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Horseback Riding Camps Activities

The horseback riding camp activity at Rockbrook combines excellent horses, expert riding instruction, and beautiful horse facilities to create the perfect setting to enjoy riding at summer camp. Every camper can select horseback riding at no additional cost each session.Girls with every level of horsemanship skill can become better riders at Rockbrook's horseback riding camps. We have horses to match every rider's experience and instructors to tailor each horseback riding lesson to each camper.

New Horseback Riding Arena!

March 16, 2017

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Camp Horse Arena RenderingLast summer we announced Rockbrook’s plan to improve its horseback riding facilities by building a covered riding arena and new modern barn. It was a quiet announcement really, but it included this architect’s rendering showing the open-air design we had in mind. Well, it’s time to announce it more publicly and officially! We’re thrilled to share the news that the construction is well underway and we’ll have the arena finished and ready for action this summer!

We began the construction in late August by using a bulldozer, a large excavator, and multiple dump trucks to prepare a large flat area of the upper pasture. This was a major job since we needed almost 42,000 square feet (almost an acre!) of flat land to fit the two new buildings, and redesigned outdoor ring. A civil engineering firm from Asheville helped us establish the correct grade, plan for storm water drainage, and survey a new road through the property. Since that time, Richie Case, Rockbrook’s full time Site Manager, has served as the project’s Contractor and led a team of workers through every step of the construction. We’ve received 90-foot steel roof trusses from Missouri, 30-foot long pressure treated timbers from Washington state, and bundle after bundle of lumber arriving on probably a dozen different trucks. More than 30 trucks have delivered concrete for the footers, post forms and sections of the barn floor. One highlight was the 100-foot tall crane that, over four days, lifted each steel roof truss into place on the riding arena.

camp horse barn constructionCrane lifting steel trusses for horse arena

The Rockbrook Camp Riding Arena

OK, so what’s it going to be!!?? The arena is huge! It’s 180 feet long and 90 feet wide, has a vaulted ceiling going up 26 feet, a 5-foot rail all the way around, a full lighting system, and a footing of sand, mixed with special additives ideal for the horses and hunter-jumper riding. On one end there’s an additional covered area for a mounting ramp, equipment storage, and observation. Certainly among horse camps, it’s the largest in western North Carolina, but more importantly, it will allow Rockbrook girls to ride all summer long no matter what the weather… rain or shine! In the shade and with fewer bugs to bother you while riding, it will be a wonderful place to ride.

The new adjoining 96×50 barn is wonderful too. It has 10 large 12×12-foot stalls, a heated feed room, separate tack room, a spacious 14-foot wide aisle, and a full 3,000 square-foot hay loft. Each stall has rubber mat floors, sliding stall doors, and rear dutch doors that open to the outside. Under a wrap-around shed porch, there are two wash stalls, equipment storage and more areas to observe what’s happening in the riding arena. It will be so nice to tack up, walk your horse down the barn’s aisle right into the arena, and ride— all under a roof.

Camp Riding Arena and Barn

Stay tuned for more updates. As you can see from this recent photo, we’re not quite finished, but we couldn’t keep it a secret any longer.  If you ride at camp, you’re gonna love it!

Finally, here’s a fun little video shot from a drone. It shows both new buildings and gives you a sense of how they relate to the other riding areas at camp.

Have any questions about the new arena? Let us know in the comments or get in touch.

Walk, Trot, Swim, Shoot, Stretch and Smile

July 23, 2012

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It’s amazing how many ways one can stretch their limits and move their bodies during a day at camp.  Today was the first day of activities for our Third Session and the girls were so excited to jump right into their first rotation of classes.  Where else can you walk, run, swim, climb, shoot an arrow, paint a pot, catch a frog, eat muffins, wear a costume and sing your heart out all in ONE DAY?!  That is exactly what you would see if you took a stroll around the campus, action every where you look!

Our first stop was down at the barn where the riders and stable club were suiting up for their day.  The riding staff interviews each camper who wants to ride and then places them in the appropriate class.  There are riders of all skill levels and the staff and horses are wonderful teachers.  It is special to see that bond that develops between horse and rider after a few weeks together at camp.  We look forward to the weeks riding on!

With the beautiful sunshine beaming today our morning Yoga classes moved outdoors to do some Yoga on the hill. Yoga is a popular activity at camp and many campers love the chance to stretch, deep breathe and feel that wonderful sense of calm that comes over you after you complete a yoga session.

Down at our target sports area our instructors worked with the girls on the safety rules of archery and riflery and then the campers got busy trying their hand out at these two sports.  Both of these activities are very popular as they are not something you usually get the chance to try out at home.  Believe it or not we even had a few girls join the bulls-eye club today by hitting the bulls-eye on the target.  Both activities follow a progression of instruction and as the campers skill improves new challenges await them.  These include moving farther from the target or advancing to a seated or standing position in riflery.

