Since 1998, Rancho del Lago has hosted weekly summer and Holiday horseback riding camps in Briones, Califormia.  Campers ages 5 ½ to 13 learn to groom, tack up, ride, and care for horses.  We are one of the only Bay Area horseback riding camps to use Welsh ponies, which are just the right size for many of our campers.  Of course we have full sized horses for our taller campers too!   

Our weekly camps start with the basics of “stop, go and steering.”  Then we move on to riding around obstacles, learning how to post the trot, and practicing jumping position.  In the latter part of the week, campers put together a routine demonstrating all they have learned and perform it for their parents and friends on Friday afternoon.  Repeat campers who are more advanced have lessons in a second group so that they also continue to learn new skills.

Amanda McNair is our lead camp instructor.  Amanda graduated from UC Berkeley in May 2009 and has worked at Rancho del Lago ever since, as our camp instructor and our beginning/intermediate lesson instructor.  Amanda is a wonderfully kind and patient teacher:  your children will love her as we do!!

We teach the English or European style of riding.  This includes the basic balanced seat, and direct reining.   These are the early basics of any style of riding.  Our campers often become year-round students and compete in dressage and jumping.

Our camps run for 1 week sessions, and many of our campers come for several weeks each year for many years!  Some of our earlier campers are now Counselors in Training and are helping with our camps this year.  We do really cool “horsy” crafts and just have a great time!  Come join us!!

• June 14-18
• June 21-25
• July 5-9
• July 12-16
• July 26-31
• August 9-13