Summer Horse Camp Review a sampling of horse camps offered in the mid-south area What would summer be for children without a camp experience? For children whose pastimes and passions involve horses, there are many summer horseback riding camps to choose from. Following is a sampling of those offered in the mid-south area. If you know of other horseback riding camps that we’ve missed, please send your camp information to the Mid-South Horse Review. Call (901) 465-1905 or e-mail midsouthhorsereview@yahoo.com. Be sure to check out the end of the article for adult camp opportunities! Aintree Farms Pony Camp 2010 is a great place for summer fun in Germantown, TN. The camp is geared toward beginner, advanced-beginner, and novice riders. Session One is June 14-18 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. each day. Session Two is July 12-16 from 9:00 a.m. to 2: 00 p.m. Daily activities include an hour lesson with professional staff on safe school horses, horsey arts and crafts, and creative learning about horsemanship and barn etiquette. Campers can cool off at the end of the day with a swim in the neighborhood pool. Camp week concludes with a horse show where campers can show off their new skills for their parents. Instructors are Louise Turley and Jody Becker, with lots of counselors n too many to mention. Aintree Farm is located at 8999 Claiborne Farm Dr. in Germantown, TN. For information call Dee Pellegrini at 901-748-0025 or email aintreefarmstable@yahoo.com. Autumn Chase Farms 2010 summer camps are May 31-June 4, June 28-July 2 and July 12-16. Camp hours are 9 a.m-2p.m. with early drop off and late pick up available. Activities include horseback riding, trail rides, hay rides, arts and crafts, team sports, and swimming. Their rider education program spotlights safety, understanding, and fun. Autumn Chase Farm is a hunter/jumper show barn located off Hwy. 72 southeast of Collierville, TN at 217 North Lenderman Road, Byhalia, MS. For more information, visit the website www.autumnchasefarm.com or call (901) 751-3408. To reach owner/trainer Jason Schnelle, email: jason@autumnchasefarm.com or call Jason’s cell phone (901) 378-6557. Dogwood Farms, in Collierville, TN, offers four sessions of summer Horsemanship Camp: June 14-18, June 28-July 2, July 12-16, and July 28-30. Camp meets Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will be held regardless of weather. Horsemanship Camp is aimed at children 6-12, teaching them about the world of horses in a fun-filled environment. Through hands-on horse-related games and activities, campers learn about the care of horses, their characteristics, breeds, colors and safe handling both on the ground and while mounted. Dogwood Farms is a hunter/jumper training facility located at 9582 East Shelby Drive. For more information, contact Pat Brennan, Camp Director, at (901) 279-4527. Find Dogwood Farm on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Collierville-TN/Dogwood-Farms/230682843779 or visit their website: http://www.dogwoodfarmstn.webs.com/ Dogwood Stables, at 624 Lakewood Dr. East in Jackson, TN, offers two sessions of Summer Day Camp: May 31- June 4 and June 14-18. Camp runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday -Friday and is for children ages 7 and up at all levels of riding. Riding instruction is oriented toward hunter and dressage disciplines. Daily activities include riding lessons, crafts, yard games, and horseback games. Campers learn riding and horsemanship skills through lessons, games, and practice time. On Fridays there is a fun show so parents can see what their children have learned during the week. Susan Jacks is the instructor for beginner through intermediate hunter riders. For information, call 731-217-8635. More information is available at their web site: http://www.DogwoodStablesJackson.com Hillside Stables, at 2720 Red Banks Rd. N., Byhalia, Mississippi, offers summer day camp for riders ages 10 n 16 years. Campers ride, train in the round pen at liberty, and learn horse psychology. This is all horse n all the time. Camp Director PK Theobald holds twelve endorsements with Dennis Reis Universal Horsemanship. Camp promises your child/grandchild a week of learning more than go and stop and turn left and right. Camp dates: May 24-29, May 31-June 4, June 7-11, June 14-18, June 21-25. Contact PK Theobald at (901) 857-7500 or (662) 838-7500. Find more information by visiting their website www.HillsideStables.com and on Facebook. Holly Springs Horse Camp is a one-week overnight camping experience August 1-6 at Yester Year Lodge, a recreation of a frontier town typical of the early 1800s settlements of Mississippi. It borders on Holly Springs National Forest and is located near Mt. Pleasant, MS. Campers sleep in rustic cabins or tipis. Explore the Holly Springs National Forest on horseback. For more information