SJ Ranch is an ideal place to improve your riding skills, learn more about horses, take on the responsibilities of horse care, and have fun! It’s also a great place to make new friends, because everyone here shares your enthusiasm for horses!
All campers are scheduled to ride twice a day and then every day choose 4 other activities that they would like to do. They can choose more horse activities and traditional camp activities like arts and crafts, archery, tennis, acting games, or other sports and games. An optional free swim and boating period is offered at the waterfront each afternoon.
Since riders are put into groups according to their ability, lessons can be focused on appropriate riding skills. Both riding times are usually lessons in the ring, but all groups go out on a supper-ride, and might go on another trail ride if it’s hot. And taking the horses in our specially designated horse pond is an SJ summer tradition.
We’re not focused heavily on competition, although we do have a show at the end of each session—Our priorities are safety, fun and learning. Advanced riders will start to work on beginning dressage, and besides jumping in the ring will also go out and practice cross-country jumping. In barn classes everyone is taught the proper way to groom and tack up their own horse as well as more advanced things like horses care, bandaging, lunging, medical care, and training.
SJ Ranch is accredited by the American Camping Association and by the Certified Horsemanship Association and use CHA certified instructors. We are inspected and licensed by the state of Connecticut.