Poway, CA, USA
Days at the Poway ranch revolve around horses. Campers ages 6–17 ride every day, practice balance and control in the arena, and learn how to groom, tack, handle, and care for a horse from the ground up. The program also introduces horse anatomy, behavior, and safety, so time in the saddle is paired with practical horsemanship and equine education. Beginners are welcome, and campers are matched with horses suited to their skill level.
The week mixes riding with outdoor and creative camp activities. Trail walks and scavenger hunts bring campers into the ranch’s backcountry setting, while horse-themed arts and crafts, mounted games, stretching, and simple balance exercises add variety between riding and care sessions. Weekly camps run on weekdays and are capped at 20 campers. Families handle lunch and snacks, while the camp provides riding helmets. The program is designed as a day experience, with morning drop-off, early-afternoon pickup, and extended care available by advance arrangement.
| Ages: | 6–17 |
| Type: | Day |
| Gender: | Co-Ed |
| Setting: | Ranch |
| Adventure: | Adventure, Horse, Horseback Riding, Exploration, Outdoor, Nature, Animals |
| Arts: | Arts, Fine Arts, Arts & Crafts |
| Meals Type: | Bring Your Own |
| Time: |
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You won’t be charged yet. The camp will contact you to confirm all terms first.
You can still submit a quick request to let the camp know you’re interested.
The camp is organized as a week of riding and ranch-based learning rather than riding lessons alone. Each camper rides daily, with instruction centered on balance, control, and confidence. Off the horse, campers learn grooming, tacking, groundwork, and everyday horse care. Equine education covers anatomy, behavior, and safety, giving children context for how horses communicate and how riders work around them responsibly.
Classic camp activities are built around the equestrian focus. Trail walks and scavenger hunts take the group beyond the arena, while horse-themed arts and crafts provide a quieter creative block. Mounted games, stretching, and balance exercises keep the week active. No previous riding experience is required, and campers are matched with horses appropriate to their skill level. The program runs on weekdays during the published summer camp season, with a session cap of 20 campers. Regular pickup is at 1:00 PM, and extended care can be arranged in advance through 3:00 PM.
Campers bring their own packed lunch, snacks, and a labeled water bottle each day. The packing list also asks families to label personal items. The current camp information does not describe a camp-provided meal program, so families should plan on sending the food and drinks their child needs for the day.
Riding helmets are provided, and campers are expected to wear closed-toe shoes suitable for riding. A signed waiver must be on file before camp begins. Riding participation carries a 200 lb weight limit. Camp instruction includes horse safety, and riding is adjusted when weather makes normal activities unsafe. The general activity terms also require participants to follow staff instructions and disclose relevant physical limitations before riding.
Before participating in riding activities, families are expected to disclose relevant medical conditions, medications, pregnancy, or physical limitations that could affect participation. The published materials do not describe on-site medical staff, so this block is limited to the health-disclosure requirements that are explicitly stated for activities at the ranch.
Campers receive step-by-step riding instruction and supervised horsemanship activities throughout the week. The current program caps each session at 20 campers, and the organization describes its riding and youth programs as being led by experienced guides. No current staff-to-camper ratio is published for this camp, so the listed session cap is the clearest staffing-related group-size detail available.
Families can use the organization’s public contact form, phone, or email for questions before camp; the contact page says messages are usually answered within one business day. Parents are welcome to observe during drop-off and pickup, while camp activities themselves are designed for campers.
Drop-off begins at 7:45 AM and regular pickup is at 1:00 PM. Extended care through 3:00 PM must be arranged in advance, and late pickup after 3:00 PM carries a fee. Campers should bring a packed lunch, snacks, labeled water bottle, sunscreen, a hat, comfortable riding clothes, and closed-toe footwear with a small heel. A signed waiver is required before camp starts.
A 5% sibling discount is offered when siblings attend the same camp week. Extended care must be arranged in advance, and a late fee applies to pickups after 3:00 PM.
