Great Summer Camp. Doozy of a Commute... (Summer Camps)

Member Name: mattygroves10

Product:	Summer Camps
Date:	07/10/05 (381 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: For children who like to ride, equestrian camp is fun...

Disadvantages: ...but your child may pester you for a pony. There is always some risk of injury

Each summer, my daughter (now 14) goes to summer camp (indeed, she was a 'CIT' - a Counsellor in Training, so she was helping to teach the younger kids) - that traditional American dumping ground for children during the long summer holidays. But she's not at any old camp. She's at an equestrian summer camp in Pennsylvania. Not bad, considering we live in England.

OK, OK, the commute only had to be done once - my daughter flies out to the US each July as an unaccompanied minor; we join her in the States for the last two weeks of each August.

She's been going since she was seven or eight. Every year, they have an end-of-camp horse (well...what else?) show. Boy, did I notice a few things. The camp is great - brilliant instructors, placid horses and ponies, clean and well kept premises. But what were some of the campers and parents thinking???

Yes, my daughter has been riding a few years now and therefore has accumulated some of the kit - obviously, as a parent, you're don't want to fork out possibly hundreds of pounds on the equipment for a hobby if you don't know what your child will think of it. But some is essential.

So herewith, what to know about equestrian centres - not just camps, but riding in general.

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Before Your Child Goes
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Whether it's a two week camp, or a nearby stable, check out a few things before you go.

*** DESIRE *** Does your child really WANT to ride, or do YOU want him or her to ride? There's not a lot of point if your child is scared of horses/animals/heights. If you're considering equestrian camp, make sure your child is emotionally ready for the challenge. Remember, it is a sport, and sometimes a physically demanding one. Take the cue from your kid.

*** STAFF *** Are the staff members certified? Can they not just ride, but also teach (just because you can do something, doesn't mean you can teach it). Go to the stables and watch a lesson in action. A lesson that your child isn't participating in. Does the teacher have control of both the children and the animals? One stable my daughter attended in England had a teacher who was obviously a good horse-person, but was a poor teacher. She couldn't control the lesson at all. That was no fun for anyone there. The children were frustrated, the animals bored, and I was at wits end listening to all the whinging.

*** ANIMALS *** Are the horses and ponies suitable for the age and skill level of your child? The school/camp should NOT expect your child to school the horse or pony. I've seen that happen, too. Size isn't as important as you might think it would be (that is the size of the animal, not the size of the child). Many larger ponies and small horses actually can make a better ride for a new rider, as they usually have a smoother gait. Often too, a small horse may be less tempermental than a pony (although, of course, not always). What is important is the temperament. You should not see a new rider on a very fiesty horse - again, that's not fair on either the horse or the rider, and will end in tears.

*** EQUIPMENT *** Do you have to provide a helmet for your child? If it's going to be your child's first riding experience, chances are, you are not going to want to part with a fair wad of cash for a hat that may end up moldering in a closet. Will the stables lend you one? If so, how much will it cost you? REMEMBER - anyone on a horse or pony MUST wear a helmet AT ALL TIMES. There are no exceptions. If the stable you are viewing has children or adults on horses or ponies without helmets, take your child elsewhere.

*** THE LEGAL STUFF *** Is the stable/camp sufficiently insured? At even the best stables or camps, accidents happen - remember, these are large and unpredictable animals. Have the staff members received adequate first aid training? Is there a doctor on call, or a hospital near by which knows about the stables? Touch wood, my daughter has never had an accident (she's only fallen off a couple of times ever), but with the best will in the world, they do happen. Make sure the camp or stables are prepared for it.

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OK - we like the camp - what does my child need?
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Some of the stuff your child should bring would hold true at any camp. If the camp has a pool, your child will need a swimming costume (duh!). If there are other sports activities, your child will need sneakers. Those kind of things. However, there are certain specialised equipment your child should have. Remember, not all items have to be bought especially for the camp - brown hiking boots can double as riding shoes if you are unwilling to invest in the real thing. Nevertheless, there are certain things you should have and keep in mind.

