Summer is quickly approaching, which means more free time, family vacations, fun in the sun - and for young equestrians, horse camp! While equestrian camps are an exciting and educational way to get your child involved with horses while maximizing their time off from school, finding the right camp can be difficult. Luckily, many of US Equestrian’s Community Outreach Organizations host summer camps for children of all abilities throughout the country. Camps fill up quickly, so start your search today! 

Camp Accomplish - Nanjemoy, Md. 

In partnership with Melwood and Children's National Hospital, Camp Accomplish is an inclusive day camp (ages five to 12) and overnight camp (ages eight to 18) for campers with and without disabilities and chronic health conditions. Participants can enjoy horseback riding, carriage driving, and unmounted activities and games with horses and other farm animals under the leadership of Promise Landing Farm. Beyond the equestrian portion of Camp Accomplish, campers participate in a wide variety of activities, including arts, science, outdoor adventures, and opportunities to meet and make new friends. Click here for dates and registration. 

Cloverleaf Equine Center – Clifton, Va. 

Cloverleaf Equine Center offers summer camps for individuals with physical disabilities or mental health needs, and for those without, with dates ranging from June 18 until Aug.15. From the Ponies & Paintbrushes Therapeutic Camp where campers explore self-expression and learn new social and emotional skills through art, to the Junior Equestrian Community Camp designed for intermediate riders who want to work on advancing their skills, there is a camp for every ability and skill level. To register for Cloverleaf’s therapeutic and community camps, click here.  

Ebony Horsewomen – Hartford, Conn. 

Ebony Horsewomen’s eight-week summer day camp offers campers full days of outdoor fun, recreation, exercise, and of course, horseback riding. Through hands-on activities, campers learn about teamwork, personal growth, leadership, and respect. The highlight of EHI’s camp is the daily lessons in both English and Western riding disciplines, where campers are matched with horses based on skill level. Campers can sign up here for the entire session that runs from June 23 until Aug. 14, or for individual weeks. 

GallopNYC – Howard Beach, NY 

GallopNYC welcomes young equestrians to a week-long program with fun and enriching activities such as daily horseback riding, hands-on horse care, and a variety of outdoor activities that foster a connection with animals and nature. Activities include riding, grooming, tacking, gardening, arts and crafts, plus they host a mini horse show at the end of each session. Weekly sessions are offered from June 30 until Aug. 29, but space is extremely limited with only nine campers per week, so be sure to sign up now! Click here to register.  

Great Oak Equine Assisted Programs – Aiken, SC 

Open to ages seven through 12, Great Oak Equine Assisted Programs’ summer camp is the perfect place to be introduced to the wonderful world of horses. No experience is necessary to sign up, as campers will fill their days with lessons on how to feed, groom, tack up, and care for horses. Attendees will also take part in activities such as sports, arts and crafts, a sensory trail experience, and a slip and slide adventure. Sign up for summer camp week two (June 23-26), three (July 7-10), or four (July 14-17), here.  

Heartland Therapeutic Riding, Inc. – Overland Park, Kans. 

Due to increased demand, Heartland Therapeutic Riding is now offering summer camp programming, including a mini camp and occupational therapy intensives. Heartland mini camp is a week-long day camp designed for children who need higher support and a shorter day, with sessions lasting 1.5 hours. Daily activities include riding lessons, horse crafts, horse games, and a Friday horse show.  

Heartland’s occupational therapy intensive sessions are designed and led by a licensed Occupational Therapist and focus on nature-based therapies and activities including gardening, grooming, nature walks, and daily time on a horse. All sessions are one-on-one with a Heartland therapy service therapist, and incorporate equine movement, or hippotherapy, that benefit children’s sensory and motor systems.  

Mini camp sessions are full for 2025, but you can still sign up for occupational therapy intensives that take place June 2-5, June 16-19, and July 14-17. Register for one or multiple weeks here.  

Horse SenseAbility – Sherborn, Mass. 

Horse SenseAbility offers six core programs, with two summer-only programs, City to Saddle and Horse Tales. City to Saddle, although full for 2025, gives six to 13-year-old children opportunities to interact with horses and other farm animals by participating in horse care, grooming, barn chores, and riding lessons. Horse Tales is designed for children entering 4th, 5th, or 6th grade, and is a one-week reading and riding program. Each day, children care for, ride, and spend time working with horses while also exploring fun and educational books and videos about horses. To apply for Horse Tales, click here. 

Ivy Hill Therapeutic Equestrian Center – Perkasie, Pa. 

