Pine Trails Ranch Horse Camps
Pine Trails Ranch Horse Camps have programs for Ages 7 to 16 with all levels of experience from beginners to advanced riders. Our camp program includes daily riding lessons as well as hands on educational activities where students learn learning proper etiquette, safety, and care of the animals.  Daily exercises in the camp activities book help the kids learn about horses and provide a keepsake after the camp is over. Campers are exposed to English, Western, and bareback styles of riding with the choice to ride either way.  We offer camps during the summer and during many school holidays, such as Thanksgiving, Winter, and Spring Breaks.

​We also offer a Counselor in Training- CIT program, designed for older students with extensive riding experience.  The fee for CIT camp is a bit less.  CIT is $400 per week and the deposit is $100.  CIT participants must get approval of Pine Trails Instructor prior to enrollment.  Ages ​12 to 16



Recommended

  • Comfortable, sturdy, closed toe shoes – students must wear riding boots (provided by PTR) when handling horses, but may prefer to wear their own shoes when not riding.
  • Sunscreen
  • Raincoat (Holiday camps only)
  • Snacks for afternoon

Provided by PTR  (No need to bring, but if you already have these, feel free to bring them)

  • Riding Boots – Must have a half inch heel but not a high fashion heel!
  • Riding Helmet – Safety standards on horseback riding helmets are higher than many bicycle helmets.  Students will not be allowed to use bicycle helmets unless they meet riding helmet safety standards.

Camp students labeling the parts of the horse.

What to Bring to Camp
Required

  • Long pants – no shorts or capri’s! These are unsafe for riding.
  • Socks
  • Water Bottle
  • Packed lunch
  • Filled out copy of our Riding Release Form if the student will be dropped off for camp by someone other than their parent or guardian.  Students will not be allowed on a horse unless we have a signed copy of this form.  

Pine Trails Spring and Summer Camp Registration  2024

HORSE CAMPS -Spring, Summer, Thanksgiving, and Winter.

Copyright 2017 Pine Trails Ranch    All rights reserved.

SUMMER CAMP SCHEDULE 2024

Camp Riding Level Descriptions
Beginners Camp  - we recommend kids try a lesson before camp to help them start with confidence and have fun!
   For kids who are new riding or have ridden only occasionally. They will learn to groom their horse, tack up, and to ride at the walk and trot. They will also learn to bathe their horse, the parts of the horse, colors, markings, and about English and western tack and how it’s used and maintained.  Students learn about bits and how they work as well as alternatives such as hackamores.  They will also learn about the basic needs of their horse including feeding, bathing, foot care, and vet care.  Ages 7 to 14 unless student has been taking lessons at Pine Trails and has specific permission.

    Advanced Beginners Camp  ages 7 to 14

For kids who have been taking lessons and are Not fearful.  Students must have worked on trotting and want to do more.  They will continue to learn care of the horse and to ride at the walk, trot, and perhaps some cantering or loping. They will learn all the things taught in the beginners class as well as cost of horse ownership and ways to ride and work with horses without owning a horse.  They also learn how to see things from the horse's perspective for better empathy.  Most kids will do more than one week at this level.

   Low Intermediate Camp Ages 7 to 15
For kids who trot well and know their diagonals. Students must be able to trot a figure 8 pattern and should have tried a lope or canter and want to do more.  The students will be working on trotting pole courses, small jumps, and trail obstacles and good control at the lope or canter. They will also continue to build on their horse knowledge by learning about the conformation of the horse and what can happen when the parts don’t go together right. They learn that some horses have limitations, but can have a happy life if we respect that. They will also learn about types of shoes and why some horses need different shoes or others don’t need any. The students will also learn about basic first aid and how to bandage a horse and much more.  For some fun, we will be learning a little about how to ride bareback, and how to do carrot stretches with their horses for fun and stretching their horse.  This level can take multiple weeks to master.

