Horsemanship Camps on the Peninsula and in the South Bay

A boy and his dog? Sure. But kids' fiction is also full of tales of the special relationships between children and horses - a bond that allows them to do wonderful things.

For some kids, learning to ride and getting to know a horse is the most gratifying thing in the world. If learning to be in tune with an animal several times his or her size gets your child excited, then horsemanship camps are in order.

Many of the riding programs below have been in business for decades, and new partnerships with YMCAs or city recreation departments have combined the best of both worlds for full day-camps.

Patch's full list of summer camps, from language immersion to sports camps is in our 2013 Patch Guide to Summer Camps.

Patch hopes to add to this list, so please put your suggestions in the comments section. 

Horses

Summer Riding Camp Los Altos Hills Recreation offers weeklong sessions for ages 6-60 at Westwind Community Barn from June 11 to Aug. 1. That’s right, it’s not just for kids. Each rider is assigned his or her own horse for the week to get the feel for the responsibility and fun of horse ownership, and the whole barn experience. Cost: $400 (Los Altos Hills residents), $430 (Los Altos Hills non-residents). Info: 650-492-1620 or janekawa@gmail.com

Summer Horsemanship Camp Los Altos Recreation, through Spring Down Equestrian Center offers two-week camps, June 17 through Aug. 30, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. where students, 6 years old and up learn safety around horses, grooming, tacking up, exercising horses and riding. Cost: $750 (Los Altos residents), $768 (non-residents).

Moss Beach Ranch Horse Camp offers a summer full of fun and exciting camps that teach kids how to ride and care for horses. Children ages 6 to 15, beginner through advanced intermediate, enjoy five days of riding, vaulting, horsemanship, and much more. We also offer a watershed education program. Cost: $475/week. Info: 650-728-0700, rich@mossbeachranch.com

Equestrian Camp Through the El Camino YMCA, Webb Ranch in Portola Valley offers a one-week camp June 10-14, July 8-12 and July 29-Aug. 2. Students learn horse safety, care grooming, equipment and stall maintenance and riding. Children must wear closed-toe shoes, long pants and optional helmet. Campers are based at Bubb Kid’s Place at Bubb School in Mountain View and travel for the horse component. Cost: $406-$487.

California Riding Academy Horsemanship lessons from basic riding to vaulting & horse maintenance for ages 5 and up.

Webb Ranch Riding School The Portola Valley  family-owned offers weeklong summer program mornings June 10 to Aug. 30. Many dates are already filled. Cost: $295. Info: 650-854-7755

Horsemanship Camp Spring Down Equestrian Center in Portola Valley offers one- and two-week camps that teach riding, horse care, barn safety for ages 6 and up. Cost: $425/week

Folger Stable Summer Horse Camps Children 7-16 learn to ride next to a national historic district inside Wunderlich County Park, one of the most beautiful and scenic parks around. The one-week camps are run 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., June 17 to July 19, and teach how to care for, saddle up and ride at a walk, and on the trail. Cos: $100/day or $400/week. Info: 650-529-1028

Garrod Farms Summer Horse Camp Garrod, in Saratoga, offers one- and two-week full-day camps for kids 8 to 15 in Western riding, with English style available in special circumstances. Campers must wear clothing specified on a list. Camps begin June 10 and end Aug. 16. Cost: $520/week, $969/two weeks.

Other horse camps to consider on the Coast in Pacifica and Half Moon Bay include:

Lazy H Ranch
Friendly Ponies Camp
Park Pacifica
Mar Vista Stable
Sun Valley Horse Camp

Know about a great horse camp we missed? Add the information—including phone number, email address and/or website—in the comment section below. Thanks!