About
Summer Horse Camp includes riding lessons, trail rides, lunch rides, games on horseback, horse shows, and drill teams. Campers work with horses through activities such as leading, tying, saddling, bridling, grooming, walking and trotting on horseback, and an introduction to the lope. The program also offers vaulting, which is simple gymnastics on the back of a horse, and includes both Western and English style riding options such as Bridle Trekkers, Hunt Club, and ‘Balance Seat’ equitation.
• Ages: 8–15 years old
• Schedule: One- and two-week sessions throughout the summer, Monday–Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with July 4th as a full day of camp
• Price: 2-week session $1750; 1-week session $1000; refunds available up to 10 days before the first day of camp minus a $300 cancellation fee, with no refunds for cancellations made less than 10 days before the start of camp
During Summer Horse Camp, each child is assigned a horse to ride and care for for the entire session. Campers learn care of the horse, including feeding, grooming, saddling, cleaning, and knot-tying, as well as Western tack use, care, and cleaning, and trail riding rules and safety. Riding instruction covers walking and trotting with control and form, beginning lope, perfecting posture and position in the arena, use of obstacle courses and figure work, continued development of basic riding skills, lead changes, collection, drill teamwork, individual stock seat pattern work, precision riding, gymkhana and trail courses, advanced trail riding, and learning to control and rate the speed of a horse. Additional topics include equine first aid, diseases and common treatments, horse breeds, breeding and training, working with horses’ special needs, beginning dressage, basic and raised caveletti work, working with poles on the ground, beginning jump, jump patterns, dressage patterns, evaluating suitability of horse to rider, mane and tail braiding, leg wrapping, bandaging, and horse exercise techniques. Pony Pals camp is offered for campers 8 and 9 years old, Tails and Trails for campers 10 and 11 years old, Rawhide Club for campers 12 years and over, Bridle Trekkers English style camp for riders 10 and 11 years old, and Hunt Club English style riding for campers 12 years and older.
All instructors at Summer Horse Camp are CHA-Certified and trained in safety management and teaching techniques, and a counselor skilled in leadership and horsemanship supervises and instructs the children. Garrod Farms has hosted Summer Horse Camp for kids every summer since the late 1960s, and the Garrod family began its involvement with California agriculture and open space in 1893. Garrod Farms is a family-owned and operated estate winery and stables, and the stables have access to over twenty miles of trails, five riding arenas (one covered), two longing arenas, a round pen, three horse wash racks, and limited trailer parking. Garrod Farms Stables also offers horseback riding lessons, trail rides, and pony rides to the general public, plus boarding for privately owned horses.
Families are asked to provide horseback riding boots (not hiking boots) that are always to be worn around the horses, long pants for riding, and tennis shoes and shorts for vaulting. Campers bring a daily sack lunch, water bottles, and sunscreen, and use an ATSM/SEI-approved horseback riding helmet, which can be purchased in the Stables Office or borrowed for the duration of camp. Children must follow Garrod Farms rules at all times, use the buddy system when on the property, and check out with the counselor before leaving camp.
Last updated June 18, 2026.
• Ages: 8–15 years old
• Schedule: One- and two-week sessions throughout the summer, Monday–Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with July 4th as a full day of camp
• Price: 2-week session $1750; 1-week session $1000; refunds available up to 10 days before the first day of camp minus a $300 cancellation fee, with no refunds for cancellations made less than 10 days before the start of camp
During Summer Horse Camp, each child is assigned a horse to ride and care for for the entire session. Campers learn care of the horse, including feeding, grooming, saddling, cleaning, and knot-tying, as well as Western tack use, care, and cleaning, and trail riding rules and safety. Riding instruction covers walking and trotting with control and form, beginning lope, perfecting posture and position in the arena, use of obstacle courses and figure work, continued development of basic riding skills, lead changes, collection, drill teamwork, individual stock seat pattern work, precision riding, gymkhana and trail courses, advanced trail riding, and learning to control and rate the speed of a horse. Additional topics include equine first aid, diseases and common treatments, horse breeds, breeding and training, working with horses’ special needs, beginning dressage, basic and raised caveletti work, working with poles on the ground, beginning jump, jump patterns, dressage patterns, evaluating suitability of horse to rider, mane and tail braiding, leg wrapping, bandaging, and horse exercise techniques. Pony Pals camp is offered for campers 8 and 9 years old, Tails and Trails for campers 10 and 11 years old, Rawhide Club for campers 12 years and over, Bridle Trekkers English style camp for riders 10 and 11 years old, and Hunt Club English style riding for campers 12 years and older.
All instructors at Summer Horse Camp are CHA-Certified and trained in safety management and teaching techniques, and a counselor skilled in leadership and horsemanship supervises and instructs the children. Garrod Farms has hosted Summer Horse Camp for kids every summer since the late 1960s, and the Garrod family began its involvement with California agriculture and open space in 1893. Garrod Farms is a family-owned and operated estate winery and stables, and the stables have access to over twenty miles of trails, five riding arenas (one covered), two longing arenas, a round pen, three horse wash racks, and limited trailer parking. Garrod Farms Stables also offers horseback riding lessons, trail rides, and pony rides to the general public, plus boarding for privately owned horses.
Families are asked to provide horseback riding boots (not hiking boots) that are always to be worn around the horses, long pants for riding, and tennis shoes and shorts for vaulting. Campers bring a daily sack lunch, water bottles, and sunscreen, and use an ATSM/SEI-approved horseback riding helmet, which can be purchased in the Stables Office or borrowed for the duration of camp. Children must follow Garrod Farms rules at all times, use the buddy system when on the property, and check out with the counselor before leaving camp.
Last updated June 18, 2026.
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