WAIPOULI — Healing Horses is offering its Fall Break Horsemanship and Riding Camps from Monday, Oct. 5 to Friday, Oct. 9 and registration is open to all children of all abilities ages 4 to 18.
“Providing rewarding, enriching outdoor educational activities for our island’s keiki has always been important,” said Healing Horses Kaua‘i Interim Executive Director Samantha Henriques.
“This year, with all the COVID-19 restrictions and uncertainties, it is especially important for our youths to see and interact with each other in a safe, socially-distanced manner; unplugged, so that they can practice the non-verbal communication and social skills denied them during this time of isolation,” she said.
“Via the instantaneous and honest feedback provided by the horses, riders can become more cognizant of their own body language, the body language of their peers, and that of the horses,” said Henriques.
Campers often finish the week with a huge confidence boost due to the fact that they are able to control a 1,200-pound animal while also making friends and learning a bit along the way, she continued.
“The confidence, self-mastery and leadership skills it takes to ride a horse adeptly translate to all facets of life,” Henriques said.
Parents could expect staggered dropoffs and pickups due to COVID-19 safety measures, and after signing in their keiki all campers will head directly to their stations.
“Campers route through three stations: At the arena where they will lead the horse, sidewalk, and rider the horses; at the pond, where they will drive the goat carts and work with the miniature horses; and at the hitching-post tents where they will participate in horse-themed arts and crafts,” said Henriques.
“The 15-minute snack break and one-hour lunch break will be spent with their groups at one of the stations.”
Other activities included are riding a horse, observing horse behavior, leading a horse, grooming a horse and horsemanship.
The program runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily, and costs $50 per day per child. Parents can decide if they want to do it just for a day or the whole week. There will also be professional, therapeutic horsemanship-certified instructors helping at the event.
“It just works. Horses and people heal each other,” Henriques said.
Register online at healinghorseskauai.org/camp-terms-conditions.
