Being faced with about twelve children to entertain, look after, baby-sit and inform for an extended period can be a daunting task. When you throw in twelve tons of horseflesh it can be downright scary. But there are ways to keep the kids busy from dawn till dusk and leave them exhausted enough to give you minimum trouble in the evenings. Your aim over the next few days will be to cram as much horsey-information into their heads as possible. Here are a few activities that will keep them out of your hair and that are an essential part of any pony camp.
The first step of the camp, of course, is to allocate them ‘their’ ponies/horses. Make sure there is not going to be too much of a personality clash and try and suit the pony to their riding ability. Stable Management must be taught to any child that is going to be involved with horses. This will include mucking out stables using shavings as well as straw or any other form of bedding you may use. Allow at least an hour every morning for mucking out and washing feed and water buckets. Let them each feed their own ponies, and explain what types of feed each one gets and why. Also tell them that feed for horses is not limited to what yours may eat and explain the difference between the various feeds.
Cleaning tack is an essential part of riding, and a necessary evil to going to shows and owning expensive riding equipment. Take this opportunity to teach them the different parts of the tack and how they can be changed. For Example: the bit of the bridle. Teach them about different types of bits and for what discipline each is used. As well as what effect each one of them has on the horse and his performance. The same applies to saddles, martingales and safety equipment like brushing boots and bandages.
Grooming can be immense fun for the kids. Show them how to groom correctly as well as the correct terminology for the equipment. They must groom at least once a day. Allow washing of manes and tails if the weather permits as well as pulling of manes and tails. Showing them how to plait is also necessary, especially for boys! Demonstrate how a horse or pony should be turned out for a show, this will help them turn their ponies out for the end of camp show.
Cover basic veterinary. Bandaging of legs, causes and treatments of colic as well as basic cleaning of wounds and what to do to avoid your horse getting various illnesses. If you can organize it, get the farrier to come and shoe when the children are at the camp. This will allow them to see how the horses are shod, and sized for shoes.
Try and expose the children to as many different disciplines while they are on the camp as possible. Showing, dressage and cross country, while not as popular as show-jumping are all an integral part of a well schooled horse and it won’t harm the pupils to see if they enjoy each part as much as another. Try and take them to see different shows which cater for these disciples.
Lunging, free jumping and cross-country exercises with the pupils are vital in teaching them various skills. Exercises for balance, seat, and position can be done while they are on the lunge. Beware however, as you are bound to have a number of falls, though they probably won’t be serious. Free jumping is also an excellent way to help with the seat and especially for children with hard hands. If they have no reins they learn other methods of control.
Games on the ponies are inevitably a huge success. Be careful not to have young horses involved as the excitement could cause them to get overly rambunctious and either a child, or more importantly an expensive horse could be hurt. However these games teach vital skills, such as control of the horse as well as rider skills.
Most of all keep the kids busy and make it fun for them. Take them to studs or on other horse orientated outings to places they don’t see all the time. Treasure hunts, ni
ght rides and picnic rides though, nerve wracking to organize, are always fun and the children will always appreciate the change.
Allow time to go over theory and quiz them on what they have learnt so far. Allow for two rides/lessons a day, as well as theory time, and try to have awards you give out at the end of the camp for the highest marks, best team (if you have split into teams), best stable management etc. A final day show is a great way for the kids to show off for their parents and earn themselves and you some brownie points.
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