Hello! My kiddo (9) got back from summer camp this summer and loved it. She’d like to tack on a 1-2 week horse only (hunter style generally but she’s really only WTC) for next summer. Any suggestions anywhere along the east coast (ish).
Thank you!!
I looked into Camp Friendship for my daughter, but it was sold out by the time she decided she wanted to go so it must be popular. I went there as a kid 25 (or so) years ago and LOVED it. it is in VA and there is a day camp AND an equestrian only option.
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often, at least around here, there are holiday camps run either or both Thanksgiving week or over the end of the year holidays
I believe the OP is looking for an overnight camp, not a day camp.
It may be too far south for you, but Valley View Ranch near Mentone, AL (it’s in NW Georgia) is sort of magical. It’s a second generation family run camp with many or most of the counselors having been former campers. It’s not posh, and that makes it sort of perfect. Good food, safe cabins, lots of elbow room and trail rides and nature, as well as real responsibilities for the camper’s assigned horse. They do western, English, and even vaulting if there are enough interested campers.
How fun! Not seeking posh. Thank you!!
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Another vote for Camp Friendship in Virginia! I went there as a kid decades ago and absolutely loved the equestrian camp. We got to take the horses swimming and went on a full moon trail ride one night. The horses were great, as were the counselors and lessons.
How fun!! It’s truly amazing that these camps even still exist.
@ChevyChaseRider
I looooved SJ Ranch as a kid and it’s still going strong! Not posh but solid basics and fun.
I just noticed your user name and what a coincidence! When a friend of mine was the trainer at Meadowbrook Stables in Chevy Chase, we used to go down to Camp Friendship and pick up 6 or 8 of their ponies to be used in Meadowbrook’s lesson program over the winter.
Might bee too far and too long (six weeks, I recall), but Culver Military/Girls Academy has an excellent program and 135 horses. They have a focus on jumping, polo, and dressage as I recall. My kiddos and grand kid didn’t do summer camps, but they did enjoy the horsemanship program when they attended high school there. https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1452195725229360&id=210074806108131&comment_id=765474481147223
The Grier School in west/central PA runs an overnight summer camp. Horses and facilities are wonderful! Went there for years as a kid and hear it’s only gotten better. I think the last issue of Plaid Horse had an article on the school’s equestrian team.
Brown Ledge Camp in Colchester, VT
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I’m also a camp friendship alum! I loved it there as a kid. fair warning: expect everything you send with your kid to come home covered in virginia red clay that you will never get off.
a kid from our barn goes to boarding school at Grier and it looks like an amazing program.
Ethel Walker has a great residential camp that many of my friends went to in the past:
Dang I was hoping this was about a camp for us big girls to attend
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Oh I’d be into that thread too!! Thanks
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