What to Bring to Summer Horse Camp
A Young People’s Guide to Packing for Camp with Their Horses
Nov 11, 2009
Every summer, horse camps throughout the country get ready for thousands of children and youth and their horses to arrive. Camps that have horse riding programs are very popular, and programs which allow youth to bring their own horses are in high demand. Some summer equestrian programs are for girls only, but many are open to both boys and girls. There are even some (although fewer) horse camps for adults. Here is a list of things to bring for yourself and your horse.
Packing for Summer Riding Camp: Yourself
- A trunk or large duffel bag to store everything in
- Enough sets of clothing for the entire length of stay for casual wear, hiking, swimming, and attending meals
- Enough socks and underwear for two pairs per day
- Sleeping bag, pillow, extra blanket
- Sneakers, flip flops
- Riding clothes: breeches or jeans, riding boots, riding socks, tee shirts (do not plan to ride in tank tops – they are deemed unsafe in the case of a fall at many camps because they will not protect the skin of the shoulders), gloves, helmet, watch
- Show clothes, if the horse camp has a final horse show at the end of the stay – bring a garment bag to keep these clean until they are needed
- Toiletries: everything for the shower, hair elastics, towels, contact lenses and glasses
- Beach towel, sunglasses, sunscreen, hat
- Water bottle to refill before heading to the barn
- Any prescription medications, and hand these in to the camp nurse at the beginning of your stay
- Paperwork needed for health personnel
Packing for Summer Riding Camp: Your Horse
- Enough feed to last for the entire length of stay
- Hay (some camps will provide it, so check first)
- Buckets for water, feed, and washing
- Salt
- Shavings (again, some camps will provide shavings for the stall too)
- Muck bucket and pitchfork
- Grooming supplies, including shampoo and sponges
- Tack: saddle, bridle, girth, halter or two, lead ropes, whip, spurs, anti-sweat sheet, boots or wraps, a few saddle pads to rotate through if they get soaked with sweat
- Paperwork needed for barn personnel
- A hand-made sign for the horse’s stall, with cute pictures, his rider’s name, and other information needed for his stay at horse camp
Extra Supplies to Make Equestrian Summer Camp More Memorable
- Camera
- “Dress-up” clothes: funky clothes for free time and meals with a theme
- Journal and pen for writing down what you learned or did during the day, and also for getting new friends’ email addresses
- Some cash (no more than $20) for the camp store (sometimes, camp administrators collect this at the beginning of camp so children are not handling money – or losing it in their duffel bags!) Use this to buy a camp tee-shirt, some postcards, and some stamps. Then write home!
- Lots of enthusiasm and willingness to try new things
Things to Leave at Home While Away at Summer Horse Riding Camp
- Food (when living in cabins, snacks attract unwanted critters)
- Cell phones (or at least turn them off)
- Appliances (hair dryers and curling irons pose a fire hazard)
- Bad attitudes!
Use this list as a guide for packing for horse camp. Lots of camps will send a more comprehensive list once a child is enrolled, so be sure to use their suggestions. Since all camps are run differently, be sure to know whether the camp will provide hay and shavings for the horses, snacks and drinks for the kids, and anything else that indicates what should go in the duffel bag.
Enjoy your horse vacation!
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