Pony Camp Structure/Outline Help!

I am hosting a 1 day Pony Camp, I have 3 ponies to do the camp with and access to larger western horses if needed. 1 Instructor and 2 counselors on hand.

Looking for ideas/structure 5 kids, 10 am - 3 pm

10:00 Check in, Campers receive T-SHIRT, Activity Book, Campers read barn rules as they are read aloud.

10:15 Demonstration

• How to Approach a Stabled Horse
• How to Groom a Horse with activity in activity book
• How to Lead a Horse (demonstrate then have students practice

10:45 Campers are assigned to a horse or pony to groom, Counselors tack ponies for mounted riding lesson



11:00 Mounted Riding Lesson and Games



12:15 Lunch


12:30 Activities from activity book

Learn colors of the horse, horse colors quiz follows (in activity book), word scramble, etc.


1:00 Horse Shoe Painting/Decorating and T Shirt Decorating


2:00 Games: Playing in Sprinklers in swimsuit, Game 1: Water Balloon throw, Game 2 Balloon Pop,



3 PM Pick up





Please give suggestions on what to do for the mounted riding lesson and mounted riding games. Also looking for more unmounted games to end the day with.


For the mounted session I consider breaking the group up into a group of 3 and a group of 2 and incorporating games that required two people, Please make suggestions!


Thanks!

I'd be careful how complicated you get with what you do in the mounted games - for the lesson you should probably just focus on balance and properly steering the horse, using legs, etc. Very very very basics, and then maybe set up cones in a line and make them steer through as "practice" ?

Okay thanks I agree to keep the lesson simple and down the basics. Walk, halt, turn. Go through Cones, 2 point over poles.

The games I have came up with so far:

Egg and Spoon Race
*Campers broke down into 3 groups of 2
*1 Camper leads the horse, the other has the egg and spoon, walk to one side of arena, campers switch (mounted vs handler) then back. 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place Ribbons awarded
(I will be using plastic eggs for this to avoid the mess)

Pin the Pony - Each group gets a stack of post its labeled with various parts of the horse. Then they can stick them onto the horse.

....I need more!

It's obvious that you have put a lot of thought into this plan. Any child lucky enough to go to this camp will be really thrilled.

That said, my experience with children is that everything planned takes at least 50% longer than you think it will. So, you may find that you dont' actually get to the mounted lesson til later than planned.

And depending on the age, kids might want more time to just 'love on' their pony. If they are fearful, they may like to paint the pony into a "war pony". Be sure to have time for photographs. You could make certificates for the kids, takeing a print off of "their" ponies hoof, for them to take home. Tangible things to take home are valued. And having time for them to talk with each other is important. Too bad you don't have more time than one day.

Our barn is owned (when I say "our" I mean where my lease horse is kept) by a family who does a pony camp every year. They do several short week sessons and get a huge response, such that it is actuall a pretty good money maker.
The kids just love BEING near the horses. And if there are other animals at the barn, such as chickens or goats, they enjoy feeding them.

They might like to feed your ponies, too.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Games...

Riding while holding a cup of water
Red light/green light
Follow the person in front of you (leader walks or trots around changes direction etc)
Mini jousting/tent pegging

There's a book of mounted games but I forget the name of it
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