Camp Horses: What You Can Do
When choosing which summer riding camp to attend, make sure to find one that treats its horses and other animals with proper care and respect. Start researching early and have a list of questions ready to ask those in charge. For example:
- How long have you had the horses currently at the camp? Where did they come from?
- What kind of care do the horses receive while they’re here?
- What happens to the horses when the camp season ends? Do you lease the horses or do they live at the site year-round?
- When a horse becomes too old to perform or sustains an injury where they can no longer be ridden, what do you do with them? Are they retired and placed in kind homes? Do you sell horses at auction?
If camp owners, dude ranch operators, or other staff members can’t or refuse to answer these questions, the answer is simple — look elsewhere! Also, ask if the camp is American Camping Association accredited, which means they follow set standards to maintain the barn and its inhabitants, including safety for horses and campers.
The best and most reputable camps are the ones that keep their equines all year long and retire them when they can no longer work.
