Adult Commuter Camp
Includes:
- Daily Lesson
- Daily Trail Ride
- Mid-Day Seminars
- Lunches
- Dinners
- Capstone Multi-Course Dinner Out on Friday
- Shuttle Service during day between farm and other activities
Commuters are welcome to take part in everything with the camp outside the stables activities as well, including the lunches out, the seminars and resting hours at the house, the dinners and the wine campfires at the end of the day. However, with the added commute it can feel like a long day!
Note for Commuters:
The schedule for our adult camps are always flexible and often ever changing depending on the weather, the needs and the rhythms of each specific camp. Often things change and evolve, being settled on evening conversations around the dinner table. Camp staff will keep commuters apprised of all schedule changes via text message, but it is up to the commuters to either be present for the conversations or be flexible with changes in schedule via text.
Commuters must arrive early or on time to join programs.
Previous Commuter Camper's Advice for Commuters:
- It’s a long day and no break to go home mid-day unless they want to miss discussions over lunch. Staff encourages the use of downstairs of the overnighter house, hammock and couches for resting mid-day with the group.
- Commuters have full access to downstairs shower to clean up and should take advantage of it mid-day as needed.
- Pack a support bag that resides at overnighter house with changes of clothes and shoes as well as shower stuff.
- Commuters are welcome to jump in the overnighter bus mid-day for the back and forth between the overnighter house for mid-day rest and breweries and wineries for lunch.
- Everything is optional - it's your vacation! Mornings can feel early for commuters. It was really fun bringing in the horses and feeding them, but maybe having one or two mornings where commuters to take the option come 30 minutes to an hour later might encourage people to stay and hang out at the overnighter house for the night before for the wine chats and socials.
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IMMERSION CAMP: For Brave Beginners on Up!
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Prior experience is not necessary for the Immersion Camp! We just motivation to learn, the sense of adventure in doing something different, the willingness to work hard and the stamina and wit to put it all together. We will help you master the biomechanics of horseback riding and give you life-long trail riding skills that will take you to the places you wish to go.
Whether you are a gutsy and athletic novice rider or a seasoned equestrian, we will help you hone your skills through a variety of lessons, lectures, games, trail rides and on-the-ground training with our horses culminating in an all-day trek into the National Forest.
The main goal of our camp is to get everyone out on trails enjoying the Finger Lakes – as that is our specialty. We will partake in several lessons on trail and in the arena, as well as recreational trail rides to enjoy the beauty of the region helping you increase your independence and capability on riding in the real world.
At camp, our "campers" may be split into various groups based on their skills and natural abilities:
- Gusty Novice riders will get a primer on riding, helping them to not only understand riding not just by how to execute cues, but why those cues work and how to properly communicate with their mount.
- More seasoned riders will be given opportunities to really strengthen their abilities and problem-solve their weaknesses while developing an in-depth understanding of the biomechanics of both the horse and the human and how they sync in harmony.
CLICK HERE TO SEE A SAMPLE IMMERSION CAMP SCHEDULE
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TRAIL WARRIOR CAMP: For Intermediate and Advanced Riders------------------------------
While our immersion camp is focused more on the experience of owning a horse and immersing yourself in life in the barn working with your horse, the Trail Warrior Camp is about taking it to the next level and learning how to travel with a horse to various locations in the Finger Lakes to hit the trails and go the distance.
In the Trail Warrior Camp we will spend each day doing a half-day ride at local National Forest and State Forest trails as well as a shorter evening ride. Many of the evening rides will be moonlight rides where we will focus on using our non-visual senses, developing faith in our partnerships and learning how to work with horses instead of commanding them.
Access to many of these trails is only accessible via trailer, making trailering skills and trailer safety a large part of this camp. Campers will learn various quick release knots, horse loading techniques, trailer safety, particular health issues and dangers that are connected to trailering and more.
Trail Warriors must be of Intermediate or Advanced Level in terms of skillsets as we will be doing longer treks at various speeds on a multitude of terrain.
Riding Test: On the Monday of camp, every rider will take a short riding test to ensure they are competent enough for the upcoming treks, and fall into the below guidelines. The decision of the manager conducting the test is final. For any riders who don’t ride frequently, or have been out of the saddle for a while, we highly recommend getting back into the saddle prior to your trip. Whether this means taking lessons, riding with a friend, or going on a local trail ride, it’s important to get reacquainted with your riding muscles before spending hours in the saddle while on holiday!
Our stables predominantly hits the trail in Western Tack, however all of our horses are trained in both English and Western styles and will be riding in SNAFFLE bits. Riders who are joining a trip where they will not be riding in their normal riding discipline may find themselves at a lower riding level than they might be at home.
For any rider who does not pass their intermediate level riding test, they will be welcome to do one hour trail rides or join lessons with our existing students each morning with an instructor to better learn the skills they were lacking in order to "catch up" to the group to join the ½ day rides. They are still welcome to join the shorter evening moonlight rides or sunset rides with the group.
CLICK HERE TO SEE A SAMPLE TRAIL WARRIOR CAMP SCHEDULE
Intermediate
Intermediate riders are familiar with correct riding position and can ride in control at the walk, trot, and canter. Intermediate riders will be able to post or rise the trot on the correct diagonal and to ride at the canter without bracing on the saddle or reins. Riders who have a history of riding regularly, or ride semi-frequently.
Intermediate rides offer rides at varied paces, depending on the riders in the group, and well-schooled horses. Many trips fall into this category, since there is room for flexibility.
Advanced
Advanced riders are those who ride well and are currently riding regularly, confidently and in control at the walk, trot, canter, and gallop over open ground or variable terrain, with independent seat and hands. Comfortable and competent with a forward-going horse.
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PHYSICAL FITNESS EXPECTATIONS FOR ALL CAMPS:------------------------------
Basic physical fitness is a must as working with horses requires a level of physical aptitude. All riders must:· Be capable of standing on their feet and walking for multiple hours a day while in the barn.
· Have the capacity and endurance enough that they would be able to climb 3 flights of stairs without being winded.
· Be able to carry 30lbs. of weight. Hay bales weigh 40 lbs., and saddles range between 20 to 50lbs. depending on the style and size of the saddle.
· For camp, due to limited availability of larger horses, all riders must weigh 230lbs. or less, which is less than our stable’s usual weight limit of 250lbs.