Free Swim was also quite popular today, a time when campers can come to the lake to swim or zip down the water slide.  Equally popular is searching for tadpoles and baby frogs.  The juniors (our youngest campers) really love the tadpole quest so it is really exciting for them when the tadpoles turn into frogs.  Chrissy, our waterfront director, reported that there were equal numbers of swimmers as frog hunters.  Simple things like finding a baby frog are what make camp so special!

As our first day of Third Session winds down, we are looking forward to all the fun that awaits us tomorrow.  From hikes to Castle Rock to rafting the Nantahala or throwing a pot, we are sure to have another great day filled with adventure and new ways to stretch your limits!  Yea camp!

Equestrian Delight

March 12, 2012

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Equestrian Camp Program for Girls
What is the best thing about horseback riding at camp? It’s hard to say of course, but a lot of it boils down to what you see in this photo. While it’s certainly important for an equestrian camp program to have excellent instructors, well-trained horses, and great riding facilities, how our riders feel while riding is what they’ll always remember. When a horse and rider really “click” (something the Rockbrook equestrian staff works hard to achieve for the girls) and suddenly they’re riding smoothly and naturally, there’s often this unique combined feeling of surprise, wonder and delight. It’s almost magical, and something really special to see as the girls burst into this kind of smile. Fantastic!

New Horseback Riding Video!

February 13, 2012

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You can learn a lot about the Rockbrook horseback riding program by reading through the many resources on our Web site. We’ve written about being an advanced rider and a complete beginner. We’ve talked about our horses, our staff, even some of the games we play in addition to our mounted lessons.

Now we have a new video to show you! It’s a great way to see our horses and riding program in action. Cara, our Equestrian Director, explains the philosophy and main goals of the Rockbrook program. Go ahead an check it out… And share it with your friends!

Horseback Riding Resources

December 19, 2011

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Camper girl gently caring for her horseAround this time year, with last summer pretty far behind us and next summer’s camp fun still several months away, it’s easy to start missing all the great stuff we love about Rockbrook. Of course, you can bounce all over the RBC Web site and check in with the latest news, enjoy some camp activities at home, or even watch some videos. You can look forward to a holiday surprise coming in the mail (hint: CP). You can pull out your journal or letters you received last summer. There are ways to relive bits and pieces of camp, even now as we head into winter.

But what if you love horses, and you aren’t able to ride much while at home? After riding at camp, what can you do to feed your desire to ride and learn about horseback riding the rest of the year? Fortunately, there are a ton of excellent resources available on the Internet, different Web sites dedicated to all things equestrian. Here are few great examples.

Let’s say you want to just learn some surprising facts about horseback riding. Just head over to Equine Kingdom and dig in! Did you know that the oldest horse on record lived to be 62 years old, or that there are about 75 million horses in the world?! This is a great site with fun photos, videos, articles, quizzes and more. You’ll be able to spend a lot of time enjoying Equine Kingdom.

If you would like to learn about all of the equine resources available in your area, a farrier, boarding farm, or veterinarian for example, you can head over to Newhorse.com.This is a directory, an organized collection of other Web sites related to horseback riding, horses and their care, horses for sale, riding games, and more. You can think of it as a jumping off point for finding out even more.

So don’t let your interest in horseback riding fade over the winter! We love riding too much for that!

Her Very First Ride

November 14, 2011

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Little Summer Camp girl horseback riding
For little girls, taking their first equestrian lesson can be a mix of excitement and nervous jitters. It’s exciting because horseback riding seems so fun when you read about it or see it in movies, but for your first riding lesson, it can easily be a little overwhelming. There is so much to learn— special clothes, important safety rules, riding gear for the horse, how to mount, different riding positions, and communicating with your horse. The horses and ponies can seem so huge! And there is a lot to remember all at once.

That’s why it’s so important that a girl’s first experience learning to horseback ride be a safe, caring, gentle introduction. It’s crucial that her instructor be experienced working with small children, that he or she be kind and patient, and that the pony be calm and gentle in the ring. Taking small steps, gradually gaining confidence and greater understanding, is the best way to maintain a girl’s enthusiasm for riding. The best children’s horseback riding centers know how to pace this kind of progression.

The equestrian program at Rockbrook Camp has a long history of introducing young girls to horseback riding. Camp has just the right combination of skilled instructors and gentle ponies, enthusiasm for riding, and great equestrian facilities to encourage girls on their very first ride. At camp, we’re well prepared to make every girl’s first horseback riding experience a positive one. It’s the perfect recipe for a life-long love of horses and horseback riding!

Riding English

October 14, 2011

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English Equestrian Horse and Saddle

At Rockbrook, our camp Equestrian Program teaches “English Riding” as opposed to “Western Riding.” But what is the difference between these two forms of horseback riding?

One difference you’ll notice right away, even before mounting your horse, is in the saddles. Western saddles are wider and deeper, with a very prominent horn toward the front. These are stable, comfortable seats designed for the cowboy (or girl!) who needs to spend a long time in the saddle. English saddles are smaller and lighter to allow the horse the greater freedom of movement required for the different hunter jumper gaits. And again, they don’t have a horn.

