The exhibit building floor is colorful with sleeping bags and 40 kids, aged eight to 18, are flapping their elbows to the chicken dance. Sounds like 4-H camp, right? …but, uh, what’s that you’re scraping off your boot?
Each June, Carbon County youth can breathe the sweet smell of all things horse (including stuff that gets on your boots) for three solid days. It’s a horse camp, just for 4-H’ers. Kids from every level of the project come to Red Lodge with horses in tow. “Horseless” horsers cowboy up, too.
Participants break into groups by the level of the horse project they are working on. With help from community volunteers and equine experts, they get instruction and practice in skills they need to pass the assessment for their project level. Whether it’s the first time they’ve broken into a trot, or they’re working on advanced riding skills, everyone gets a chance to learn from the experts.
One clinician teaches skills that relate to gaining the horse’s respect. Practicing these techniques with their mature horses helps prepare the 4-H’ers for the day they may take on the responsibility of training a colt to maturity.
Another clinician concentrates on equitation skills — to help riders
become better horsemen on horseback. Campers also learn about hoof care, equine first aid, nutrition and even arts like tying rope halters and braiding lead ropes. There is plenty of fun and chatter among new friends from all over the county.
Sandi Campbell, 4-H horse superintendent in Carbon County, said the idea for the camp was partly inspired by the Olympics. She had heard how much fun it was for equestrians from different countries to visit with each other. Now, rather than having lots of separate 4-H clinics for Horse projects, kids come from all over the county to share the same learning experiences.
After Horse Camp, the kids know each other not just as competitors, but as friends, said Campbell. Come fair time, each 4-H’er tries to win, but with Horse Camp under their belts, it’s a little bit less about being competitors and a lot more about being good horsemen.