“There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.”
- Winston Churchill

Summer Camp 2024

Riders with a rainbow background

Horse Lover's Camp - July 29th through August 2nd 

*****August 5th - August 9th****** - Current Interest: 3 campers - if we have enough interest we will host an additional week before school officially begins! 

Our Horse Lover's Camp Program is designed for first-time/beginner to intermediate level riders. Camp takes place from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm Monday through Friday, during which kids will learn basic riding skills and horse safety, as well as aspects of grooming, nutrition, anatomy, horse care, veterinary care, and more.  

Each day will begin with a group riding lesson, followed by lunch, crafts, a hands on horse science session, pool time or water game activity, and if weather and time permits a chance to ride bareback!  Weekly Campers will also receive a Camp T-Shirt! 

We do have daily options available as well, please call or text (941) 545-1852 to book individual days. 

Camp Time: 9:00 AM - 3:00PM *Early Drop off and Late Pick up available (1 hour before and after camp time - additional $10 ea

Ages:

8-14

Price/Fees

  • $400 for the week 

  • $100 per day
  • One-Time Helmet Fee: $55. All campers must have their own ASTM/SEI Certified Equestrian Helmet. If your child does not have a helmet of their own, our facility will provide a new certified helmet for $55.00 (tax included). If they stay for the week, the helmet will stay at the barn for their use each day. After their last day, they may take thier helmet home. You must indicate during registration that your child needs a helmet during their time at camp. 
  • Early drop off 8:00AM (additional $10 per day) *Please note, campers dropped off prior to 8:50AM will be billed this fee. 
  • Late Pick up 4:00PM (additional $10 per day), an extra $5 charge will incur per each 15 minutes after 4:00PM (i.e. 4:30PM pick up - $20). 
  • Accepted Payment Methods

  • Check made payable to "Hidden Creek Farm"

  • Cash
  • Zelle: hiddencreekfarm.fl@gmail.com 
  • Credit Card payments are accepted, however you will need to pay an additional 3.75% fee. 
  • Camp Refunds and Cancellation Policy: 

    Our refund policy allows us to reliably schedule and plan our summer camp program. Note: Camp refund requests must be made in writing to: hiddencreekfarm.fl@gmail.com. 

  • 4 weeks prior to start of scheduled camp week: Full Refund (minus credit card processing fee of 3.75%)

  • 2 weeks prior to start of scheduled camp week: 50% Refund (minus credit card processing fee of 3.75%)
  • 1 week prior to start of scheduled camp: No Refund. 
  • We will do our best to honor all transfer requests (moving camp tuition to another week offered by HCF), but cannot guarantee available space due to the first-come, first-served nature of our program. 
  • Tentative Schedule:  

    9:00 AM - 9: 30 AM - All hands on deck - Grooming and Tacking

    9:30AM - 10:30 AM - First group rides. Second group - assigned barn tasks.

    10:45 AM - 11:45 AM - Second group rides. First group - assigned barn tasks. 

    11:45 AM - 12:15PM - All hands on deck: wash horses, clean tack, clean up barn

    12:15PM - Lunch time

    12:30PM - Pool time - Cool off - Crafts for those opting out of pool time. 

    1:45PM - 3:00 PM Afternoon workshop and bareback games

    Campers will need to bring the following each day

  • Packed cold lunch (sandwich, salad, fruit, veggies, etc.)

  • Water Bottle - we will have water available for refills! 
  • Riding Boots with a 1" - 1.5" heel and SMOOTH sole
  • Long Pants - Jeans, Leggings, Breeches, etc. 
  • Bathing Suit should they wish to swim or participate in water games
  • Towel
  • Sunscreen - WE ARE OUTSIDE ALL DAY. We will remind them to reapply throughout the day. 
  • A Hat when not in the barn campers have the option of head coverings
  • A change of clothes for mid-afternoon activities - shorts, t-shirt, tennis or water shoes
  • Optional Treats for the horses - Carrots (cut small), Apples (cut in quarters), Other Specified horse treats from store. Homemade horse treats are amazing, however, some of our equines have special dietary restrictions that most homemade treats offer. You can chat with Holly to see if your homemade treat is ok for each horse. 
  • Other Notes

    Campers should come dressed in "barn clothes", the type of clothes you do not care if they are ruined during your child's day spent out in the barn.

