Eagle Valley Equestrian, LLC (E.V.E.) horsemanship camps are designed to be so much more than riding horses. From the nutritious and organic meals that are served to the Equine Experiential Learning and Enlightened Horsemanship lessons that are taught, the goal is to provide campers whether they are youngsters or adults with an experience that is positive in every way. Horsemanship instruction emphasizes an informed and sensitive approach that treats the horse as a co-instructor, and provides a solid understanding of equine behavior and what it takes to establish a willing, enjoyable partnership with a horse.

E.V.E. camps offer a basic understanding of Natural Horsemanship which is attained through both mounted and unmounted exercises. Natural Horsemanship emphasizes an understanding of why horses act the way they do and how to work in harmony with their behaviors and instincts, rather than against them. To be a 'natural' horseman means learning how to be a leader for the horse; how to earn its trust and respect. In some respects, this is a lifelong task, but in the process we develop leadership skills that serve us in any arena of life. Through their riding lessons, campers at E.V.E. will learn how to speak the horses' own language, effectively use body language, and will experience the importance of aligning your actions with your intentions. This is in addition to basic riding and horse handling skills.

At E.V.E. we believe that horses have so much more to offer us than a ride on their backs. To this end we also offer Equine Experiential Learning (EEL) activities. EEL is a format that uses horses as active participants that help to facilitate the learning experience for the human participants. By examining horse behavior, and how the horses relate to us, we can better understand what may be more effective in our own human relationships. By acting as a non-judgmental mirror, the horse provides instant feedback to how we are 'being' in any given moment and motivates us to evaluate which of our habits or behaviors are serving us and which are not.

Being extremely perceptive to the state of their handlers, horses respond immediately to any shifts or adjustments we make in our thoughts or behaviors and provide instant validation of the changes we’ve made. By purposefully utilizing this equine perceptiveness, E.V.E. has crafted activities to foster relationship and leadership skills as well as encouraging a higher level of self awareness in participants. Through the week, campers have countless opportunities to practice and apply these new skills, both with the horses and each other. Our campers often make impressive realizations about themselves and their behaviors which apply to life beyond camp. We are continually amazed at what is possible when you pair kids and horses in this way. It's why we at E.V.E. insist that horses have so much more to offer us than just a ride on their backs.

We would love to offer this opportunity to you and your child this summer!