By VICKI BROWN
For most kids, feeding, watering, and brushing horses, as well as shoveling manure, is not their idea of a fun summer camp. For the young horse lovers who attend Premier’s Riding Camp, however, that’s part of a great time.
Every summer, Pam Sheaf sponsors Premier’s Riding Camp, a program held for a week that teaches equestrians of all ages and abilities how to ride. The camp also teaches youth how to take care of a horse.
Some of the horses are boarders, some belong to Sheaf, and others are rescues.
During the week-long camp, students have lessons in English and Western riding and vaulting on horseback.
In English and dressage riding, saddles have no horn, are lighter, and the rider holds the reigns in both hands allowing more contact between the rider and horse. It is more of a sport. In Western riding, there is a saddle horn, and the rider holds reigns in one hand. It is more relaxed.
In Vaulting, riders have a flat vaulting pad with a thick strap with handles on the horse which allows the rider to stand on the horse’s back and perform gymnastics or dance tricks with music. The horse is controlled with a lunge line.
All of this is first practiced on covered barrels with students adding in some yoga moves or whatever style shows their personalities.
After daily lessons, assistant Mariah Truckenbrodt directs a craft time with the kids, and then at the end of the week they all enjoy pool time.
Sydney Craven is also on hand as a pre-veterinarian intern to help with minor equestrian injuries, medicine and barn care.
“I really enjoyed working with this camp. It is a hands-on experience that focuses on multiple disciplines. Pam is thorough in everything she does for the kids in this camp. It is a well-rounded experience,” said Truckenbrodt.
This year, there were 14 students learning those disciplines inside a ring with plenty of help around them.
Students are taught safety first and then the lessons increase in difficulty including jumping, maneuvering around obstacles, and bareback riding. At the end of the week, the kids cool off with water balloons on horseback and a trail ride.
“I would like to thank my staff, my husband Dan, Mariah, Sydney, Kayla, and Brandon for helping last week in camp,” said Sheaf. “Here, we teach life skills, camaraderie, team work, equestrian care, responsibility and a variety of riding styles. I love what I do…this camp is a dream come true for me.”
