Camp: Summer 2024
We offer week long summer horse camps for children ages 3-16 for the Truckee Reno Tahoe area. Our camps are a great way for children and teens to spend more time learning about horses and spending time with animals. All our camps will spend time with our farm animals: miniature horses, bunnies, chickens, lambs, goats, alpacas, and mini donkeys. New for 2024, we will be offering Farmstead Camp for 3 year olds if they are potty trained. New for 2024, we are offering Prairie Camp for ages 6-8. Prairie Camp will focus on the care and training of animals.
Important Information
Inherent risk of equine ACTIVITIES & release of liability
By enrolling your child or yourself in our summer camps, you understand that there are certain risks related to equine activities that cannot always be avoided. While safety is a priority in all of our programs, accidents do happen. We strongly recommend that your child has equine-approved riding gear and their own helmet to help mitigate some of these risks.
All campers must have a parent or guardian sign a release of liability. Hard copies and QR codes will be available at camp check-in.
Booking and Cancellation Policy
Please understand that our camps are kept small to facilitate learning, we have horses to feed and staff to pay and many of our camps fill up quickly. Last-minute cancellations keep other children from enjoying our camps, please do not just book and assume someone from the waitlist will take your spot, many families need to know if they have a camp spot two weeks out. Thank you for your understanding.
Summer Camps must be canceled on or before May 15th in order to receive a full refund. Camps require full payment at the time of registration.
Camp Insurance: All camps will have the option to purchase PREC Camp Insurance for $100 per camp week. This is a great option if your plans tend to change as we will no longer have the same generous refund policy that we had in the past.
Cancellations can be made two weeks prior to the start of camp with Camp Insurance for a full refund. $100 camp insurance fee is non-refundable.
Camp date changes can be made two weeks prior to the start of camp with Camp Insurance. Camp changes less than two weeks before camp will not be accommodated even with Camp Insurance.
Smoke and Weather Policy: Canceled camp due to inclement weather will not be refunded. In cases where the camp is canceled due to inclement weather, we make every effort to make up the missing time if weather and program schedules permit. Rates for our camp offerings take into account the fact that most campers will miss at least one day for weather or a program conflict. Non-attendance does not result in a refund. When you enroll your child, you are reserving a space, time, and staffing whether or not your child attends the camp.
The last few Augusts have been extremely smokey and we plan to be outside and operating if the AQI is below 150 on Purple Air with the LRAPA conversion. We will not be giving any refunds or credits for bad weather or smoke but will try to make up for lost days by making half-day camp all day on better air days. We know everyone has different comfort levels with smoke, but if you do not want your child to be outside on days when the AQI is near 150, we strongly suggest you do not book a camp week in August.
Sick Days, Injuries, or Absences due to COVID-19: We are not offering refunds or credits for campers who miss camp for sickness or injury will not be credited or refunded.
4th of July- There will be no camp on Monday, July 4th. All camps have been discounted that week to reflect the one missing day.
Please scroll down to the bottom for information about horse upgrades, multiple week and sibling discounts.
Farmstead Camp ages 3-5
A farm and nature enrichment program for children who like the ponies but would prefer to spend more time with the critters and doing other crafts and activities. Every day, we think actively with our hands, body, and mind while we encounter many types of materials, get dirty with nature, and explore ideas from different points of view. We go on nature walks, plant seeds in our garden, dig for warms, jump from logs in our natural playground, and like taking our goats on a nature walk.
Campers must be potty trained. 3 year olds should have experience separating from an adult before this camp.
9-12pm Monday through Friday. Cost is $585 per session
Pony/ critter camp Ages 5-8
For kids who love crafts, farm animals and are more serious about riding mini horses. Through the course of the week, the children will learn basic horse handling skills on and off the horse, including grooming, tacking and horse care.
9-12pm Monday through Friday. Cost is $635 per session
Friday Pony Demonstration at 11am
Prairie Camp Ages 6-8
For kids who are interested in learning more about rabbits, chickens, mini donkeys, sheep, and pygmy goats. This camp will focus on caring for and training farm animals. The program emphasis will be 4-H. Kids will learn how to how to create animal habitats for play and shelter. The kids will also help with the garden and learn how to compost and grow vegetables. There will be a demonstration at the end of the week.
9-12pm Monday through Friday. Cost is $585. per session
Children can sign up for after care if they would like the full day experience.
Colt Camp Ages 7-9
For kids who want to ride more but aren’t ready to make the jump to a full size horse. This camp uses small horses and ponies to help children gain comfort around horses and to learn how to ride or advance their riding skills. Children may rotate through ponies to increase their comfort and confidence. Geared to 7 year olds who have ridden in our camps before and are ready to be off a lead line and first time riders ages 8-9.
9-12pm Monday through Friday. Cost is $665. per session
Children can sign up for after care if they would like a full day experience.
Half- Day Horse Camp Ages 8 Plus Am and Pm Sessions
For the beginner(9 plus) who is excited to learn more about horses and the intermediate (8 plus) who is ready to trot and learn to canter. Campers will have arena lessons, work with ponies for ground work, go on a trail ride, and learn to ride bareback. Campers will spend a minimum of 2 hours with their horse everyday.
We reserve the right to move any camper to any of the other camps if they are not able to ride independently.
AM Session 9-12pm Monday through Friday. Cost is $715per session
Children can sign up for after care on a day by day basis.
AM Friday Horse Demonstration 11:15.
