Riding Instruction at Camp 

Riding at Chincapin Camp: a RICH TRADITIOn

Chincapin Camp, founded in 1957, focuses on the fundamentals of English riding, emphasizing safety and horsemanship. Our dependable lesson horses, alongside experienced instructors, create a fun and positive learning environment for every camper.

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced rider looking to hone your skills, our experienced staff makes our camp the place to ride! For summer camp horseback riding, check out Chincapin Camp and learn more about spring and fall lessons below.

Riding Lessons

We offer riding lesson sessions each Spring and Fall. We also schedule private lessons all school year. We work with all types of riders from a wide range of skill levels and ages. Adults also enjoy our lessons!

Our riding instructors ensure a tailored experience, uniting participants with suitable horses.
Riding lessons are offered in multi-week sessions. Riders will be grouped based on skill. Our riding instructor team will create lesson groups matching riders with appropriate horses. We are happy to accommodate private lessons.

Spring Lesson Session

Exciting Promotion
Get a friend to register for lessons, and both of you will receive one free lesson! To qualify, your friend must be new to our riding program and have never ridden or camped with us. Share the joy of riding and double the fun.

Open to Boys and Girls
Our riding program is designed for everyone. We welcome both boys and girls to join in the adventure!

Multiple Lessons Available
You can take multiple lessons each week, offering more opportunities to improve your riding skills and enjoy your time with our horses.

Not just for kids!
We work with campers entering 1st grade up to adults. It’s never too early or too late to start your riding journey with us!  Please note that campers under the age of 8 and most adults need private lessons.

Scholarships Available
We believe everyone should have the opportunity to ride. If you need help, scholarships are available to help cover some of the cost of the lessons. Please contact us for more information.

Lesson Schedule: March 17th - May 8th (8 weeks)
Monday - Friday: 4:30 PM - 5:45 PM (Private lessons can be scheduled at your convince)

Saturday:
9:00 AM - 10:15 AM
10:30 AM - 11:45 AM
12:00 PM - 1:15 PM
1:30 PM - 2:45 PM
3:00 PM - 4:15 PM

To apply for lessons, please fill out the form below. After you complete the form, our team will do our best to accommodate your schedule and contact you directly to enroll your camper.

Day at the Barn

Ever wonder what it’s like to work at a barn? Our Day at the Barn workshop is designed just for Red Oak campers—young girls and boys eager to experience a "day in the life" of caring for horses and managing a barn. This nature-based, hands-on experience at Red Oak Camp will help campers learn the ins and outs of barn work, all while having fun outdoors!

Dates:

• March 1st, 2025

Time:
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Cost:
$30 per session

What You’ll Experience:

• How to feed and care for horses during the day

• Turning in and turning out horses

• Cleaning stalls and barn maintenance

• Grooming horses and understanding their daily care needs

• Tack and equipment upkeep

• Managing the daily tasks and responsibilities of working in a barn

This interactive workshop will give campers a behind-the-scenes look at barn life, teaching responsibility, teamwork, and care for animals—all core elements of Red Oak’s mission.

Registration:
Sign up today to secure your spot! This is a unique opportunity for campers to step into the boots of barn staff and experience the rewarding work of caring for horses.

Summer Riding Programs 2025!

Acorns Rising 1st - 2nd graders.

• Two experiences at the barn each week, one of which includes a mounted riding lesson.

Chincapin Riders Rising 3rd - 7th graders.

• Three mounted lessons each week. Campers will be grouped by riding ability.

The “Barn Bunch” 3rd - 10th graders - see requirements below

• Barn Bunch Campers spend their mornings at the Chincapin Equestrian Center, with four mounted lessons and five ground lessons each week—lots of time in the saddle and the barn to bond with the ponies and their friends, learning and making memories together. These independent riders, grouped by ability, want to take their skills to the next level. These equestrians will be deeply involved in horse care and barn management, learning from and loving their time together at Chincapin! Afternoons are spent at Basecamp for all the other fun activities, including swimming, canoeing, ropes course, woodshop, crafts, and more!

  • Requirements for The Barn Bunch: 

    • This program requires a minimum attendance of three camp weeks, preferably consecutive weeks, to build skills and bonds. 

      • Register for at least five weeks of Barn Bunch and receive an additional 50% off the 5th week.

    • Space is highly limited, with no more than seven riders per group.

    • This program will cost an additional $100 per week. Fees for this program can be added in the ‘additional options’ section.