Horsemanship Camp for Kids

Has your child always wanted to learn how to ride a horse or been fascinated with horses? There are quite a few horsemanship camps for those horse lovers.

Morning Star Farm in Novato has a horsemanship summer camp for all those wanting to learn basic riding skills. Horsemanship camps are for ages 6-14. Activities include daily riding lessons, grooming, saddling, games on horseback, trail rides, and bareback riding. The certified instructors and assistants will guide your child through the process of learning about horses. There will be a horse show complete with awards at the end of each week where campers show off their riding and vaulting skills. There are half-day (9 am-12:30 pm) and full-day camps (9 am-4 pm). Half-day camps are $295 and full-day camps are $525 a week. They also have a Mini Camp for ages 6-7 from 9 am to noon for $325. New this year is a Rodeo Camp for ages 8-14. This camp is 1 to 4 pm daily and costs $325. For more information or to sign up for a camp check out the Morning Star Farm web site.

Willow Tree Stables also in Novato offers a Summer Riding Camp for ages 7-16 that starts in June. They offer full-day camps from 9 am to 4 pm and the cost is $500 per week. Campers have the experience of caring for and riding their own horse for a week in a safe, supervised ranch environment. Handling and grooming are combined with riding lessons and trail riding. Willow Tree Stables are located at 3777 Vineyard Road. For more info, go to  www.willowtreestables.com.

San Domenico School, located at 1500 Buttterfield Road in San Anselmo, offers morning (9 am to noon) horseback riding camps in several sessions from June 9 through August 8. Campers ride, groom, saddle, and bridle a horse, and learn about horse anatomy and health, as well as proper hoof care with the San Domenico blacksmith. Campers must be age 7+ and must provide their own appropriate riding gear. $400 per week; (415) 258-1944 or www.sandomenico.org.

Dickson Ranch in Woodacre offers summer camps for children ages 6-14. Half-day and full-day sessions are available. Call (415) 488-0942 for more information.