Canada Larga Ranch
Ventura, Calif.
(805) 643-6093
www.CanadaLargaRanch.com
Does your child love horses? The Canada Larga Ranch Summer Day Camp is designed for them! Its premier riding program is for horse-crazy campers who’ll participate in a wide variety of horse activities including two daily English riding lessons, mounted games, horsemanship, horse care, barn chores and horse crafts. At the end of each week session, campers put on a horse show for family and friends. Camp is located on a private, gated 3,500-acre ranch located just minutes from downtown Ventura. Camp runs weekly from June 16 – July 18. Call Melissa Tracy at (805) 643-6093 to register or for more info, and check out the camp’s website.

Monte Vista Equestrian
Watsonville, Calif.
(831) 206-9707
www.montevistaequestrian.com
Monte Vista Horsemanship Camps offer a tremendous opportunity to learn about horses and to ride for hours, every day. The camp has a beautiful facility with comfortable cabins for resident campers, and it also offers full-day and half-day camps for locals. Campers will enjoy riding Monte Vista Equestrian’s wonderful horses as well as a variety of other activities including archery, swimming, special horsey crafts — plus marshmallow roasting around evening campfires. Riding lessons are top quality, and safety of horse-and-rider is emphasized in the arena and on the trails. Resident Campers arrive Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m., and then spend the entire week learning about horse care and developing riding skills — along with all the other camp activities. On Saturday morning, campers have an opportunity to show off their skills in our Horse Show with parents and friends among the spectators. For info or to register, call (831) 206-9707.

Riding Academy of Orange County
Orange, Calif.
(714) 744-8120
www.ocridingacademy.com
Horseback Riding daycamp will be the highlight of your summer, as the Riding Academy of Orange County offers kids a safe, fun environment where they can satisfy their horse passion. With over 20 years of experience teaching and developing horse riding programs for children, Mailei Bennett and her staff bring a unique “hands-on” approach to each summer camp session. She believes that balancing riding with educational materials enhances the camper’s experience with horses. Located at a private facility in Orange, every camp will offer five days of riding instruction, games on horseback, educational sessions, and a pizza party on Friday. Campers will also receive a camp T-shirt and workbook. Camps are filling fast, so call (714) 744-8120 or email! Theme weeks are offered for ages 8 to 14:

Horse Boot Camp provides the horse enthusiast with a great opportunity to learn about horses – who they are, what do they eat, where do you muck, why do you groom, and how do you saddle.

Horse Show Camp simulates a real horse show experience. Campers will be taught the class basics – showmanship, English and Western Pleasure, Equitation, Horsemanship and Trail – during the week. On Friday, they will have an opportunity to show and earn awards.

Trail Camp highlights the Irvine Park/Santiago Oaks trail system where campers will ride, be one with nature and see the wildlife. Participants must be at least 11 years old and have a minimum of six months of current riding experience.

English Riding Camp introduces a Western rider to hunt seat. Campers will learn the basics of riding English, how to post and change diagonals, use of a direct and indirect rein, and two-pointing.

English Jumping Camp focuses on the details of reading and designing a course, understanding the tests required of the horse and rider, and knowing the difference between hunter and jumper show requirements. Participants must be able to canter.

The Ranch at Bandy Canyon
Escondido, Calif.
(760) 871-6494
www.bandycanyon.com
Looking for something fun and different for the kids to do over the summer? Try our equestrian camp at The Ranch! Our campers learn about horses and ranch life while meeting new friends along the way. We teach the basics of riding, the care and safety of horses and other farm animals, and how to clean all of your riding gear. Kids will get a camp shirt for the week, as well as a craft to take home daily. Camp runs Monday through Friday from 10 am to 3 pm. Spots fill up quick, so call and reserve now! Ask for details about our Early Bird Specials and sibling pricing.

The Riding Academy
Menifee, Calif.
(951) 301-9272
www.theridingacademy.com
The Riding Academy’s Horse Day Camp, located in Menifee less then five minutes from Murrieta, Sun City and Hemet, offers daily horseback riding and vaulting, gymkhana (games on horseback) and vaulting demo on Fridays, daily horsemanship, playday on Wednesdays, swimming, winning ribbons, horse drill teams and more!  The Riding Academy has certified riding instructors, life guards and has been family-owned and operated since 1986. With over 20 years experience in the industry, it offers a quality horse daycamp — a fun-filled week of horses. Campers groom, saddle and ride, and by the end of the week, campers that have never before ridden will impress you with their horsemanship skills. The Riding Academy staff takes pride when its campers learn to halter, lead, groom, saddle and ride in one week. The horse day camp is for beginner riders, as well as for advanced riders, with the horse day camp focus first on safety, second on fun and last, but not least, learning. Typically, camp fills up quickly, so staff recommends you take advantage of its early bird discount to ensure your child’s space!

Wagon Wheel Ranch
Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.
(310) 567-3582
www.pvhorses.net
Wagon Wheel Ranch Summer Camp will provide your child a chance to experience country values and horsemanship. It is the only camp in the area where your child will ride trails for two hours each day, and it’s also the only camp with a flexible schedule — you choose days that are convenient for your family! Come one day a week or more if you want. Class sizes stay small, so your child receives quality guidance. Wagon Wheel Ranch offers horse camps for children 10 years and up, all year round. Just minutes from Los Angeles, Long Beach and Orange County, Palos Verdes is the perfect location for your children to spend some fun quality time, riding horses and camping! Contact Pat for upcoming camp dates and to set up your visit.