Youth Summer Horsemanship Camp

Youth Summer Horsemanship Camp includes riding lessons, lectures on topics such as safety, grooming, nutrition, and horse behavior, and additional activities designed to expose campers to other areas of the equine industry. During the last morning of each session, campers demonstrate their skills for their parents before leaving to return home.

• Ages: 10–18 years old (overnight campers 10–15 years old; day campers 10–18 years old)
• Schedule: Two week-long sessions in June 2026 (June 8–13 and June 14–19), beginning with camper registration and horse check-in at 1:00 p.m. on Monday (session 1) or Sunday (session 2), and ending on the last morning with a skills demonstration and departure by 11:00 a.m.
• Price: $1,250 overnight camper; $750 day camper; $250 lease horse fee; payment arrangements available with 50% down and remaining balance due before May 1; specific cancellation refund policies apply

All instruction in the classroom and at the riding facility is provided by equine faculty and college students earning their degree in Equine Sciences, and the riding instructors are University faculty supported by assistants and counselors who are experienced riding instructors. Lectures and instruction are provided by CSU Equine Sciences faculty, students, and camp counselors. The camp is designed to be both an educational and fun experience for youth. The program states a land-grant mission to feed the world while improving it, with a commitment to building community through innovative research, collaborating with partners, nurturing students, and providing enriching learning experiences.

Campers have the option to bring their own horse or lease a CSU horse, and may ride English, Western, or both. Campers can participate as overnight or day campers, with housing and meals provided to overnight campers in a university residence hall and lunch and snacks provided to day campers. Overnight campers have transportation between the main campus and the B.W. Pickett Equine Center by counselors in University vans, and day campers’ horses are stalled at the B.W. Pickett Equine Center during the camp. Day campers are responsible for their own transportation, accommodations, breakfast, and dinner while attending the camp.

All campers must wear approved riding helmets and footwear, have previous riding experience, and be able to demonstrate basic riding skills. Students must be able to demonstrate their ability to trot in a group environment independently. Lease horses are best suited for intermediate to advanced riders, are very limited, and are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis and based on rider experience, and not all lease horses are able to jump. Participants may lease CSU horses for an additional fee, and campers bringing their own horses must provide a valid negative Coggins certificate (within 1 year) and an On-Premise Authorization Form at check-in.

All campers and their parents are required to sign a Waiver of Liability, a Standards of Conduct, and Lost Key Deposit agreement, and all campers must provide proof of medical insurance. There is a limit of approximately 30 campers per week, and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Pre-registration establishes the list order of campers who will then be officially registered and have a lease horse secured, with 2026 pre-registration opening February 16 at 9 a.m. MST. Cancellations made before May 1 receive a full refund minus a 10% office fee, and cancellations made between May 1 and the first day of the camp session receive a refund equal to 50% of the total camp cost.

Last updated June 3, 2026.