Camp Ponies

For a great camp experience, having the right ponies is key.

- ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY SHAWN HAMILTON

What makes pony camp awesome? Being able to hang with horses all day, learning how to brush and care for them, learning how to tack them up, or getting to ride? All of these things make horse camp an unforgettable experience, but what makes all of these things possible are the awesome ponies and horses that make up the camp.

Without awesome camp ponies there would be no awesome camp. A discussion with a pony camp owner and a few camp workers help to answer the question, “What makes a great camp pony?”

Beginning riders are led during the trail rides through the forest.

SOUTH ALGONQUIN TRAILS

In 1999, the South Algonquin Trails horse facility opened in Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario, Canada. This huge park of forests lakes and rivers is 4,741 square miles and is home to many animals, including deer, elk, moose and bears. The park is named after the Algonquin indigenous people who first inhabited the area. The park has over 800,000 visitors annually from all over the world that bike, hike, canoe, kayak, camp, and ride horses.

Ariella teaches the campers correct brushing technique.