Camp Cullen Equestrian Camp
Camp Cullen Equestrian Camp
Campers in our Equestrian Camp are guaranteed to spend half of their daily activity time at the Equestrian Center with a dedicated instructor who tailors each lesson to the small class of riders and their abilities and desires. Since each camper is assigned their own horse for the week, a greater percentage of their time can be spent riding, though horsemanship lessons and other fun activities are also incorporated into the program with a greater degree of depth and independent practice than in our main camp program.
Equestrian Camp offers a 3-hour session each day where campers:
- Benefit from a smaller class size with a consistent instructor
- Build friendships with other horse-loving campers
- Care for their very own horse for the week (requests will be honored as possible)
- Enjoy exclusive experiences only available to the Equestrian Camp community
- Explore the longer trails and have a snack with their horse by the lake
- Help the wranglers feed and watch the horses run up from the pasture for their morning grain
- Spend an evening at the barn preparing to take home a ribbon at Friday’s equestrian camp horse show
All Levels Welcome
Equestrian Camp is open to all levels of riding experience. This includes campers who have never ridden before, have mastered the basics and who are ready for an increased challenge.
We will place campers in a class with other riders of similar ability according to questions on your registration form and a conversation with each camper at the start of the week. If we determine that a camper needs to change classes after the first day of riding, we will simply adjust their schedule.
Riding Styles
One of the best things about attending a YMCA horse camp is that campers have the opportunity to explore both Western and English riding styles at the lower levels by participating in mixed discipline classes. This is a great introduction that helps campers discover which riding style they prefer.
Advanced Riders
Advanced riders who are ready for complex maneuvers and patterns such as reining, dressage or jumping will need to commit to one style or the other for the week. Advanced riders are those who can balance and control the horse at the walk, trot and canter while focusing on complex instructions.
Advanced riders who plan to specialize will need to choose the horseback riding camp session that corresponds to their preferred discipline:
- Advanced Western will be offered sessions 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9.
- Advanced English will be offered sessions 2, 4, 6 and 8.