The Dallas/Fort Worth area is a bustling metropolitan area that spreads out over the north Texas region. Interspersed among the crowded freeways, high-rises and suburban sprawl are quiet ranches that offer equestrian programs. During the lazy days of summer, parents can choose from a number of ranches that offer your kids horseback riding camps for a healthy outdoor exercise.
Special Needs Riders
Children with special needs can benefit from attending an equestrian camp. Hippotherapy is a form of physical therapy, occupational therapy or speech therapy using the horse as a treatment tool. Rocky Top Therapy Center in Keller offers weekly camps, called Right TRAIL, during the months of June, July and August. Masters-level counselors will teach your child life skills such as sequential thinking, increased concentration, spatial awareness and improved physical awareness.
Frisco Horse Park in Frisco offers 11, one-week camps for children ages 6 to 13. The Special Buckaroos camp begins on the last week of camp and serves not only special needs children, but underprivileged youth as well. Day camp hours run from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. During the camp your child will learn the basics of horse care, Western riding and ranch skills; participate in crafts; and listen to guest speakers talk about ranch life.
Area Ranches
Northeast of Dallas is the North Texas Equestrian Center in Wylie. Its grounds span 50 acres near Lake Lavon and the facility primarily focuses on English riding skills. Trinity River Farm on the east side of Fort Worth also focuses on English riding skills. Each offers three different sessions for different age groups and skill levels. Stony Meadow Equestrian Center, in Crowley, teaches both Western and English style riding for beginning and advanced riders. Its classes start in the morning and end in the late afternoon. Flower Mound Equestrian Center is an English riding camp located in Flower Mound near the northern shores of Lake Grapevine. Its classes begin at 8 a.m. and end at noon. Frisco Horse Park offers Western riding lessons during its all-day camp.
Learning the Basics
Most ranches divide their campers into groups based on skill level and ability to learn. Beginners will focus on basic skills. For example, your child may learn safety awareness, barn and horse chores, how to saddle and unsaddle a horse and grooming. He may also learn horse anatomy and the different breeds. Your child will also learn to mount and dismount and lead the horse and sit with proper posture. Some camps provide individualized lessons based on the rider's skill, and also teach barn and ranch skills.
Intermediate and Advanced Skills
If your child can ride a horse at a slow canter without losing balance, she may be considered an intermediate rider. Riders of this skill level may learn how to ride in circles, perform serpentines and an advanced canter, sit the trot and how to stop the horse at any gait. If your child is more advanced, she may learn how to jump, learn how to perform choreographed routines while seated on the horse, and then hone existing skills for competition. Additional disciplines riders can learn include English dressage, hunter/jumper, English equitation, Western dressage and Western pleasure.
Other Activities
During the summer, the temperature can get up to 101 degrees or higher. For this reason, most camps schedule actual lessons atop the horse in the mornings. After the lessons, the camps may offer less intensive projects and recreation. For example, your child may participate in activities such as scavenger hunts, arts-and-crafts sessions, casual trail riding, swimming, visiting with the horses during down time and watching videos. The camp may also provide riding demonstrations by professionals.
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