Other parts of the tack are different too. The reins are closed (left and right sides connected), the stirrups are shorter, and the bit is softer in the horse’s mouth in English Riding.

With these differences, naturally how you ride English is different from Western riding. As opposed to Western riding’s use of the reins, English horseback riding relies much more on balance and the rider’s legs to control the horse. In English riding, the rider is often up and out of the seat (two point, posting and jumping for example), as opposed to the seated position in Western riding.

Add to that learning to walk, trot, canter, dressage and jumping techniques, and you can see that learning English horseback riding is a wonderful sport.

Everyone’s Birthday

June 14, 2011

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Camp girl horseback riding

Visiting the equestrian center these days is a real treat. It’s just alive with big action and big smiles. The girls who selected riding as one of their activities are now well settled into the daily lessons. They know how to get dressed properly (helmet, boots, etc.), in most cases, how to lead their assigned horse out to one of the riding rings, and even how to mount. The riding staff is doing a wonderful job in the mounted lessons keeping each camper engaged and excited.  As the session progresses, it’s neat to see how much everyone’s confidence and skill has improved. It’s also fun to hear the campers talk about their favorite horse at camp, someone they’ve ridden a lot and gotten comfortable with. Maybe you’ve already received a letter from your daughter and heard about one of the great horses she’s been able to ride.  Learning to communicate with a special horse, and learning to trust him or her, is one of the most rewarding parts of horseback riding, and it’s happening just about every day around here.

Camp whitewater rafting trip
Also, today was a big day for whitewater rafting on the Nantahala river. We took all the middlers and seniors who wanted to go on either an overnight camping/rafting trip or on a day trip down the river. The Nantahala is famous for being rather chilly (somewhere near 50 degrees) even in the heat of the summer, so we were lucky to have bright sunny weather for both trips. Great weather like this makes it much more fun to splash and play while rafting, even at times jumping in on purpose when the guides say it’s OK. Rockbrook is the only girls camp with a permit to raft the Nantahala (we’ve had it since the 1980s), so we also can hire our own seasoned raft guides. On this trip Clyde, Sid, Billy, Leland, Michelle and and Andria guided the boats, making up a team with more than 85 years of combined whitewater experience! These folks truly are the best. Rafting trips are always very exciting for the girls, and also pretty tiring, so it was no surprise to see most everyone conk out in the bus on the ride back to camp. This kind of adventure and fun needs some rest too!

Camp Birthday night custome partyBirthday cake at summer campCamp party for every birthday

Back at camp in time for dinner, there was a big surprise waiting. Birthday Night! This is a special dinner where the dining hall is rearranged so that everyone can sit according to their birth month… twelve big tables, one for each month. It’s really fun for campers and counselors to sit together and get to know better other girls from different cabins and age groups. This time, to give it a even more Rockbrook flair, we had a theme for the dinner: Candyland. And never missing a chance to dress up, this sparked some very creative costumes from the counselors and campers. They dressed as different types of candy and characters from the Candyland board game. In addition to lollipops and gumdrops, we saw the Duke of Swirl, Mr. Mint and Gramma Nutt. Even Sarah dressed up as a Hershey’s chocolate kiss with almonds! The highlight of the night though was the cakes, the homemade cakes Alison baked for each month that she then decorated as scenes from Candyland. They were both beautiful and delicious. There were some pretty huge pieces of cake for the girls in some months. Yum!

Ready for Equestrian Fun

May 21, 2011

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Any day now, more of our horses will be arriving at camp. We’ve been getting ready too! New fences and gates are up, the fields are lush and green, and the new equestrian office is set. We’re positive sitting on that porch will be very popular. 🙂 There will be plenty of action with both camp barns full and 28 horses in all. Many of your favorites are coming back— Danny, Lacy, Buddy, and Cool Beans —and there will be a few new equestrian surprises as well.

Are you ready to ride? It’s going to be great! And fun!

Happy Equestrian Camp GirlFun Equestrian Camp Game

Meet Snowflake

April 8, 2011

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Camp Pony SnowflakeCamp Horse Snowflake

Do you remember Cool Beans from last summer? He was the white Welsh Pony who quickly became a star of the barn, well-loved particularly by the horseback riding juniors. Such a wonderful horse! Well, we have great news to pass along. Beans is coming back to Rockbrook this summer! And even more exciting, he’s bringing along his friend Snowflake, another sweet Welsh Pony.

Here’s Snowflake, who is also known as Cloud Nine, at a horse show where he was the Leadline champion (see that blue ribbon?). A “Leadline” competition is where children ride (usually walk or trot) while an adult leads their horse in-hand. The judging varies, but usually focuses on the child’s overall position— seat, leg and hand. Of course appearance is important too! 🙂

We can’t wait for you all to meet Snowflake and to say Hi to Cool Beans again this summer. Who do you want to ride?