Welcome to River Song Farm and Stables

River Song Farm and Stables offers an extensive children’s riding and horsemanship program during the month of June, designed for children between the ages of six and sixteen who are interested in horses and horsemanship.  We do lots (and LOTS) of riding!  But horsemanship involves so much more than just learning to ride, so students are provided a comprehensive program that will enable them to develop the skills necessary to become a horseman (or horsewoman), not just a "rider."  There is a great deal of responsibility involved in the care of horses, and children in the program get a wide overview of what is involved.  This is a hands-on program, and children are provided the opportunity to "learn while doing."

The program includes lectures and demonstrations to further the students’ education in horsemanship.  In the beginner sessions, pictorial handouts will be given out on grooming tools, the parts of the horse, the parts of the English and Western saddles and safety.  In the advanced sessions, the handouts will include gaits and footfalls of the horse, how to properly feed a horse through the changing seasons, and basic medical care.  Children in both sessions will muck a stall, clean a waterer and bathe a small horse together.   We try to schedule spring farrier and vet visits during camp so students can watch what they do.

Of course, the MOST fun is RIDING!  Students will ride both English and Western, and in the advanced sessions, weather permitting, we will also take a trail ride.  Only six students ride together at any given time, and there are at least two camp counselors supervising each riding group (three for the beginner sessions), so your child will get the individual attention and instruction they need.  River Song has four rings of various sizes, one indoor, so we can accommodate riders of all skill levels safely and each weekly session can accommodate quite a number of students, so your child can make a lot of new riding friends!

Safety is always River Song's first priority, and students are instructed in safe riding in a group.  "Ring etiquette" is taught, and the "rules of the road" are followed.  Students learn how to pass another horse, how to avoid other horses, how to keep the proper amount of space between their horse and the horse in front of them, and how to let other riders know you are going to pass them.

Since parents usually have a preferance for the food their children eat, we ask that each child bring their own bag lunch and drinks, which are kept in the refrigerator until lunch.  Counselors and students eat together on several tables on the big deck of the house if the weather is nice, and in the Romper Rooom behind the barn if it's not.  In the backyard there's a "stirrup swing," a big "hideaway hill" to play on that is every child's favorite place to play, and of course, the happy, friendly dog Colin to play with.  The children can relax, play and have fun for awhile after they finish their lunch, but are well supervised because the counselors can see and hear everything in the back yard from the deck.  The fun just never stops here!

We also suggest you provide your child several bottles of water to bring along each day as they get thirsty during the day while riding!  We discourage pop, as it tends to give the kids a "sugar high" that impedes good riding, and doesn't really satisfy the students' thirst like water does.  Gatorade or similar electrolyte drinks are fine, and encouraged, especially if the weather is hot.

Fridays are very special days at River Song Riding Camp.  Since the students spent all week learning new things about horses and riding, Friday is the day to show off what they've learned to their parents and friends.  On Fridays, we have a "horse show" that the students put on themselves, which lasts from 11 am to 1 pm (which enables parents on their lunch hour to attend at least part of the show).  This show is very informal and just for fun, and includes some fun "game" classes too, like the egg and spoon "race" and the dollar bill "race," (the "races" are at a walk only in the beginner sessions) as well as the usual walk-trot classes, and walk-trot-canter in the advanced sessions. 

Parents and friends love to come and watch their children and friends ride, take pictures of their child and their child's favorite horse, and congratulate them on their winning ribbons!  And EVERYONE gets a ribbon! 

River Song's campers usually want to attend a second week after their first week of camp!  So that they learn new things each time they attend, and build on their previously learned skills, we present new material in the advanced sessions.  If your child has never attended camp with us before, you should reserve a place in one of the two beginner sessions.  If your child wishes to attend two weeks of camp, we suggest you book the middle two weeks together, June 11 and June 18, so they can go from beginner to advanced without a break. 

The last week of camp is for students who are more advanced, and who want to work on their canter and/or jumping; the format of the last session will be different from the prior three and will provide a lot more riding and advanced handouts.  So if your child has never ridden at River Song before but is an advanced rider, this camp session will be perfect for them.  They'll have a great time riding new horses, in a new place, learning new things and making new friends!  And River Song has the BEST advanced horses around.

If your child is an advanced rider who wishes to attend a two-week session, just let us know. 

If your child has never taken a lesson at River Song before, has never ridden at all, or has returned to riding after an extended absence, we strongly suggest that your child take a private evaluation lesson, preferably two, so that we may assess their riding skill level and resolve any issues that may prevent them from having a wonderful time at camp.  It is not necessary that your child have ridden before to attend a beginner camp session, but we DO wish to get an idea of how well they ride, and give them any individual attention they may need prior to attending camp so that they may ride in a group safely, and have fun!