Day Horse Summer Camp in South Carolina

A hands-on horseback riding day camp for kids ages 7–12 near Hopkins, SC

Our day horse summer camp offers daily horseback riding lessons, horse care, grooming, and fun farm activities in a safe, small-group setting. This horse riding day camp is perfect for beginners and returning riders.

Campers build confidence, learn correct riding fundamentals, and develop a true respect for horses.

Dates & Prices 2026

1 week

Monday - Friday

8:00 am - 2:00 pm

$ 450*

per camper/week

$ 450*

per camper/week

- Access to fresh Water as needed

- Campers have to bring their own snacks and lunch

A True Horseback Riding Day Camp Experience for Kids

Our day horse summer camp is designed for kids who truly love horses and want more than just a short ride. Campers spend the majority of their day riding, learning horse care, grooming, and participating in hands-on barn activities, all under the guidance of experienced instructors.


Unlike many kids’ camps, this horseback riding day camp focuses on building real skills, confidence, and correct fundamentals both in the saddle and on the ground. Each day includes structured riding time along with educational horse activities that keep campers engaged and learning.

• Daily horseback riding lessons

• Grooming, tacking, and horse care

• Ground work and horse handling

• Small group instruction for safety and confidence

English and Western Riding at Our Day Horse Summer Camp in South Carolina

At our day horse summer camp in South Carolina, campers are introduced to both English and Western riding in a safe, supportive environment. Instruction is age-appropriate and focused on correct fundamentals, confidence, and respect for the horse.

• English and Western riding instruction

• Beginner-friendly lessons for all experience levels

• Focus on safety, balance, and correct technique

Spots are limited and fill quickly each summer.

Experienced Instructors and a Horse-First Approach


Our day horse summer camp is led by experienced instructors who prioritize safety, correct fundamentals, and a positive learning environment. Campers are taught to ride with balance and confidence while developing respect for the horse through hands-on care and daily interaction.

This horse-first approach helps kids build strong foundations, whether they are brand new to riding or returning to improve their skills.

A Typical Day at Our Day Horse Summer Camp

• Morning horse care and responsibility activities

• Age-appropriate barn tasks such as feeding, grooming, and caring for horses

• Horseback riding lessons and hands-on horse care

• Stable management and horsemanship activities

• Snack and lunch breaks

• Rotating activities such as grooming, bathing horses, riding games, arts and crafts, and more

• End-of-day wrap-up and pickup

Daily activities may vary slightly based on weather, group age, and horse needs.

"All campers are expected to participate in barn chores, including cleaning stall & feeding horses and cleaning tack."

Why do campers have to do barn chores?

It is a popular activity in every good horse camp because it is teaching the campers the important understanding of the care and work that is put into keeping horses happy and healthy.

It also teaches the campers that horseback riding and/or owning horses always come with responsibilities and work.

Barn chores we perform here at camp daily:

Each camper gets a horse/pony assigned on the beginning of the camp week and will be responsible for the care of the horses. Our counselors or barn manager will assist them if needed.

Cleaning grooming area - as in every riding school we ask every rider to leave their grooming area in the same the condition they have found it and this means every rider has to sweep their area after use.

Cleaning stalls - because horse cannot clean them themselves we Equestrians have to do it for them

Filling water - a horse drinks up to 10 gallon of water a day and in the summer even more. Water is as important for horses as it is for us to stay hydrated

Feeding Supplements - Hay and grass pasture is not enough for a working horse or even older horses to get all the nutrients and vitamins they need. So they need to receive this in form of supplements and feed.

Cleaning water through - Once a week the water troughs need to be washed out to ensure that the horses always have clean water to drink.

Sweeping barn aisle - After riding lessons each camper will clean and sweep the grooming area they used to leave it in the same condition they found it.

Cleaning tack - after every ride campers will wipe down the tack used and on the last day they will clean their tack. It is important to note that tack cleaning is not to make it look ‘pretty’. Tack cleaning is a step we must take to ensure our horses are comfortable when being ridden and to keep the tack functional.

FAQ

What are the ages of the children attending Day Camp?

Our Day Camp program is for boys and girls who are 7-12 years of age.  Only 10 campers are registered for each week because we are running Overnight camp at the same time The staff-to-camper ratio is 5 to 1.

How much riding time will the campers have?

Campers will ride for approximately 60 minutes each camp day. 

I have no riding experience – can I still attend Day Camp?

Many campers have little or no riding experience.  All of the children attending Day Camp will enjoy learning new skills with horses.

Do I need special equipment to ride?

Riding helmets – The SEI logo must appear inside each camper’s helmet to be acceptable for riding, and the helmet must have a manufacturer’s date of less then five years ago.  We have helmets available for campers to rent for $25/week.  SEI approved helmets may be purchased through tack shops.. Please write your camper’s name inside her helmet.

Boots – When campers are riding or working around horses, boots with a raised heel and smooth sole are required.  You can purchase boots at tack shops and can often find them at resale stores such as Goodwill or St. Vincent’s for reasonable prices or order them on amazon. !NO ZIPPER ON THE INSIDE!

What will I need to bring to camp?

Each day, campers should bring a reusable water bottle  They also need to bring: a pair of jeans or long pants (NOT capris) to wear while riding, shorts, swimsuit, rain jacket, hat for the sun, sunscreen, towel, and sneakers.  It’s important to label your camper’s belongings in case they are forgotten or get misplaced.

May I bring my child to camp? 

Yes, campers should be dropped off between 8:45 and 9:00 am and can be picked up between 5:00 and 5:15pm.

What if it rains?

As long as it is only a light drizzle we will still have lessons. Should it be downpouring then we will see that we get our lessons in after the rain ends. But sometimes we are unable to do a horse lesson because of the weather, we apologize in advance should it happen to you. We will have alternatives ready to still work with campers on their riding with our barrel and balance horses in addition horse simulator

What if it is too hot? 

This depends on the heat index. For the heat index you add temperature and humidity together. We have to avoid heat stress or heat stroke for our horses because this could be life-threatening for them. For example, if the temperature outside is 80 degrees and the humidity is 50%:, the heat index number is 130 - so we could ride. Less than 130: Horses can be ridden if proper hydration is provided to them at all points 130 - 150: Be cautious. The horse's ability to cool itself will be compromised by the heat and humidity. 160 or above: No riding, because it takes only about 15 minutes of moderate exercise to raise our horse's body temperature to a dangerous, potentially life-threatening level. It could be that on some days we will push the lessons to a very early time or a later in the evening time to ensure our horses will be okay. 

May we visit camp?

Individual tours may be scheduled prior to camp by appointment only.*During the summer, Pony Gang is a “closed” camp, which means that we do not allow visitors due to the volume of campers, our schedule, and the safety of campers and staff. Our no-visitors policy helps us to maintain a high level of security. 

How soon do I need to register?

Many weeks are often full by mid-March.  Please register through the link on our website. After you are registered, a confirmation email will be together health form, and other forms will be emailed to you. If sessions are full, we do have a waiting list. Sorry, we are unable to take phone registrations. 

How are your counselors selected?

Many of our staff are former campers or lessons students from us.  Prior to the opening of camp, our staff attend a comprehensive week-long training program.

Do I need to pack food

yes, campers are required to bring their own lunch and snacks.