unless you can keep up with it)
Radios, CD players, Game Boys, video games, etc..
How do I sign up?
Sign up here thru the web site on the form below.
Camp: cost is $300 for a week.
Camps are limited to 5 children per session. Please email or call for availability. To enroll send 50% deposit with the below registration and release forms to:
It's A Pony Party
1214 Fleming Road
Youngsville, NC 27596
Make checks payable to: It's A Pony Party.
Balance is due on the first day of camp.
If rainy days occur we will do barn activities with the ponies.
Once pony camp starts, monies are non-refundable.
Questions: 919-414-2737
Or click on Contact Us on the web page above.
CUT AND PASTE THE 2 BELOW FORMS INTO AN EDITOR, PRINT AND MAIL.
**********************************REGISTRATION FORM********************************
NAME OF CAMPER______________________________________________
PARENT______________________________________________________
AGE OF CAMPER_________________________
ADDRESS____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
HOME PHONE____________________Cell Phone____________________
RIDING STYLE PREFERRED: (circle only one) ENGLISH OR WESTERN
PRIOR RIDING EXPERIENCE_______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
WHAT DO I HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH IN PONY CAMP?
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
HEALTH ISSUES / ALLERGIES / FEARS / OTHER?_____________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
AMOUNT PAID____________________________________
WEEK ATTENDING________________________________
Release of Liability
It's A Pony Party -Pony Camp
I, the undersigned, wish to participate in the It's A Pony Party - pony camp event on _________________ 20____. I understand that during portions of this event I will be in close proximity to one or more horses under circumstances which may expose me to some risk of injury, because of the nature of horses, the facility, and the activities in which I will be engaged.
In consideration of the It's a Pony Party - pony camp allowing my participation in this event, I, on behalf of myself, and my heirs, administrators, personal representatives, assigns and children and spouse, if any, do hereby agree to hold harmless, release and discharge It's a Pony Party, which includes its owner, officers, directors, members, agents, representatives, affiliates and insurers, of and from all claims, demands, causes of action and legal liability whether known or unknown, anticipated or unanticipated, due to the ordinary negligence of It's A Pony Party -pony camp. I shall not bring any claims, demands, legal actions or causes of action against It's A Pony Party - Pony Camp for any damage or loss due to bodily injury, death or property damage arising out of my participation in this event.
Warning
Under North Carolina law, an equine activity sponsor or equine professional is not liable for an injury or to the death of a participant in equine activities resulting exclusively from the inherent risks of equine activities. Chapter 99e of the
North Carolina General Statues.
____________________________________ ______________________
Signature of Participant Date
____________________________________ ______________________
Signature of Parent or Guardian Date
(If participant is a minor.)
![Pony campers have their ponies do the "bobbing for apples" contest.](http://content.breederoo.com/users/ewbowman/images/photos/gallery/1452657.jpg?0 "Pony campers have their ponies do the "bobbing for apples" contest.")
![Midnight won the first round of the "bobbing for apples".](http://content.breederoo.com/users/ewbowman/images/photos/gallery/1452656.jpg?0 "Midnight won the first round of the "bobbing for apples".")
![Even Comanche go to do the "bobbing for apples". She could not figure it out for the life of her.](http://content.breederoo.com/users/ewbowman/images/photos/gallery/1452655.jpg?0 "Even Comanche go to do the "bobbing for apples". She could not figure it out for the life of her.")
