By Justin Suder
The Parsons Advocate
This past week horse camp at Double S Stables was a success! With fifteen attendees, many newcomers and others up to fifth year attendees, learned many new horse skills.
Carmen Donnelly, a third year attendee, said she learned how to saddle horses, do the western sync, walk around horses correctly, how to act around horses and how to tack up a horse in English.
According to Ella Spencer, a fifth year attendee to the horse camp, she’s been putting in extra practice by riding with Owner Angie Shockley every Thursday. Spencer stated that she has learned to canter, trot and gallop on horses, along with how to walk them, behave with them, brush them and pick their hooves.
Ella Maxwell, another fifth year, stated that she learned a lot about developing a relationship with a horse and communicating with it.
Also a fifth year, Abigail Simmons stated that she has learned the anatomy of horses along with the dos and don’ts. “If your mind is not clear, then the horse’s mind is not either and the horse will not respond,” Simmons explained. “Behavior is everything. I’ve learned the basics as well. When Angie tells you something, she is always right and so you best listen to her.”
“I have learned how to behave around horses and the behavior of horses,” explained Emma Reynolds who is also a fifth year. “I have learned how to build a relationship with horses, how to groom and care for them as well as how to tack a horse. I have learned basic riding skills also like trotting and posting.”
According to fifth year Coleman Maxwell, he was afraid of horses before attending Shockley’s horse camp. “She teaches you to trust them and about their instinct. Horses know what you are feel and what is going through your head. You learn how to groom them and how to act around them, how some are more aggressive and how some are nice. You learn that each horse is different.”
When asked what they liked about camp, each had a lot to say.
“I like the horses, Mrs. Angie and Mr. Keith and how both teach us about horses. I like all the other workers too,” Spencer exclaimed.
Donnelly said she liked meeting new people and seeing old friends as well as the horses again.
“I love Mrs. Angie,” Coleman stated. “She is an amazing woman. She is amazing with horses and knows what she is doing.”
Each student receives a book with horse activities and information within. They also receive a horse camp shirt with Double S Stables on it and the year of the camp. On the Friday at the end of camp, family members get to join for a pizza party to learn and see what their children have learned throughout the week of horse camp.
According to Shockley, there is a big demand for a second camp. There will be a weekend camp in August that will be a follow up camp for those who attended this past week’s horse camp. Next year Shockley plans on having two separate camps. One will be at the beginning of summer shortly after school lets out for beginners. The second will be towards the end of summer before school starts back up for those who are more experienced.
Double S Stables offers individual riding lessons by appointment only. There are trail rides Wednesday through Saturday at 11a.m., 1p.m. and 3p.m. upon reservations. For more information about the camp and pricing, contact Angie Shockley at 304.642.9070 or Keith Bishop at 304.704.9606. There is a special price for siblings who attend. The camp occurs daily from 10a.m. to 4p.m. during the week it is scheduled to occur.
