It may be too early to start planning summer camp, but maybe you have spring break camp, or want to use these for a rainy day!
Horse Camp Ideas
LessonsInTR Posts
- Pool Noodle Stick Horses post
- Four Corners get to know you version
- Rainy Day and Horse Camp Craft Ideas post
- Unmounted Horsemanship Activities post
- Groundwork Activities for Grooming, Tacking, Leading post
I just added ideas on the LessonsinTR Pinterest page!
Outside Links
- This Article with some horse camp activity ideas
- The Best Horse Camp website – you need to join to get full access
List of More Ideas
- Assemble a bridle races – for an extra challenge make them do it blindfolded
- Identify the tack – pull items out of a pillow case and ID them, for an extra challenge do it blindfolded
- Play-Doh horses – have them make models of their favorite horses
- Stall name plates – make with craft materials
- Picture frames – make using old horse shoes
- Pillow cases – decorate with horse themes, or tie dye them
- T-shirt – they bring a white T-shirt from home and decorate, tie dye, and/or everyone signs them
- Paint the bones – on a light colored horse with fingerpaint
- Health & Maintenance Records – make for their horses
- Scavenger hunts
- Skits – Dudley Do Right is one of my favs but has nothing to do with horses
- Lunge line lesson – teach them to lunge each other
- Bandaging – practice by bandaging each other
- Braiding – teach the different braids: hunter, dressage button, running, tail braid, french braid, etc.
- Make horse treats
- Painting jumps
- Create a Musical Freestyle – kids pick a song and make a routine for it in the dressage ring
- Tie dye camp logo or horse print T-shirts
- Simon Says – label/touch the horse part, study one side then touch it on the other side
- Horseless Horse Show – with or without a stick horse, have them do all the gaits and lead changes, even jumping or dressage test
- Capture the flag on horseback
- Costume Game – each team gets a horse, lead it through an obstacle course, at the end is a bucket of costume items, put something on the horse, then bring it back, each team member does this until everyone’s had a turn, and the best dressed horse winds
- Make brow bands with beads, leather, etc.
- Horse Magazine Bingo
- Horse Camp Jeopardy
- What’s wrong here? Game – hide barn stuff in the paddock and have the kids search to find things that don’t belong and would be a danger to the horses there
- Grooming contest – at the end of the week each camper grooms and tacks their horse to perfection and is judged for cleanliness and correct tack placement, along with polo wraps, tendon boots, bell boots, and ankle boots
Sources:
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Note: This is not professional advice, this is a blog. I am not liable for what you do with or how you use this information. The activities explained in this blog may not be fit for every rider, riding instructor, or riding center depending on their current condition and resources. Use your best personal judgement! If you would like to contribute an activity or article, please contact me here, I would love to hear from you!