Join us for an exciting, action packed
week of
Horsemanship Skills Development & HARD CORE RIDING
FOR ENGLISH AND WESTERN RIDERS
Click here for the 2007 Training Camp Slideshow
June 29 - July 5, 2008
Our Horse Training
Camp for girls is designed for
English & Western
riders ages 11 -18 yrs. An
excellent
girls' camp for riders with good basics,
Horse Training Camp is for those with an interest in
looking beyond
just taking routine lessons. We
believe
that
essential
riding skills develop
and
expand when learning to
train horses, and that
the step by step process
of training is
fun!
There's always great comraderie among our
campers, and
this fun & educational week long
program incorporates riding
skills alongside
horsemanship and plenty of one on one RIDING
time. It's a full immersion camp, with great
educational & horsemanship features!
Prior experience with horse training is NOT necessary ~ this camp is all about learning important,
universally accepted equine training techniques that are simple, straightforward, and easy to learn.
Learning to train horses makes riding more FUN, because knowledge is POWER! We welcome youths
of ALL riding skill levels, including recreational riders. Because a well trained horse is a joy to ride!
As always, we spend MANY
hours in the saddle per day, on our safe and reliable school horses.
Riding both in the ring AND on the trail, and the girls will enjoy and develop a special rapport
with their
very own
horse for the week. Best of all, the information is presented in a fun, enjoyable
format which
allows the girls
to learn at their own speed and with the help of our staff and their fellow campers.
Between camping and
swimming & riding - what more could a girl ask for in a summer vacation?
With 3-5 hrs riding daily, this camp is open
to six riders from Western
and six riders from the English seat. Best of all, they will be
enjoying a horse of their very own for the whole week.
The training skills learned during the week
allow the campers to
better enjoy their current,
or future mounts. Using our friendly and
playful
babies, our ready to start
youngsters
(for demo only)
and of course
our safe and well mannered school
horses,
on which the girls
will
learn
and
practice
their new skills ~ the campers will get some really
great hands on
experience
under the direction of our
friendly staff. The topics covered
incorporate
practical
techniques
from both English and Western seats
because in
reality, the basics of BOTH seats are very
similar, differing only
in the 'finishing off' of the process.
It's a real eye opener for our campers!
Youths enjoy a well designed program covering ALL the basics.
Some of the subject areas to be covered will include:
- Horse training
techniques - Safety during training
- Lungeing & Roundpen Skills - Practical 'start' programs
- Developing the 'already started' horse - Bits and Bitting
- Finishing a horse - Training equipment - Animal husbandry
- Starting a horse on cattle and over fences
PLUS a broad range of ESSENTIAL Management skills from
Bathing and Braiding to Buying without Burning!
and of course
LOTS OF TRAIL RIDING
AND ONE ON ONE TIME WITH
THEIR FAVORITE HORSES
!
Throughout the week, the girls will be very
involved with training (from the ground)
ALL of our youngsters! From handling and
halter training the weanlings & yearlings, to
'sacking out' and desensitizing the two year,
olds, to actually learning to ground drive
the colts in preparation for their first
ride ~ the girls will enjoy a very BROAD
expanse of horse training skills development.
Last year, we had SIX babies that our campers got to
maul throughout the week - it was awesome!
Besides being interesting and loads of fun,
this
practical hands
on experience teaches critical equine
skills. The girls can safely
learn in a friendly, one on
one setting. It's the perfect camp for
the horse crazy
teen who simply can't get enough of learning
about
horses and improving their horsemanship.
Here, 14 year old Brittany ground drives a two year old
- Brittany is now training horses on her own!
As with all of our unique
programs here at the farm, the main
focus is
simple - spending time RIDING! Our Training camp
offers girls a chance
to socialize around the clock with other
youths who share their passion.
And, what better way to
escape the city?! This camp is not just about
important
ring sessions - we get to do lots of TRAIL RIDING. Our
forest
property backs onto the best trails in Ontario, with
stream and lake
crossings, sandy spots to canter, and many
trail obstacles to challenge
each horse and rider. While
focused on education, we of course leave
plenty of time
for swimming, socializing, and the all important R&R on
HORSEBACK! When we devised this camp during our latest
brainwave,
we tried for a combination of all our camps rolled
into one great package.
