[hillsidefarm]

I love camp, and if it were up to me i would chose camp, but the horse you are riding has to be very fit, as i remember alot of horses going lame at my camp, even arfter the first day. also not having lessons can be a good thing, and it gives you a chance to get to know your horse better and lern a bit on your own.

 

[Saskia]

I guess it depends on the camp.

I'd normally say lessons because the level of instruction is likely superior.

Although, camps can be really, really good. It depends of course, on the camp, but I remember my first pony club camp was a turning point with my first pony. We'd spent months working on things but after a week of four or five hours of riding a day it all came together and we really started working as a team.

Although this was through the pony club with my own horse, and prior to this I had done camps through the local riding school and they weren't so good. Fun enough but I didn't really learn and progress in the same way. That was just basic flatwork and games, a few trails and jumps, but the pony club camp had really good instructors and we did dressage, showjumping, cross country, polocrosse, sporting and mounted games, along with other unmounted courses in farriery and driving.

So you have to make up your mind for yourself. If you're likely to be one of the best riders in the group you may get a little bored.

 

[vergo97]

The reason I want to learn about horse care is that I would love to loan a horse one day. My mum said that I'm not going to be able to spend any more time around horses until I'm in my 20's, and that I'm not going to be able to ride when I'm at uni/college because I won't have the time/money. I really don't want that to happen though, so I want to learn as much as I can about horse care now, so if I manage to get a job when I'm old enough I can loan a horse and know how to care for him/her.

One thing I'm quite worried about is that it's all going to be aimed around little kids and going to be a bit awkward.

I'm probably leaning towards lessons at the moment, but now I feel bad because I was sounding really interested in it at my last lesson, and then I'll have to say I don't want to go.

 

[EvilHorseOfDoom]

I'd go for the lessons myself.

Regarding horse care, try to explain to your mother that volunteering at the stables one day a week (or even half a day) will instill a good work ethic in you and teach you valuable stuff about how to get by in the workplace that will be useful in the future - and it also could get you references for when you need a job to support you in college (horsey or otherwise). Some places will even give you the occasional free lesson or ride but I wouldn't expect it.
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[EvilHorseOfDoom]

And I think a good instructor will approve of you choosing lessons over the casual fun of camp - so don't worry about disappointing them!
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[Saskia]

Don't cut off all your options for your future now! I don't know how old you are but as you get older you choose the options for your life.

I'm at university and I make time for my horse. It's about the choices you make in your life. Some people spend their money and time on alcohol or partying or fashion, it's just choices people make.

In your situation I'd go for the lessons.

 

[kitten_Val]

The reason I want to learn about horse care is that I would love to loan a horse one day.

vergo, the best way to learn the care (without owning a horse :wink: ) would be to offer help in barn you take lessons or volunteer in a respected horse rescue. If your mom is concerned about commitment you can always try the road of rescue: at least those in my area are not very restricted to when you come, and there is ALWAYS something to do and learn when you are in stable.

You can also do reading on horse care etc.

 

[calicokatt]

Do you have grandparents? Grandparents can be pretty amazing, and really surprise you, especially if you offer to pull weeds, wash cars, and scrub toilets! Or even neighbors. If you can get 4 neighbors to pay you $10 for washing their car once a week, would that cover your six weeks of lessons?

 

[vergo97]

My mum said that when I'm at uni I'll only have enough money to take care of myself. :?

She wont let my help out at the stables because she also says it will retrict what the family are able to do, like days out and weekends away because I will have to make a commitment to be there every week. I'm not sure what I can say to that.

I'll see if there are any horse rescues around, I think I might have to be 16 to be there on my own (I'm 14), but I'll check.

I'll tell the stable owner during my next lesson that I can't go because I would have to miss out on 6 weeks worth of lessons.

It's my birthday in August so I'll ask for some horse books.

My grandparents live three hours away and I hardy ever see them, so I wont be getting anything off them for my riding.

I can try to earn money for lessons, I have been trying to raise money all year (fundraisng for a school trip) but it can be difficult, especially because I'm quite young.

 

[Saskia]

I think at your age things can be especially hard. You're independently minded but still very reliant on your parents for many things.

Mums say a lot of things, and its true, at university money can be pretty tight, but it's hardly a be all and end all. I'm at uni now and people have let me ride their horses for free, and there are often exchanges that people can offer. Not to mention paid employment. I wouldn't worry about all that now, university is way off, you have no idea where you'll go or what you'll do or anything really, it's way too far off. You'll be surprised how quickly your grand plans change in ways you would never have guessed.

While you generally make a commitment at a stable, they're not going to be upset if you have to skip some, after all you're a volunteer. You could choose to go there at a time where you are unlikely to have other commitments - like there probably aren't many family outings at 7am on a Saturday morning, or straight after school one day of a week.

Keep going on with your lessons and later on, when you can get a job and drive, you can start to make more opportunities for yourself.

I think taking lessons is a good choice

 

[Cinder]

Hmm. This a tough one.

Is there any way you could find a different camp? Most of the ones around my area are at least six days long. There are some available for more advanced riders, too.

I will admit that consistent lessons are better for learning how to ride.

However, if you really want to learn things about basic horse care, a horse camp is probably one of the best ways to go.

If you have a choice, a camp where you go to a place and sleep over there would probably be your best bet.

I have very fond memories of horse camp that I will probably never forget. It's simply a blast, even if you're advanced compared to other people. That's how my cousin and I were at last year's horse camp. There's something to be said about being able to help people and having fun relaxing!

If you go alone, you'll meet new people. I'm very shy too, and the first time I was away from home for more than three days was at my first sleep-away horse camp. I hung out with the group I was with and had fun!

I totally understand about your mom. It's been an adventure trying to get my parents to let me ride. Eventually, little by little, they let up! Tell your mom that a weekly commitment to the barn doesn't take a huge amount of time, unless your driving an hour to get there or something. Tell her that it is very possible for children to be at the barn even if the family isn't horsey. It just takes a little time and effort from either her or your Dad to drive you, which I don't think is too much to ask.

 

[ThursdayNext]

Money is tight for a lot of college students, but it you learn to ride well enough, you might be able to either pick up some cash or to get some free rides - I'm on vacation right now, and I don't want my horse to stand around in the paddock for a week getting lazy and losing his conditioning, so I pay someone to ride him. Not a lot, but it makes a difference to her, and I know that I'm getting him a quality ride and it takes the worry away from me. I know I'm not alone in this, either. A friend of mine who was in medical school (talk about time-consuming and expensive!) still had time to go exercise horses every week for a woman who had a string of 5 or 6 foxhunting horses, and not enough time to work all of them regularly.

It sounds like your mom isn't horsey at all, which is why she doesn't know about these things - don't worry about what is going to happen in the future.

Also, it's difficult right now (14 and 15 are two of the hardest ages to be, I think) but once you're a little older, you could get work mucking stalls and such, and instead of being a "hobby" like it is now, it would be a "job". My parents aren't horsey at all, and they don't really approve of time-consuming hobbies, but they *totally* understood "get a job". So that might work for you in the longer run. At least your folks will get you lessons - mine wouldn't even go that far.

Where there is a will, there is a way.