call Terri Draper at (901) 634-7484. To inquire about other camping experiences at Yester Year Lodge, call Cindy O’Neill at 901-491-8426. Visit their web site at http://www.YesterYearLodge.com. Horsemania Camp, located at Coyote Run Arena in Mason, TN, offers day camp for boys and girls ages 6 and up, plus there is an overnight camp for girls ages 7 and up. Camp curriculum includes an introduction to horse safety, grooming, saddling and western riding taught by an HSA certified instructor. Other activities include arts and crafts, waterslide, volleyball, fishing, games on horseback. Sessions start June 1 and continue every week through June and July. Coyote Run Arena is a 74,500 sq. ft. indoor equine facility, so camps are never rained out. You can register online at www.horsemaniacamp.com or contact Terri Draper at 901-634-7484. Hunter’s Edge Stables at 5366 Forest Hill-Irene Road, Memphis, TN offers a variety of camps and clinics, open to children ages 6 and up who love horses. On May 22-23 is the 2010 Germantown 4-H Clinic. Summer camp sessions are June 7-12, June 28-July 2, July 5-9, and July 12-16; camps are Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Campers learn how to properly care for a horse, ride, and participate in fun activities. The first session takes place during the Germantown Charity Horse Show and campers will have the opportunity to participate in the Costume Class at the show. The third session will help campers prepare for and participate in an Alderwood Schooling show on July 10. The fourth session will help campers prepare and participate in an Oak View Stables schooling show July 17. For more information, call Beanie Cone, head trainer at (901) 759-0450 or email beanie@huntersedgestables.com. Website: www.huntersedgestables.com. To download camp brochure, see http://www.huntersedgestables.com/docs/2010/2010_Summer_Camp_flyer.pdf Maple Grove Farm, at 4961 Windsong Park Drive in Collierville, TN offers Farm Camp for children ages 4-9. Daily activities include pony rides and petting farm, zip line, swimming pool and more. Camp instructors encourage each child's curiosity, creativity and capacity for personal growth in a non-denominational Christian atmosphere. Farm Camp event weeks are: June 7-11, Farm Mania; June 14-18, Wild West Hoedown; June 21-25, Nature Farm; June 28-July 2, Gold Rush Canyon; July 5-9, Barnyard Round-up; July 12-16, Ghost Town Gulch; July 19-23, Sheriff’s Posse; and July 26-30, Fishing Hole. For information about Maple Grove Farm Camp, contact Tim and Nicole McDaniel at 901-861-7422 or visit their website at www.maplegrovefarm.net. Marigny Park Stables at 4525 Mebane Road in Oakland, TN has summer camp for children ages 6-16. Camp is June 14-18, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, and features group riding, horsemanship instruction, games, and crafts. For more information, contact Ashley Fant at (901) 603-6231; email Ashley at ashley@audreyssolutions.com. Visit their website at: www.marignyparkstables.com. Oak Hill Stables, at 670 County Road 101 in Oxford, MS offers Camp Oak Hill June 13-August 3. The Girls Horseback Riding Camp is for girls 7-19 years of age, experienced to beginner riders. Choices are overnight camp and day only camp. Camp activities include riding, swimming, arts & crafts, field trips, and horseshoes. Private and group horseback riding lessons are available in English or western disciplines. Sign up deadline is May 15. Oak Hill Stables Bed and Breakfast is located five miles from the Square in Oxford. For information contact Owner/Inkeeper Laura Sale at 662-234-8488 or 662-801-2084; email laura@oakhillstablesbedandbreakfast.com. Visit their website at http://www.oakhillstablesbedandbreakfast.com/ Download camp brochure at http://www.oakhillstablesbedandbreakfast.com/images/images_page_54/2010%20Camp%20Brochure.pdf Oak View Stables at 13600 Looney Road, Olive Branch, MS offers fours sessions of Horsemanship Day Camp for children ages 6 to 17. Camps run Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. with early and late care available. Camps sessions are June 14-18; July 5-9; July 12-16; and August 2-6. Camps are a fun, safe introduction to horsemanship and are structured for beginner, intermediate and advanced riders. Additional camp activities include trail rides, cross country jumping, obstacle course, arts and crafts, moon bounce, and scavenger hunt. New this year is the Pony Pee Wees Day Camp, a 5-day camp for children ages 4-8. Camps run Monday n Friday, 8 am n 12 pm. First session is June 21-25; second session is July 26-30. For more information, call Rose Marie Lawson at (662) 895-4544 (barn) or (901) 550-8954 (cell) or Victoria Hickerson (901) 461-2523 (cell). Camp forms and information are available at their web site: http://www.oakviewstables.net/DAYCAMPS.html Old West Special Trails, at 