Riding Campers Gain Confidence, Skills

bustles with activity all year-round and in the summer, a particularly youthful spirit infuses the 31-acre property when campers—many of them first-time riders—arrive at the farm for up to five weeks of hands-on experience with horses.

It's a lively atmosphere. Riders from other Westchester towns mingle with campers from the immediate area and as far away as California. Equestrians who board horses at New England Farm—which leases about half the stall stables in a barn connected to Courtyard—wave to the children, and a pack of friendly dogs from Great Danes to Jack Russell Terriers scamper about the property.

The camp is led by Phoebe Schecter, of Danbury, CT, who has been riding since she was four years old. She has a degree in Equine Business Management and trained at Wood Road farm prior to coming to Courtyard Farm, which is owned and operated by Kristen Carollo.

Carollo bought the farm in 2001. Built in 1904 as a country estate, the original barn was destroyed by fire in 1970. Carollo restored the property and has since acquired 27 horses—17 of them ponies—and has developed an operation that specializes in teaching young kids the joys of riding, she said via email to Patch.

"It's a chance for the kids to get to spend the day learning all aspects of horsemanship as well as learning to ride," she said. "Our goals are to form barn friendships and comfort around the animals—and most of all, to have fun."

The six-week program is offered to children ages five through twelve. Mornings are devoted to riding instruction and the afternoons typically offer horse-related crafts or activities—on one day, a blacksmith demonstration complete with a keepsake horseshoe for campers; on another, a "paint your horse" activity which seemed way better than dressing up dolls (see photos with this story).

Jessie Schneidman of New York City assists Schecter with the day-to-day operations of the camp. She said she came to Courtyard because "it’s a great show barn and they take great care of their horses." She's been there about two years but loved horses all her life—admitting to being 'that horse-crazy kid who read Black Beauty 50 times' before getting into the equestrian life herself.

Schneidman described the camper experience as very hands-on. Campers learn how to dress and mount their pony, gain basic riding and grooming skills," she said.

There are others who help.

Kathryn McCarthy, 9, of New Canaan and Sophia Marino, 11, of Larchmont, board their horses at Courtyard and routinely take other ponies out for exercise in addition to having a “junior counselor” role at the camp, according to Schecter.

On the day Patch visited the farm, McCarthy, from atop her horse Molly, said what she enjoyed about the camp was helping the littlest campers—age 5—learn how to care for the horse.

“The little kids really like to groom the horses,” she said. “And I help them put the on the bridle and the girth. Their favorite job is to brush the horses.”

Marino, who keeps a dappled grey pony named Posh at the farm, added that sometimes campers were afraid to put the bit in a horse's mouth, and she helped them get over their fear. She also likes discussing good horsemanship. “It think it’s important to have fun, and enjoy the ride as an activity you can do every day,” she said.

Students can ride even if it rains in the indoor riding arena; there's also an outdoor riding ring and a grass ring in the front of the property.

Last week’s campers included kids from the area and as far away as California, and they appeared to have gained an impressive body of knowledge in a short amount of time.

Hanna DeVine, 6, of Bedford Corners, said a favorite activity had been creating flower boxes during craft time. Nina Brunner, 9, of Bedford Hills, said it was fund to brush her horse and learn the benefits of shortening the reins.

Michael Kooyma, 9, who attends , said he learned that horses aren't simply brown, black or white.

“That horse [gesturing to a whitish horse being groomed] is flea-bitten gray," he said. "There’s also many different browns, like Brown Bay and Bay Roan, when a horse has five black markings on it.”

Though camp is winding down—this is the last week coming up—the farm stays busy all year long, Schecter said. “We offer lessons Tuesdays through Sundays, and Kristen is always busy going to a lot of shows. Horses are a seven-day-a-week job."

Camp is offered at $550 per week and lessons are $75 for a half-hour and $100 for an hour. Visit their website for more information.

Editor's note: The story originally noted Sophia Marino's horse as Anakin; she boards a dappled grey pony named Posh. We fixed the copy and regret the error.