4-H'ers learn a lot while horsing around
English riding and jumping was one of several disciplines area youth learned during 4-H Horse Camp this week at the Bonner County Fair-grounds. (Photo by MARY MALONE)
(Photo by MARY MALONE) Marshmallow eating was part of the competition during 4-H Horse Camp gaming lessons at the Bonner County Fairgrounds on Friday.
(Photo by MARY MALONE) Bonner County 4-H'ers practice in the Bonner County Fairground arena on Friday for their drill team performance later that evening. Drill team was one of several lessons area youth learned during 4-H Horse Camp this week.
SANDPOINT — It's been a full week of horsing around at the fairgrounds for Bonner County 4-H'ers, as more than 70 area youth attended 4-H Horse Camp this week.
"They come here on Sunday night and some of them are nervous as all get out because they don't know what to expect," said Stacy Rief, who helps out at the camp each year as she is a mother of three 4-H'ers. "Some of them are just jazzed because they get to spend every waking hour with their horse. And when they leave Friday night, they have reached goals they never even knew would be possible for them ... They learn so much in five days, it's unbelievable."
The camp helps the kids become better riders, helps the horses become better performers, and strengthens the bond between the horse and rider, Rief said.
The campers were split up, based on their abilities, into six groups of 12. Each of the five days of camp are loaded with lessons covering a variety of equine disciplines, including English and jumping, western, gymkhana games and drill team. They also did some archery and yoga on their horses, as well as some off-horse exercises. The week culminated with drill team performances Friday night, which were open to the public.
The horse camp is a learning experience for all of the kids, Rief said, particularly for those who are new to the experience, but also for some of the camp veterans.
For Rief's son, 13-year-old Walker Rief, this was his fifth year attending camp. One thing he said he enjoys most about camp is drill team, which is challenging because it requires collaboration and teamwork between the horses and riders.
"Not all the horses like each other," he said.
His overall favorite part of camp, however, is simply getting to hang out with friends and ride horses all week. One of those friends is his cousin, 13-year-old Shawn Russell, who is also a camp veteran. Russell said he was six months old his first time at camp, and has been there each year since with his family. This was his sixth year as an official camper. Russell also said his favorite thing about the camp is seeing friends that he hasn't seen in awhile and "getting to mess around."
In his seventh year at camp, 16-year-old Cecil Giard brought a new horse this year, which he said proved to be a challenge.
"She's really herd bound, so she doesn't like leaving other horses," Giard said. "She has more get-up-and-go than my last horse."
Stacy Rief said many of the campers are exhausted by the end of the week after spending day after day on their horses, camping out at the fairgrounds, and getting rained on Thursday night. But the kids, while dirty and tired, weren't complaining.
"It's pretty tiring, but it's worth it because it's a lot of fun," Giard said.
Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.