Any suggestions on sleep away riding camps for girls. Would prefer Northeast or California. I already know about Foxfield.
No idea, but there have been threads about what happens to the horses after the camp is over. Whichever places you check out, I’d ask what they do with the horses at the end of the summer. Hopefully not everybody dumps them, but some do.
If you’re looking at New England area then I would suggest Pony Farm (Touchstone Farm). I went there several years when I was a kid, worked there as staff as a teenager. Camp was riding focused with everything from up/down lessons to more experienced kids taking green ponies out showing, doing local medal classes, etc. I know they’re still running the camp the same way, but I can’t speak to who is leading the riding part of the program. The farm keeps its horses/ponies year round and uses them for therapy programs in the off season. Many of the ponies are well bred and competitive hunter ponies.
There’s also plenty of other activities that the kids enjoy each day, very much a camp and though they ride every day (sometimes twice), the emphasis is on being a kid. There is lots of variety, good food, camaraderie…if I wasn’t so busy I’d go up for one of the reunion weeks and enjoy the adult version of Pony Farm (complete with sangria trough). Too fun!
Foxfield Riding School has a great camp. It is located in Westlake Village, CA, just north of Los Angeles. http://www.foxfield.com/camp
Boarding schools with riding programs typically do summer camps. A few I know of to take a look at: Stoneleigh-Burnham (MA), Chatham Hall (VA), and Ethel Walker (CT).
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I went to Camp Friendship in VA for many summers - not sure what the riding program is like now, but back in the late 90s/early 00s the program was great for a variety of skills and also included non horse activity. I loved it.
I second Pony Farm! I spent several years there and every summer, I consider taking a leave of absence so I can go back again (despite the fact that I’m in my mid-20s…maybe they wouldn’t notice?). I can’t say enough good things- the ponies are well trained, happy, and healthy, there’s always something fun for the kids, the food is amazing, and I have lifelong friends because of my time there. I’m convinced it’s a paradise on earth.
Me too! Same time period too, wonder if we met!! I always went to the short week, though.
I’m not sure if I grew out of it or if the program changed, but I remember not having as much fun my last year there. My horse that I had ridden every summer was suddenly very sour, and the trainers all seemed super young and inexperienced.
I highly recommend SJ Riding Camp in Ellington, CT! I went for years and always had a ton of fun. It’s a girls only camp, with riding offered twice per day, and lots of other fun activities. I always loved my instructors and the horses were great as well. You can find more information on their website, http://www.sjridingcamp.com/index.html, and feel free to PM me with any specific questions.
I also went to SJ Riding Camp in Ellington, CT every summer until I aged out. I absolutely loved it. Really fun. And, they’re a reputable camp that has a great program for retaining their camp horses.