Ivy Hill Therapeutic Equestrian Center’s inclusion-based summer camp is a great way for children to develop riding skills, enjoy games and activities, and make lifelong friendships. Geared toward ages five through 12, riding lessons are taught at a beginner level, yet all skill levels are welcome. Camp activities are centered around building self-awareness and self-esteem, collaboration, problem solving, and critical thinking skills, all while celebrating play and enjoyment. Campers can attend week 1 (June 23-27), week 2 (July 7-11), week 3 (July 21-25), week 4 (Aug. 4-8), or week 5 (Aug.18-22). Sign up for Ivy Hill’s camp here. 

Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center – Redmond, Wash. 

Open to traditional and non-traditional students of all experience levels, Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center’s inclusive summer camp is designed for fun and educational engagement with horses. Campers participate in daily riding lessons taught by PATH Intl. (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International) certified therapeutic riding instructors, as well as a range of unmounted activities like leading, grooming, and stable management. Camps are held in July and August, with various dates for different age ranges. Ages five to eight take place July 21-25, ages nine to 15 are Aug. 11-14, and ages 16 to 25 are Aug. 25-28. Click here to register for camp. 

Lovelane Special Needs Horseback Riding Program – Lincoln, Mass. 

Lovelane offers a variety of summer programs including horsemanship workshops and unmounted horsemanship programs, running from July 7 through Aug. 28. Horsemanship workshops are three- or five-day experiences where children are placed in small groups, ensuring an individualized experience, and take part in activities such as riding, grooming, tacking, and arts and crafts.  

Unmounted horsemanship programs involve three different categories: the Carrot Club, for youngest students ages three to six who, which focuses on social skill building; Barn Buddies, for ages five and up, focusing on horse care and developing physical, emotional, and social growth; and private sessions for students of all ages, focusing on individual needs and goals. To sign up for Lovelane’s summer programs, click here.  

Lucky Orphans Horse Rescue – Dover Plains, NY 

Lucky Orphans’ summer youth program offers a unique, hands-on experience that fosters confidence, empathy, and responsibility in a fun, supportive environment. Designed for ages four through 12, this program allows children to develop meaningful connections with rescued horses. Instead of traditional riding, campers engage in ground-based activities that teach safe equine care through interactive lessons, barn chores, and creative projects. Comprised of seven sessions starting on June 30 and ending on Aug. 14, each session is one week. Click here to reserve your child’s spot.  

Rising Starr Horse Rescue – Wilton, Conn. 

Rising Starr features several summer programs, including youth/adult independent lesson programs as well as summer lesson programs for five-year-olds and six- to 12-year-olds. The summer independent riding program is open to beginners to advanced riders, 12 to 18 years of age, and is a great option for IEA and AEL students. The summer day programs for children under 13 include interactive activities like grooming, riding instruction, feeding, first aid, tacking up, hiking, and trail rides with instructors. Programs run from June 16 until Aug. 18, and registration forms can be found here. 

Taking the Reins – Los Angeles, Calif. 

Taking the Reins is dedicated mainly to helping underserved girls navigate personal growth through a nurturing environment but offers a summer camp for both boys and girls, ages six to nine and 10 to 18. From July 7 to Aug.15, children can learn life skills such as confidence, leadership, responsibility, and teamwork through horseback riding, cooking, gardening, exploring nature, science projects, and caring for animals. Click here to sign up for the 2025 program. 

TREE House of Greater St. Louis – Wentzville, Mo. 

TREE House of Greater St. Louis is offering a small group opportunity for children ages six and up, where campers will practice horsemanship, riding skills, and nature-oriented activities and crafts. Designed for children with and without disabilities, each activity is facilitated by trained professional staff and camp volunteers who can personalize activities to each camper’s skill level and interest. The camp is limited to four participants each week, with week 1 taking place June 3-7; week 2 June 17-21; and week 3, July 8-12. To learn more and register, click here. 

 

About Community Outreach Program 

The USEF Community Outreach Program (COP) recognizes a diverse group of organizations throughout the United States that provide equine-based learning opportunities and support the positive impact horses can have within their local communities. The COP currently recognizes 40 organizations who have been accepted to the Program following a rigorous application process. In order to be accepted and remain in the program, organizations must meet certain standards of horse and human welfare, follow USEF Safe Sport requirements and abide by the USEF Non-Discrimination Policy, as well as offer their services for free or on a sliding scale of fees based on financial need. To learn more, visit www.usef.org/opportunity.