|
 Gallop
Off to Riding Camp
Its
that time of year when kids are packing to go off to summer camp. If you are
especially lucky, you get to go to a horseback riding camp!
Parents have
questions, so I asked around to find some answers.
You may decide
to send your child to day camp, or overnight camp. If your child has never spent
a night away from home, this is a good time to try it out. It will be
supervised, and they will be entertained, plus have the company of other
children. Let them enjoy the experience. It really is best not to call every
day or night asking your child if they are lonely or homesick. If you put the
idea into their minds, it will surely happen. Let them find their own place and
learn to get along with others. Most camps will allow children to send
postcards home, but discourage phone calls and email. The child is at camp to
do new things and meet new people, so let them do that. Children who are away
for the whole week will often become homesick at night when activities are a
little more low-key and mom isn’t there to tuck them in, but come the morning
sunshine, when its time to brush their pony and get back in the saddle, a smile
will return to their faces.
So what should
you bring to riding camp? Your camp will have its own set of rules, so check
with them first. A certified riding helmet is mandatory for children to ride at
all reputable places, and most insurance companies demand it. Some camps
provide them, some require you buy your own. There is a huge variety of styles
and price ranges, but remember your child’s safety is on the line here. Don’t
be tempted to borrow your adult neighbour’s helmet from when she was a kid.
First of all, it won’t meet today’s certifications and secondly, if the helmet
has been through a bad fall, it is no longer equipped to do the job.
You will also
need a pair of low-heeled boots. Rain boots will do in a pinch, but are sloppy
on the foot and makes balanced riding very difficult. Running shoes have no
heel and run the risk of sliding through a stirrup. And don’t wear sandals.
Horse hooves and bare toes do not mix. You really need footwear with about a
one inch flat heel. Proper riding boots come in a tall style or short paddock
style. Both are excellent choices.
A light pair
of gloves is also a great idea. Reins can rub your fingers raw if you are
riding every day. You will also need a stretchy pair of pants. Riding breeches
are perfect, or course, but if you are on a budget, any leggings with stretch
will do. Sweat pants tend to be a bit baggy for the job. Nylon rain pants are
too slippery in the saddle. Shorts are out of the question for riding, but pack
some for after hours if you are going overnight. A sun hat, bug repellent and
sunscreen are musts. If your child requires daily medication, don’t forget to
give it directly to the Camp Director, with full instructions.
What should
you NOT bring to riding camp? Candy, cell phones, gum, pocket knives, matches,
lighters, etc. Gum can cause choking, either by the child riding, or an animal
that eats it when your child throws it on the ground. Please don’t pack it.
Candy sounds like a treat, but causes a lot of conflict among the kids and most
kids don’t need the extra sugar boost. Sharp objects and animals are not a good
idea. Anything that will start a fire should not be around a barn.
With this
advice, remember that the most important thing to bring to camp is a smile and a
good attitude. And warn your parents that if you aren’t already a regular
rider, the Horse Bug might just bite you!
Heather Spencer is the owner of Harrowsmith Horse
Country, a retail store selling equestrian equipment and casual country
clothing.
4930 Hwy #38 in the heart of Harrowsmith
heather@harrowsmithhorsecountry.com
(613)372-5085
This article appeared in the June/July 2008
issue of The Scoop Newspaper.
| 