12200 Macon Road (near Collierville-Arlington Road) in Fisherville, TN, offers summer day camps beginning May 31. Camps run Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. n 5 p.m. with a new camp starting each week. Danny Cooley teaches western horseback riding from beginner to advanced riders, with an emphasis on safety. Campers enjoy arena riding and trail riding in mornings. Afternoons include a variety of games and crafts. At the end of the week, campers participate in a horse show on Fridays to demonstrate their new skills. For more information call Debbie Cooley at (901) 490-5555 or Danny Cooley (901) 485-4103. Visit their web site http://oldwestspecialtrails.org. Raintree Equestrian Center, 9142 Mineral Wells Road in Olive Branch, MS, offers summer Horse Camp June 7-11, June 21-25, July 5-9, and July 19-23. For more information, call Marie Swilley at (901) 857-4074 or visit their website www.raintreeequestrian.com. Shady Creek Farms, at 11081 Shady Lane, Eads, TN offers summer day camps for various ages. weeks, from June 1-July 31. Program teaches first time riders through advanced riders the horsemanship skills needed to safely ride and handle horses and ponies. Experienced trainers and staff teach beginner and intermediate riders English horseback riding. There are informational and practice sessions about the basics of horse care and safety around the barn. Camps conclude with a Friday horse show. For more information call Julie Lindow at (901) 854-0040 (barn) or (901) 262-1173 (cell), or email julie@shadycreekfarm.com. Visit their web site: www.shadycreekfarm.com/camps09.htm South Wind Stables, at 10181 State Line Road, Olive Branch, MS, runs Summer Camps for children ages 5 and up for 6 weeks, beginning June 7 (July 4th week off) and ending July 23th. Camp hours are Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Camps are filled with hunter jumper training, trail rides, stable games, and equestrian crafts. Instructors are Tamara Shipley, Peggy Hart, Sarah Zurenko, and Ann Ford Upshaw. For more information, contact Ann Frost, aka “Frosty,” Barn Manager at 901-828-4199. Visit their web site and click on “Summer camp:” www.southwindstablesms.com. Trinity Farm in Lakeland, TN offers an English riding summer camp for children ages 5-12. Camp dates are June 7-11 and July 12-16. Instructors are Poppy Gunter Doyle and Katie Andersen Nelson. Camp runs from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. daily and includes riding lessons, games, arts and crafts and equine fact sessions. For more information about Trinity Farm, located at 10365 Monroe Road, visit www.trinityfarmtn.com or check their Facebook page. Poppy Gunther Doyle can be reached by phone at 901-867-8682 (farm) or 901-483-2705 or by email at trinityfarmtn@aol.com Triple R Ranch, at 524 McCarter Road, Marion, AR (12 minutes from downtown Memphis), offers a Christian-oriented summer horse camp for children ages 6-14. Camp teaches Western riding to beginner through advanced riders on gentle ponies and horses, with trained counselors. Horse-related activities after rides include games, arts & crafts, swimming. Children learn safety around horses and the basics of grooming, saddling, bridling, and care of the horse. Kindness for horses is encouraged in a positive atmosphere. Camps run weekly from June 1 through mid-August, Monday-Friday, 9 am-2 pm. For more information, call Robin McCarter at (870) 739-4893. Victory Ranch Summer Camp, at 4330 Mecklinberg, Bolivar, TN is a non-denominational Christian summer camp and retreat center. Victory Ranch hosts about 800 campers each summer and features top outdoor adventure areas and great accommodations. It is located on 550 acres of rolling hills and woodlands in Hardeman County. Camp includes horseback riding among a host of other activities. Six summer camp sessions run June 1-July 24. Some camps for boys only, some for girls only, some coed. Camp information and forms are available on their website: http://www.victoryranch.org/summer-camp.html or call 731-659-2880. Adults and parents: want to send yourselves to camp, too? There’s a riding camp for adults! The Mississippi Eventing and Dressage Association and Cedar Wind Farm in Oxford, MS offer their 6th annual Adult Dressage Camp June 10-13, 2010. Clinicians are Bess Reineman, Evie Tumlin, Peggy Gaboury, and Will Montgomery and others TBA. This year camp includes an Eventing Program, with a brand new Novice course that has some great “questions.” In addition to daily riding instruction, there will be daily lectures by clinicians on nutrition and other topics. Capable Junior Riders are invited to enter either the pure Dressage or the Eventing groups. Auditing is available for a modest fee. For more information contact Evie Tumlin at 662-234-3785 or email etumlin@cedarwindfarm.com. Find applications at www.cedarwindfarm.com.