All-Day Horse Camp Ages 9 Plus
For the camper who is confident and comfortable around horses. Campers should be familiar with equine basics like tacking, horse safety, and be able to independently walk/trot on a horse. Campers will spend about 2.5 hours per day in the saddle with time in the arena and out on the trail. They will spend a minimum of 3 hours with their horse a day. Beginners and first time riders should not book this camp. We reserve the right to move any camper to any of other camps if they are not able to ride independently.
9:00-3:00 Monday through Friday. Cost $1115 per session
Friday horse demonstration 2:15 pm
Extreme Trail Camp Ages 10 Plus
For serious and strong riders, who can trot and canter and love an adventure on the trail. Campers should be comfortable riding a variety of horses and be able to handle the longer time in the saddle. Campers will go on a variety of trail rides navigating expert terrain and spend time advancing their skills in the arena (English or western). Campers must be able to tack up independently and handle a minimum of 2.5 hrs in the saddle. If you do not ride consistently during the year, Extreme Camp is probably not the right camp and you should be booking All-Day camp.
Wednesday: pack a suit and portable lunch
9:00-4:00 Monday through Friday. Cost $1275.00 per session
No Friday Demonstration
Adult Summer Camp
Thinking it is your turn to learn how to ride? Or maybe you know how to ride, but love the idea of sharing time in the saddle with some new insights and pointers from our staff. We have wonderful terrain and horses. Our focus is on horsemanship throughout our camps. If you are new to riding, you will learn all the basics. If you are proficient, you will spend more of your time in the saddle. English and Western riders are welcome. We would like to offer a variety of trail rides and drills. No two weeks will be alike. Samantha Bouchie will be the lead instructor. Sam is a certified instructor in both English and Western. She is one of our English trainers for our Sierra Riding Academy. Sam loves to head out on trail and take on the serious terrain.
The schedule is 9-12pm Tuesday - Thursday. The cost is $550.00 for the week. Group sizes will typically be limited to four riders.
Horse Camp what you need to Wear/ bring
labeled bag with labeled water bottle snack for half day, all day camp needs to bring additional snacks and lunch
long pants: leggings, jeans, breeches (Farmstead - shorts are ok!)
closed toed shoes: paddock boots, cowboy boots (sneakers are ok for Farmstead and Pony Camp)
sunscreen and any medications your child needs
ASTM/SEI certified helmet- we have loaners, but strongly encourage you to purchase your own.
Optional Riding Gear: gloves, safety vest, tack (extreme camp, JC)
Promotions and Add Ons
Horse upgrades: You should click a horse upgrade if you are a repeat camper and requesting a specific horse. This is the only way to guarantee that. You should upgrade if your child would like a more “push button” and easy to ride school horse. *horses may not move from all-day to half-day camp. Choices are given a first come first serve basis and we reserve the right to not accommodate certain requests. If a suitable alternative is not found, the upgrade of $100 will be returned.
Farm Chores Aftercare- 12-2:30. This is offered to Pony/Critter Camp, Colt Camp and Half-Day Campers who would like to stay a little longer and help with chores. Limited availability, must have 4 minimum or it will be canceled.
Consecutive Week Discount: Camps must be booked before June 1st using the discount code "multipleweek" to receive a 5% percent discount. The discount code will not work unless they are consecutive.
Sibling Discount: Siblings booked during the same camp week will receive a 5% discount. Discount code “sibdis”
Early Registration Discount: We are no longer offering an early registration discount.
Camp Email: What to Expect
Hello from Piping Rock!
Thanks for signing up for camp next week, we are so excited to see you! Camp starts at 9 am, (or 1pm if you are in PM Camp) but on Monday we suggest you arrive a little early to check-in.
Please sign the Release of Liability. Hard copies and QR codes are available at camp.
COVID-19 UPDATE:
Piping Rock will be following the latest CDC guidelines. Unvaccinated adults will be required to wear masks. We are outside all day and know that children have a low percentage of spreading COVID-19, so parents should decide if they want their children to be wearing masks.
All parents are expected to take their child’s temperature before camp. Please do not send your child to camp if they have had any Covid-19 Symptoms.
CAMP LOCATIONS: MAP IMAGE
Farmstead Camp: Park in the main parking lot. Walk toward the trail ride shed on the left-hand side. Walk around the critter pens toward the two red shipping containers, our camp location is just beyond that.
Pony-Critter Camp- Main entrance. Check-in is under the big covered arena.
Colt and Half-Day Camp- Please park at the main entrance. Once parked, please walk down the alley between the covered arena and the barns and walk to the second white barn (B Barn) for check-in.
All-Day Camp- Please drive past the first entrance to the second entrance. Check-in at the English arena.
Trail-Land- Depending on the week, older campers may be sent to our second location by the trail rides.
CAMP CHECKLIST:
labeled bag with labeled water bottle, snacks and lunch
long pants (leggings, jeans, breeches)
children in horse camp should wear paddock boots and cowboy boots -it is really easy to get stepped on and boots protect their feet.
bandana, buff, or mask
riding gloves
ASTEM/SEI certified helmet- we have some loaners, but strongly encourage you to purchase or bring your own.
safety vest, optional yet recommended
sunscreen and any medications your child needs
Friday Horse Demonstration
Pony Camp 11am
Am Horse Camp 11 am
All Day Camp 2pm
PM Half-Day Camp 3 pm
Farmstead- come early and watch us ride ponies everyday around 11:30-12:00
Colt Camp- No demonstration
Thanks again for taking the time to review this information, we are looking forward to camp!