What Does a Horse Riding Job Involve?
Horse riding jobs at camp will take place either in stable facilities at camp or at a local stable. Each day you and other counselors hired for the same role at camp will share your passion for horses and horse riding with groups of campers, helping them develop their skills and confidence in these activities. As well as riding, you’ll also show the campers how to care for horses and their stables to make sure they stay fit and healthy.
Skills & Experience
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Horse Riding
If you have any horse riding qualifications, definitely include them in your application as these will be very beneficial. However, Camp Directors will be quite happy to take proficient riders who feel confident helping children to learn to ride. They are happy for you to prefer either English or Western styles of riding, and in your application make sure you also reference your stable care knowledge.
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Childcare
Even though you’re an activity specialist, you’ll still likely have counselor duties when you’re not teaching or taking your time off. Any childcare experience can be great to include in your application. As a counselor your duties will include waking campers up in the mornings, joining in with mealtimes and evening activities and then making sure they go to bed at night. You’ll be keeping them organised and safe, making sure they listen to instructions (and follow them…) and also serving as a key source of fun and entertainment throughout the day!
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Enthusiasm & a Fun-Loving Attitude
As well as finding talented individuals who can help campers learn to horse ride, Camp Directors are looking for Counselors who can make sure their campers enjoy the best summer ever.
By approaching every day and every activity with enthusiasm and fun, you’ll make sure your campers feel the same way too. They’ll be much more willing to step out of their own comfort zones and embrace new experiences, especially if they’re first-time campers who might already be feeling a bit unsure or nervous.
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Communication
From sunrise to lights out, you’re likely talking to someone, somewhere. From your campers themselves, to other counselors and staff members, you’re going to need your communication skills to be in tip-top shape.
With the campers, you need to be able to strike the balance between understanding and following rules and expectations, and creating incredible memories of one of the best summers they’ll ever have. Although, remember communication isn’t just about talking - you’ll need to actively listen to any problems or concerns, and make sure campers feel valued and heard.
With other counselors and staff members, you’ll also be building a network of hugely supportive relationships at camp, and likely developing new friendships you’ll have for years and years to come. Communication becomes one of the most important aspects of the teamwork you’ll need to make sure each day runs smoothly.
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Patience
You’re going to spend a minimum of 9 weeks working with kids of varying ages at camp. They’re going to be excited and energetic, and you just wait until the sugar in those s’mores hits their system!
Patience is a hugely valuable skill to have in your remit. By being patient you’ll be able to let the campers express themselves to their fullest, all the while retaining control, maintaining the fun and being as supportive as you possibly can. When a challenge arises, patience can help you navigate it with ease.
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Flexibility
Camp life and kids are unpredictable, so having some flexibility is going to help you out a lot in daily camp life. Joining this together with some problem-solving skills, you’ll be able to navigate plenty of tricky situations.
From changes to the schedule, handling bad weather or dealing with unexpected events, being flexible will help you handle a changing camp environment in a way that means your campers likely remain oblivious to the fact that this wasn’t the plan all along. The more enthusiastic you are about new plans, the more on board your campers will be too!
Requirements
Ready to go? Make sure you tick all the boxes.
Check out our requirements
Check out our requirements
Typical Day
How to Apply
Real Experiences
Don't just take our word for it - this is just a snapshot of the amazing summers our participants have had at summer camp and why they keep coming back for more.
I worked with children on the autistic spectrum at camp the summer of 2015 and 9 years later I'm still saying it was the best summer of my life!
You join this bubble of people who are extremely caring and supportive, they help you grow as a person and unlock new confidence. I would recommend Camp America to anyone!
Camp is the great place to try new activities and make amazing memories as everyone is supportive and happy to help you grow out of your comfort zone while finding your favourite hobbies and interests.
You are captivated by the surroundings and unplugged from the outside world. It’s an adventure inside a bubble that you never want to pop, full of lasting friendships and unforgettable memories.
Camp is my home away from home, and a family I never knew I was missing. Friendships, memories, laughter, spontaneous fun, traditions, and so much more make camp an unforgettable experience.
Camp is a magical place where you can truly be yourself and escape reality. I love making my campers’ summers amazing and I’ve made friends for life. It really is a life changing experience.
Why Teach Horse Riding at Camp?
Teaching horse riding at summer camp might be one of the best summer jobs with horses you could find. Not only do you get to spend 9 weeks doing what you love in a beautiful location, but you get to share that love and your skills with campers too. Whether campers are with you for a day, a week, or the entire summer you’ll be able to watch with pride as they grow and improve with your guidance and have so much fun in the process.
