Some kids are perfectly content to swim, play basketball, go camping or just ride bikes over the summer, but what can a parent do if their child is longing for a different experience? The answer may be Krumkill Stables’ summer camps, which run weekly from June until August.
During the weeklong experience, children will learn all about horses and their care.
“Kids will learn how to get the horse ready to ride by cleaning and brushing the horse, especially where the saddle will be, as well as bridling the horse. We teach them to take care of the horse before and after riding, while with other camps, it is often get in the saddle, ride and get off, that’s it,” said Jean Bigaouette, the owner of the stables.
“It’s a very hands-on experience as opposed to just riding. It is a horse camp so children will have experiences with various breeds and how to take care of them.”
Jean Bigaouette
Throughout the course of the camp, children will learn all the different aspects of caring for and, of course, riding a horse. At first, they will learn the basics, such as how to lead the horse and how to make it start, stop and go where they want. They will advance past that stage as they get more comfortable.
In the morning, the kids will ride the horses, and they will be able to experience different breeds in order to learn the temperaments of the different animals. At first they will ride around the arena, but as their skills and comfort level progress, they will ride on the 60 picturesque acres of trail that the stables’ own.
After a short break for lunch with the staff, the camper will spend time with three mini ponies, where they will learn how to groom and clean them, including giving them different hair-dos and teaching them tricks.
“It’s a very hands-on experience as opposed to just riding,” Bigaouette said. “It is a horse camp so children will have experiences with various breeds and how to take care of them.”
Beyond working with the horses, campers will go on hayrides, play hide-and-seek in the haylofts, and do many other exciting and interesting things, including hiking on the beautiful nature trails that they may have ridden on earlier.
Camp at the stables provides a full day of activities to keep kids entertained, as well as providing valuable information on how to care for animals, all in an outdoors, summer-friendly location.
The Krumkill Stables are located on 460 Krumkill Road, Albany. For more information, call 482-8704, or log on to www.krumkillstables.com.