*** TROUSERS *** Contrary to popular belief, jeans are NOT the best trousers to wear when riding, especially when riding English. The seams on the inside of the legs will chafe, and therefore your child will be in some pain after two weeks (or whatever) of constant riding. Jodphers are, of course, ideal. As well as the fact they don't have the large seams on the inside leg, they are also padded at the tender areas of the butt and the insides of the calves. Barring that, any pair of trousers that are sturdy enough to take a beating but have small or no seams at the points of contact with the animal will do. Alternatively, any pair of trousers will work if you put chaps (leather outer trousers that buckle onto the legs). Shorts are a definite no-no unless your child possesses chaps.

*** SHOES *** Sneakers are out. Forget it. Don't even think about it. Sneakers have no heel (the heel helps keep the foot in the correct place in the stirrup), and have soles that are too 'sticky' to work well. They can be downright dangerous. Having said that, you don't need to mortgage your home for riding boots. Either get a pair second hand (that's what I did) or use a shoe or boot with a low heel, such as deck shoes or hiking boots. Recently, I saw two girls with heels that would floor a supermodel. That's taking the requirement for a heel to extremes. Again, those shoes were potential dangerous. Use your common sense, and/or ask at the stables for suggestions.

*** BACK PROTECTOR *** These are a lot more common in England than they seem to be in the US. They look like bullet proof vests, and for some reason, often seem to be blue. These are a bit of an optional extra, but recommended especially for certain groups of riders: those with disabilities such as dyspraxia or CP that may make them more prone to falling; those learning to jump or improving their jumping; those who need the extra confidence these can bring. My daughter used to wear hers in England all the time, and until this year, wore hers at camp (remember, in the US) when she jumped. Otherwise she doesn't at camp, largely because it was simply too hot (east coast USA summers, don't you know).

*** SENSIBLE OTHER CLOTHING AND VARIOUS MISCELLENIA *** OK - this seems obvious, but sometimes it's worth stating the obvious. Thick socks are good if the boots are a tad on the big side. The T-shirt shouldn't be so long that your child is sitting on it when in the saddle. If it's summer, a t-shirt is better than a sleeveless shirt, especially if your child is very fair skinned. Don't forget the suncream! If you're somewhere like the East Coast of the US, bug spray wouldn't be amiss. It's dusty and dirty - white shorts or trousers - even for the non-riding activities - is a bad idea (I found this one out the hard way). Make sure lunch, if you've packed it, is securely and dust-proof(ly) sealed. Pack loads of water and drinks if it's going to be hot. All that kind of common sense stuff.

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And Finally
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Once you've made the decision to send your child to riding lessons or equestrian camp, relax. I know, I've talked a bit about the dangers. But they're not a given - as I said earlier, my daughter has now ridden for several years and the worst that has happened was bruising. Light bruising. My brother, on the other hand, badly broke his leg playing soccer. Accidents happen with any physical activity. The point is, if you've done your homework, and your satisfied that all reasonable precautions have been taken, your child will probably love it. The main danger will be that little voice crying "Mummy, when can I have a pony?"

Normal programming may resume now (unless you've bought the pony, in which case you probably don't have a computer anymore. Or a TV. Or a house...)
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NOTE
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Here in the UK, I've noticed more and more 'activity weeks' (which would typically be called 'day-camp' in the States). These are often based at schools, although not always, and have often, I think, been created to cater for the children of working parents (although if THAT'S true, why do they nearly always run from around 9.30 to 3.00 - how many bosses of full-time employees would allow their employees to work those hours?!).

Day camp (and sleep-away, for that matter) is an established concept in the States, and there are camps that are general outdoor/activity camps (i.e. Scout camps, 4H camps), and there are camps for specific interests (my daughter's equestrian camp, I went to computer camp - OK, I'm sad).

Just thought you should know!

Summary: Equestrian summer camp - be prepared, have the right equipment, examine the stables, have fun