Horsemanship camps are for campers 10 and older who enjoy horses and are looking to have a fun, challenging, hands-on week improving their horsemanship skills.  Horsemanship camp can be a jump start to a camper's future horse involvement through 4H, showing, riding lessons, ownership, etc.  It can also be a place to practice and learn new skills on different horses, in a different environment, and with different instructors and classmates.

Younger campers are encouraged to attend one of camp's Junior Camp weeks.  In addition to enjoying the many other fun elements of camp, Junior campers have the opportunity to sign up for a horse riding instruction hour (1 hr/day for 5 days, an extra $72 fee is added to the week's registration balance).

Please contact our head wrangler at: nikki@villagecreek.net to explore possibilities that match your abilities with the camp's needs and/or to be informed of when "work days" are being planned.  

Our horsemanship camps are based on curriculum from the Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA).  CHA's mission is to promote excellence in safety and education for the benefit of the entire horse industry through certifying instructors, publishing educational resources such as horsemanship manuals, etc.  Our head wrangler is a CHA certified instructor.  Each Level 1 and Level 2 horsemanship camper will receive a CHA level-related book when they arrive at camp.

We love the opportunity to introduce campers to horses and our program through the youth and family camps and other camp programs; however, the content we're able to cover with them in these times is a very small portion of what level 1 includes. Therefore, we prefer individuals begin with level 1 unless they've had significant additional supervised/instructed riding.  To be approved for skipping a level, a camper must talk with the head wrangler (contact: nikki@villagecreek.net) to verify the camper's skill level matches the abilities required for the next horsemanship level.

No, campers do not need prior knowledge or experience before attending a level 1 horsemanship camp.  We'll start with the basics (a good review even for those who've learned them) and then progress throughout the week.

Certifications are based on CHA's nationally recognized standards.  Earning riding certification can assist a camper in clearly presenting to other instructors/facilities his or her riding ability; additionally, we have seen past campers note their CHA certifications obtained at camp in scholarship applications, entrance forms for equine related studies, and more.  Campers may need to attend horsemanship camp at a given level multiple weeks before mastering the skills required to earn certification.  All campers will receive either CHA certification or a participation certificate at the end of each week.

Campers' evaluation is based on CHA standards.  A portion is an examination of a camper's riding ability.  The other portion of the evaluation is a written test covering information from the CHA book each camper receives.  The information in this book will be taught and reviewed during the week of camp.

Our daily schedule is designed to make your time at camp a memorable experience. While every week is a little different, a sample schedule is as follows:

     7:00 Groom & Saddle Horses

     8:00 Breakfast

     8:45 Ground Class and Arena Class (about 2 hrs) 

     11:00 Chapel, Quiet Time, Cabin Cleanup

     12:00 Lunch

     1:00 Free Time with the cabin leader (other camp activities, canteen available)

     3:00 Ground Class and Arena Class (about 2 hrs)

     5:00 Unsaddle and turn out horses

     5:30 Supper

     6:30 Evening Chapel

     8:00 Horse Activity

     10:00 Bed Time

Horsemanship camps begin on Sunday afternoons, with camp’s registration line typically opening at 2 pm. Horsemanship campers’ first scheduled event is typically about  4:30 pm on Sunday afternoons. Campers’ weeks conclude with a ‘horse show’ beginning at  9:30 am Saturdays at our outdoor arena, which family and friends are encouraged to  attend. Following the rodeo campers are invited to introduce their family members to horses & wrangling staff, turn out their horse one last time, and then collect their belongings to head home.

Campers will be involved with hands-on horse activities for 5+ hours each day, including: grooming, ground class, saddling, arena & trail riding, unsaddling, and turn out. 

Campers will work hands-on with our horses, learning the different responsibilities to take proper care of a horse. All horsemanship campers will learn aspects related to bringing in, grooming, saddling, warming up, cooling down, and unsaddling their horse. Additional different aspects are presented at each CHA level, including aspects on mane  & tail care, hoof care, feeding, and basic horse first aide.

