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There are many things to consider when looking for a horseback riding camp. The first and foremost, is the style of riding your camper wishes to enjoy. The two main styles are English or Western.

Once you have decided the style of riding the next is the facility, and it's qualifications and safety issues.

By far the greatest pleasure and satisfaction can be had from riding if it is learned under instruction rather than picked up casually, for good habits and a sound basis formed in the early stages stand the rider in good stead later, should he/she should want to further their riding career.

When choosing a horseback riding camp for your child rider - look for a facility that is set up and desirable for teaching a "school environment" for first time, beginners and improving riders, and that offers riding lessons all through the year.

An indoor arena insures your rider will ride in all weather.

The facility's horses should be healthy and well taken care of and have suitable stabling for each horse individually. Options in the sizes of the animals should be suited to the riders height and weight, and level of experience. The horses need to be satisfactory for the purpose of the camp, the animals need to be quiet and sensible, experienced and have good manners and not under the age of 5 years. All these qualifications are not found frequently in young animals and a mature one is usually a more practical proposition to teach young and first time riders.

You also want to inspect all the areas of the facility to be sure that your camper will be safe and well supervised while they are at camp. The riding areas should be clean, enclosed and free of dangerous materials or machinery that may cause accidents to the horse or rider.

The camp you choose should have a director and counselors that have experience, and some formal certificate training with working with horses, and teaching beginner/novice riders in the discipline of the camps riding style.

Most horseback riding camps should offer more than just recreational rides. Camps should provide the proper instruction on both theory and experience. Horsemanship and how to care for a horse including, grooming, safety around horses and stable management should be offered.

Ratio of counselor to rider is also important. The lower the ratio ( e.g.: 1:4) is more desirable and the more one on one attention and supervision the camper will receive. Avoid large scale enrollment, and hap-hazard unsupervised instructional time when considering a camp for a first time or beginner rider.

Other things to consider are, what else does the summer camp offer? Is it a girls summer camp, boys summer camp or coed summer camp? Is it a sleepaway camp?

Many horseback riding summer camps offer other activities as well. There are great summer camps that are also a dance camp, performing arts camp, or offer other sports activities. The goal is to make yourself aware of the offering of the different summer camps and pick what camp will fit your child’s personality the best.