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Summer Horsemanship Program

During the summer, instructors at the Karen Stives '68 Equestrian Center offer an intensive and educational summer program. 

Overview

Riders develop their skills under saddle as well as participate in hands-on horsemanship workshops. The program focuses on hunt-seat equitation and emphasizes safety, learning control, correct position, and developing confidence at beginning through advanced levels. Each rider experiences a classroom without boundaries that inspires discipline, responsibility, and teamwork.

Who

Riders of ALL experience levels are welcome — including first-timers!

  • Sessions 1-4 are open to young riders between the ages of 9-15 year old. 
  • Session 6 is dedicated to 7-9 year olds. 

Dates and Rates 2025

Camp runs Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Sessions will be one and two weeks long and tuition will be $800/week.

Nonrefundable deposits of $200 are due on February 1 and nonrefundable balances are due on April 15. 

The session dates are as follows:

Session 1: June 16-20
Session 2: June 23-July 3 (prorated)
Session 3: July 7-11
Session 4: July 14-25
Session 5: July 28-August 1
Session 6: August 4-August 8 (7-9 year olds)
IEA/AEL Bootcamp: August 11-15

Registration Dates

Dana Hall Families: Enrollment opens at as 9 a.m. on January 13 
General Public: Enrollment opens at 9 a.m. on January 20 

Dana Hall Families: Register Now

Typical Day

  • Camp check-in begins at 8:30 a.m. on the equestrian center patio.
  • Hands-on, unmounted horsemanship lesson: over the course of the camp session, campers will learn about various types of tack and training aids, nutrition, horse colors, markings and breeds, and many other important aspects of horse care. 
  • Campers will then groom and tack their assigned horse in pairs. While one partner rides, the other partner will help with stable duties, including stall cleaning, scrubbing water buckets, and picking paddocks, and then the partners will switch and those doing barn chores will ride and those who just rode will do barn barn chores. 
  • After lessons and barn chores are completed, partners will take care of their horse and tack before breaking for lunch on the patio.
  • Following lunch, we will have a horse-related arts and crafts project (pool noodle horses, creating miniature jumps, etc.) or fun activity before campers are picked up at 1 p.m.

Fun Fridays

  • Final Friday Exhibition: Family and friends are invited to come watch their rider's lessons from 10:00 to 11:15 on the final Friday of camp. 
  • First Friday Fun-Khana: For our two-week sessions (Sessions 2, 3, and 4), campers will enjoy gymkhana events (mounted games) on the first Friday of their session.

What to Bring

ASTM approved riding helmet, jodhpurs-style long pants, hard-soled paddock boots, snack and lunch, and water bottle (water bubblers for refills located at the barn). Campers are also welcome to bring a change of clothes.
 

This camp must comply with the regulations of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and be licensed by the local board of health.