With a fine blend of camping, trail
riding,
ringwork, english and western
skills development,
plus the addictive adrenalin rush of working horses on
cattle and over fences, this camp tops them all! Meet
new friends
and
wear out the seat of your pants on horseback
- it's a truly exciting blend of fun and educational horsemanship.
As always, we go for full immersion! From
our
cozy
cabin
with nightly
crackling campfire
in an
on farm wilderness
campsite ~ to our
nightly
ritual of goofing around & relaxing
by a roaring fire or watching a movie
- it's an atmosphere
that's proven
itself to be a popular experience!
Relaxing at night and enjoying crispy
marshmallows and
comraderie
with their new
friends is a feature attraction of all our camps!
The week will be rounded out with a clinic all about
'teaching your horse to jump'. Condensed into a one day
session on our schooled horses, Penny will highlight steps
necessary to develop a horse over fences, including things like
soundness, developing rhythm, straightness, and impulsion.
'Teaching your
horse to jump" is a fun & interesting clinic -
the girls even learn how to design a course that will be inviting
and encourage horses learning to jump. Simple steps are the key!
This clinic is set up to accommodate riders who have never jumped,
so western riders have nothing to worry about. Our school horses
are used to the whole routine and will safely carry them through
the clinic over jumps that will keep them in their comfort zone -
crossrails are simple and safe, and our clinic is set up as a 'start'
program so that they can enjoy the process safely and effectively.
Everyone will benefit from cross training during this fabulous day.
Pictured left is Penny and her favorite horse Maggie - if Penny can do it, anyone can!
The following day, the girls will enjoy another feature
clinic -
taught by Matt and Penny, using our herd of
resident calves.
Working a horse on cattle isn't just
fun - it's ADDICTIVE!
In the past, all our campers
have had trouble deciding which seat they liked
better - and working cattle is a highly
exciting
sport that challenges riders of all levels and seats.
Even our English riders are going to love this one.
And
cross training between disciplines is a very
important part
of this camp - english and western
are mutually beneficial.
All of our riders will mount
up to chase some cows - and
this clinic is not just
educational, it's an absolute BLAST! Best of all,
it lays to rest the myth that western riding is
not technical. There is plenty of technique to learn,
and
our rambunctious little calves will teach the girls
almost
as much as the horses and clinicians!
Great fun, this cattle section of camp!
This camp is not just about expanding riding skills.
It's not just
about
spending countless hours of practical &
educational hands on time working
with our equine friends.
Our years
in the business have shown us that campers
enjoy
spending quality time just hanging out with a horse & their
new pals. There's always something to learn, even in the quiet
hours of the day. And
of course at sunset, what matters is that
every
camper enjoys their time
here at the farm. We're a small
camp that focuses on quality learning
time AS WELL AS one on one
time. Our campers come from everywhere
- from English to Western,
everyone mixes well and enjoys the experience. Camp is a horizon
broadening experience, and often, campers return yearly to
try
another of our TEN camps, with many a lasting friendship formed.
What matters most - enjoying quality time with a horse!
So if your young rider is comfortable around horses, is totally obsessed
with
riding, is comfortable at walk trot and at least learning canter, and is keen on learning a
more in depth focus on horsemanship & equine skills - this camp is a perfect solution!
Click here
for a downloadable application form,
and a list of what to bring to camp. Best of all, for THIS camp
there's nothing extra necessary! Just bring one pair of breeches
and one pair of jeans and we're ready to roll!
Follow this link to a page we've made highlighting all
the greatest tack stores
just in case you wish to purchase something for your child's summer horse camp
experience.
We'd like to help you outfit your campers within budget!
For more information on how to sign up,
please contact
Highland Wilderness Tours
Matt & Penny Nicol, Box 211,
Maynooth, Ontario, K0L 2S0
1-613-338-2330 or toll free 1-866-RYD-WILD
info@ridethewilderness.com