Village Creek Bible Camp has an outdoor arena for lessons and games, several miles of trails throughout the 220 acres of camp property, covered hitching rails, a tack shed, a hay barn, and several pastures.

Each horsemanship camp, weather permitting, has an overnight campout with their horses. Campers will typically leave the hitching rails mid-afternoon for a long trail ride to their camp-out location in one of our back pastures (on camp property). Their bedding/personal items, tents, and meal supplies will be brought out to the site for them. As a group they’ll prepare the camp site for themselves and their horses, with the aid of their counselor and wranglers. They’ll then assist in preparing supper over a fire, enjoy a devotional time, and have fun together before their night in a tent. In the morning they’ll assist with preparing breakfast over the fire, prepare their horses, and then ride back to main camp for the remainder of their day.

A full horsemanship camp is 8-10 campers. There is a minimum ratio of 1 wrangler to every 5 campers while on horseback.

Horse Shows begin at 9:30am on Saturday of each horsemanship camp week (weather permitting) and are an opportunity for campers to  demonstrate what they’ve learned via a group drill routine, skill demonstration, and playing a short game on horseback.  

Other than the campout night, horsemanship campers stay in one of camp’s many cabins and use nearby bathroom/bathhouse facilities. Typically all horsemanship campers of the same gender stay in the same cabin together.

Horsemanship campers will be led by one of our trained summer staff counselors. Not only will they stay with them overnight in the cabin(s), they will also be with them during meal times, chapel & devotional times, free time, evening activities, the overnight campout, etc. They may also participate in some horse activities with campers and assist with reviewing the CHA book material with campers. Horsemanship counselors are excited to go through the week alongside each camper.

Horsemanship campers will eat meals together, served buffet style or family style in our dining hall (except for during their camp-out).

During afternoons the camp’s canteen will be open for campers to purchase drinks (soda pop, Gatorade, bottled water, etc.) and snacks (candy, bagged snacks, etc.). The Camp Store also offers t-shirts and other souvenirs for purchase. All money is deposited into a “bank account” during the week, and the balance is refunded at the end of the week to the camper.

Yes! During afternoon free times, horsemanship campers get the opportunity to experience many of camp’s other activity options. Some of the activities they may enjoy include: lake fun (swimming, The Blob, kayaking, fishing, the 100’ waterslide, rope swing, etc.), archery, high and low ropes challenge course, bungee  trampolines, craft room, gym, game room, and more!

Our Mission at Village Creek Bible Camp is to provide an environment away from the distractions of everyday life, where people can hear the word of God and encounter Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit. We desire VCBC to be a place where you can grow strong, changed by Christ and strengthened by His grace. To that end, VCBC focuses on Biblical teaching and encouragement, and every camp and retreat features excellent Christ-honoring speakers and musicians. In light of this, all horsemanship campers will be asked to participate in each chapel/cabin devotional time.

Yes. Summer provides opportunities for family camps and youth camps in addition to horsemanship camps. While horsemanship campers will have their own schedule and counselors, they will eat the same meals as the other campers during their week, will occasionally share chapel times, and will at times enjoy free time activities alongside other campers.

A Packing List & Info for all Village Creek Bible Camp guests is available by clicking here.  Horsemanship campers should make use of this list as they prepare to come. A few additional recommendations for horsemanship campers include: 

1. Campers will need to wear long pants for every horse interaction (grooming, saddling, class, trail rides, etc). Bring something you’re comfortable wearing for many hours in a day.  This can be the same thing for all week… just be sure you’re comfortable in it. 

2. Campers will need sturdy, closed-toed shoes for every horse interaction.  Riding boots are great (don’t bring new ones… break them in first), but hard soled shoes will work as well. You’ll wear them lots, so make sure they’re comfortable.

All campers riding horses at camp are required to wear riding helmets. You do not have to bring your own, as camp has a variety of sizes available for your use while at camp. If you do own your own helmet you may bring it, but it will have to be inspected and approved by our head wrangler to be able to be used (if it is not approved, you will be asked to use one of camp’s helmets).