Bonnie Castle Riding Camp features instruction in Hunters, Jumpers, Equitation, Dressage, Combined Training and Equine Studies. The Camp's goal is to help girls develop and improve their riding and equestrian skills through instruction, practice and competition appropriate for the beginning rider as well as for the more experienced young horsewoman.
Campers may bring their own horse or have access to one of the 40 school owned horses and ponies. All girls have two, hour long, mounted lessons daily. On Wednesday afternoons campers have the opportunity to experience more focused attention in semi-private or private lessons. At the end of each session a camp show is held with flat and over fences classes at appropriate ability levels.
The Stoneleigh-Burnham Equestrian Center is a busy place during the summer and the campers witness first-hand the inner workings of running a large horse show and riding program. The SBS Summer Horse Trials take place at the end of the first week of Session III and give campers the opportunity to watch some of the best event riders in the Northeast.
When possible, each camper is assigned a roommate her age to share a double room with. The hallways are supervised by college-aged residential staff. During the day throughout their two weeks here, campers participate in "class" activities including Activity and Equine Studies. After the day is over campers have several all-camp evening activities that occur both on and off campus.
Activity is centered around each group's interests. Campers have the opportunity to focus on arts & crafts, sports, and indoor & outdoor games. The Activity period remains flexible for day to day interest, weather and the group of girls that form the class. Activity favorites from former years include: Charades, Stall Door Decorating, Photography, Croquet, Bracelet Making, Wiffle Ball, Water Balloon games, Relay Races and designing the Hallway Banner that each Session is responsible for creating.
Equine Studies is a taught by the Riding Instructors each summer and features topics like: Anatomy of the Horse, Riding Equipment, Basic Illnesses and Lameness, Feed & Nutrition, Braiding, Stable Management and Course Design. Counselors and campers take advantage of having access to the Summer Horse Trials to incorporate walking a cross-country course, learning a dressage test and learning how to prepare for a horse show as well.