    Camp is scheduled rain or shine and we will try our best in between rain showers if need be to ride. However, should be experience an all-day rain event we will bring our horse fun into the barn for an all-day activity that will involve our horses, dogs, cats, and chickens! 

    We offer snacks and treats throughout the week - please provide detailed information if your child has any dietary restrictions when you sign up!  

    Pool time: While supervised, Campers who wish to swim in the pool MUST know how to swim. If your child needs a flotation device, please provide same so that they may enjoy the pool safely.

    Cell phone policy: YES, your child may bring their cell phone. However, during group learning activities such as horseback riding, pool time, horse science class, etc. ALL cell phones must be stowed away in their belongings. If at any time a cell phone becomes a problem due to conduct, misuse, etc. your child will be asked to keep it packed in their bag until camp is over. You may reach your child by phone anytime by calling (941) 879-3233 during camp hours. Some campers wish to take pictures - we recommend bringing a camera. We will also be taking many pictures throughout the week to share with parents and family members. 

    June 3rd - June 7th - Intermediate Rider - Summer Camp. - CAMP IS FULL. THANK YOU!!

    Tentative Schedule for June 3rd-7th:  

    9:00 AM - 9: 30 AM - All hands on deck - Grooming and Tacking

    9:30AM - 10:30 AM - First group rides. Second group - assigned barn tasks.

    10:45 AM - 11:45 AM - Second group rides. First group - assigned barn tasks. 

    11:45 AM - 12:15PM - All hands on deck: wash horses, clean tack, clean up barn

    12:15PM - Lunch time

    12:30PM - Pool time - Cool off - Crafts for those opting out of pool time. 

    1:45PM - 3:00 PM Afternoon workshop and bareback games 


    June 3-7th Schedule: 

    Monday: Horse Leading on the ground and mounted. Ground Manners. Body Language. Situational Drills. 

    Afternoon hands on workshop and demo: Horse protective equipment - What are their uses and benefits? Can they be dangerous? How to safely wrap legs for injury, schooling, and competition.   


    Tuesday: Stride length - how many feet are in a walk, jog/trot, and lope/canter stride? Why does it matter? Counting your strides for horsemanship, english equitation, and poles for gridwork, jumping, and trail. 


    Afternoon hands on workshop and demo: All about bits. Learning how different bits work, why some horses need certain types. Identification of common western and english bits. Hands on demos and team challenge. 


    Wednesday:  Competition Trail and Working Equitation. Using our newly acquired knowledge from Tuesday's lesson, you will help build a course for competition trail and/or working equitation.  Identifying various trail obstacles for both ranch, western trail , and working equitation events.  


    Afternoon workshop: No hoof, no horse. Learn how to wrap a horse's foot - if a shoe is lost, treating an abscess, or need to cover to get the horse to the vet. Discuss foreign objects - what to do, what not to do. Look at x ray imaging of a horse's hoof, identify bones and structure. 


    Thursday: Ranch work. We will be gaining skills on pushing gates while mounted, roping, ground tying, trailer loading, and more. 


    Afternoon workshop: With ranch work, comes animal care. Most of the time spent with your horse is on the ground and we will go over reasons why. We will be discussing lameness, illnesses, colic, basic monthly, quarterly and yearly requirements. Evaluating our horses living area - checking for signs of danger, things that may injure them. Identifying poisonous plants and trees, and more. 



    Friday: Game Day - We are putting all of our newly learned skills to the test. We will be combining our ground handling, stride measuring, trail, and ranch work in an all-in-one challenge. Quiz show and challenges based from skills learned during afternoon workshops. Prizes for winners - individual and team events.  

    Pizza for lunch today - Don't pack a full lunch bag - unless you don't like pepperoni and cheese pizza!