Equipment...

Equipment Provided By Camp

-Horse with ability to preform in all the events
-English Saddle - All-purpose Saddle
-English Bridle and Bit
-Horse Boots(splint boots, bell boots, etc.)
-Grooming Supplies and other supplies for horse
-Jumps and courses
-Approved Riding Helmet (can be provided to those who do not have one)

Equipment Needed By Camper

-Approved Riding Helmet (if you do not have one, they can be provided)
-Riding Clothes and Boots (if you do not have any see below)
-Approved Crash Vest for Cross Country Phase (Can be Provided)

For People without Riding Clothes:
-Comfortable Pants that allow for movement (not too baggy though)
-Boots with a slight heel (rubber boots are good)

Welcome to Danielle's Riding Camp!

Welcome,

Here at Danielle's Riding Camp you will learn skills that will not only improve your riding ability but teach you skills like respect, discipline, responsibility and much more. Working with animals such as horses is very challenging and demanding but also extremely rewarding. Working with horses, which are powerful and sometimes unpredictable animals, will teach campers to handle different situations they may be put in calmly and logically. This skill which horses will teach us is very important not only when around or riding horses, but also in life. Being able to handle all kinds of different situations calmly and efficiently is a very important skill to have and having it will benefit you now as well as later in your life.

Whoever said horse back riding was easy is sadly mistaken. Campers will learn that they cannot force a 1500lb animal to do something that they do not want to do. So they will learn to think of their horse as their team mate and use the correct signals to ask the horse to give the desired response. Riding is also a physical activity too. Riding will build leg and arm muscles, improve your posture and also improve balance. You may not think that sitting on a horse could require much balance but it really does. Riding requires a lot of balance because you are not only sitting on the horse but the horse is not going to stay still. You will be asked to put the horse into different speeds and these different speeds feel a lot different so your position and balance must be adjusted to avoid an unscheduled dismount. But don't worry about that. Campers will be taught what to do and will only preform skills that they are comfortable with and will not be forced by any of the instructors.

Working with horses is an extremely rewarding and amazing experience that people treasure for the rest of their lives. By working with these animals, you learn a new language that allows you to communicate with these animals without using words. Horses are truly amazing animals. If you treat them with respect, they will give everything they have to please you and keep you safe. Remember, horses allow is to ride them. If they didn't want us to ride them, they would not let us. So take advantage of this opportunity and come ride these horses.

I hope you will enjoy your time with us.

Your instructor and friend,

Danielle

About Eventing...

Description

Eventing is an equestrian sport composed of three phases which include: Dressage, Cross-Country, and Show Jumping.

Dressage is a pattern of very precise movements preformed within an enclosed arena. The judges are looking for balance, rhythm, and suppleness in both horse and rider.
Cross-Country is a course of fences spread out over a long outdoor course. It requires both horse and rider to be in very good physical condition and both have to be very brave as these jumps do not fall down if they are hit.
Show Jumping is a course of jumps that are set up in an enclosed area. The jumps are very brightly coloured and can be knocked down if the horse touches them.

Scoring

Dressage is scored based on how closely the horse-rider teams sticks to the planned pattern. If the horse leaves the pattern or the team misses a transition or something, then marks are taken off the overall score. This is a very precise sport and it is very easy to lose marks.
Cross-Country is scored based on time taken to do the course. There is a time slot set out and the most marks are given to those who come in within the time slot. If a horse and rider finishes with a time above or below the time slot, marks are deducted. If the horse refuses a jump, then there are penalties and the third refusal will result in elimination. If the rider or horse falls, that will also result in elimination. Missed obstacles, jumping fences that have already been jumped or getting lost out on the course will all result in elimination.
Show Jumping is scored based on time as well. In this phase, there is an optimum time that when exceeded, results in penalties but there are no penalties for being too quick. The horse-rider team will be assigned 4 faults for every fence knocked down on the course. If jumps are jumped in the wrong order or the rider or horse falls elimination will result. If the horse refuses a jump 4 penalties will result. A second refusal will result in elimination.