    Advanced Intermediate Camp - Have an interest in learning the skills for competitive riding?  Ages 8 to 16
For kids who are riding regularly and can trot and canter patterns well. Students must ride over obstacles and have good speed control at the trot and canter.  We will be working on good balance and control over jumps and obstacles and riding at shows. The students will also learn about horse lameness and how to responsibly select a horse that should be sound and comfortable for the type of riding they would like to do. They will also learn about how to keep a horse fit and presentable for competition or strenuous riding and avoiding injuries to their horse. The students will also learn about horse careers and hobbies that they might enjoy such as search and rescue, equine rehabilitation, and others.  They will also try more bareback riding and learn some good techniques to help their horses and themselves warm up for strenuous work.
     Counselor in Training -CIT
This program is designed for older youths age 12 and over, who are experienced riders. This program provides students with an opportunity to develop their leadership skills. CITs will assist counselors with grooming, saddling, as well as helping with lessons and trail rides. CITs will also work on improving their own horsemanship skills in a daily semi-private riding lesson.  This program is a great way for young riders to increase their horsemanship experience and confidence as well as learning valuable skills in working with young student riders.  To be eligible for the CIT program, students must be at least 12 years of age and have completed the highest level of camp offered in the week they are attending, or have equivalent experience and specific approval of PTR.  CIT cost is just $400 for the week.  It's great for upper level pony clubbers too!

   Please note- this is not the city of Davis camp schedule!  You must go to City of Davis for that!​​

Week 1:      June 10-15  beginner camp  - ​Full!
                                                 
Week 2:         June 17- 21   Main Classroom – Beginner - Full!
                CIT week-   open!               Classroom B – Adv Beginner - ​Full!
                                                      
Week 3:         June 24-28   Main Classroom – Beginner -  4 left
              CIT week- open                      Classroom B –Adv Beginner - 3 left

Week 4:         July 1- 5     Main Classroom –Beginner - Full
            July 4 week- out early Thurs         Classroom B- low intermediate  -3 left

Week 5:         July 8- 12        Main Classroom – Beginner- 5 left
                   Classroom B – Adv beginner - 3 left

Week 6:        July 15- 19     Main Classroom -  Beginner 
                                       Classroom B - Low Intermediate ​​

Week 7:        July 22- 26      Main Classroom – Advanced Beginner 
                  CIT class- open                 Classroom B – Beginner  

Week 8:        July 29- Aug 2     Main Classroom –Advanced Intermediate- show camp 
                                                Classroom B –  Low Intermediate - 

Week 9:      Aug 5- 9      Main Classroom – Classroom A –Adv beginner  
                                                     Classroom B -low Int      

Week 10:   August  12- 16    Main Class –  Adv. Beginner -  
                     CIT class - open            Classroom B – Beginner

Week 11:    August  19- 23     Main classroom –Adv. Beginner
                                               Classroom B –Low Intermediate  
Please contact us for availability of the CIT program.  Weeks will be available throughout the summer, but CIT groups vary in riding level depending on the concurrent levels of camp, so it is best to discuss your student's needs with PTR to select the best week.

Students learn correct technique on and off the horse.  We have classroom apparatus to learn how to mount and dismount correctly.  Mounting is one of the statistically most common moments for an accident.  Your safety is very important to us.


SUMMER CAMP 2024
Each summer camp session runs Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM each day. Campers should be dropped off by 9:00 AM and must be picked up by 4:30 PM. Price for camp is $460 per session.   We are holding camp in an outdoor classroom with ventilation. - all students will have individual desks and spaced seating to maintain distancing.  All students will be asked to use cleaning stations throughout the day.  We will have healthy fun with swamp coolers for cooling us off!  

Registration OPEN Feb 21!  Register by April 30 for $20 discount!

To begin your Summer Camp registration, please call 530-756-2042 or email horses@ptranch.com to pre-register***.  Then, to complete your registration download and complete our Camp Registration Form2024 and mail it immediately, along with a deposit of $100 per session to: 35270 County Road 31, Davis, CA 95616-9430.  When we receive you deposit, you will receive an email confirmation, so please call if you do not receive this.  Deposits are non refundable once space is confirmed.  ***Preregistered spots are only held a few days! ***All special needs or learning difficulties must be discussed before registration. ​***
***We do request that all students pre-register prior to sending in their registration form.  This allows us to ensure availability of the requested weeks, and to evaluate the riding levels of students prior to registration.  It is important for students riding development that they are signed up for an appropriate level of camp, as students in camps above their comfort level can quickly lose confidence.  Please read the riding level descriptions carefully and discuss any questions relating to your student’s riding level with us at pre-registration and make us aware of any special needs or learning difficulties.  We will try to accommodate registrations sent in without pre-registration, but can not guarantee your student will be placed in the requested level or week unless we receive pre-registration.***