Itinerary & Camp Details

Age: 10 and up (exceptions can be made), all levels welcome! Maximum 6 per kids per camp!!!

Sibling Discounts: 10%

Deposit: Non-Refundable $250 deposit required to secure reservation

Final Payment: To be made 14 days prior to arrival

What to Pack: Close-toed shoes (no garden boots, sneakers are fine), long pants (jeans preferable), t-shirts, 1 sweat shirt in addition to common items. A canteen or non-glass water bottle. Please pack sunscreen and insect repellent if you require a special brand/type.

Accommodations: Accommodations will be shared and sleeping areas separated into boys & girls. They will be under the roof our main house and/or guesthouse and can be a combination of futons, sleeping mats & beds. Bedding & towels are freshly laundered & clean. There are 3 restrooms and showers. We have a washer and dryer on site.

Grounds: Our retreat is located off lower Pohoiki Road in Pahoa. Tucked beyond the safety of an old mango grove and privacy gates, it is perched on the edge of the 2018 Kilauea Volcano flow. The spectacular river of lava surrounds our 25 acre ranch. Our living area & horse pasture area is located on the upper 10 acres, and includes the main house, where owner Samantha, her husband and children reside, and the Guesthouse, a 4-bedroom complex complete with its own kitchen & bathhouse. Any of these houses may be used to accommodate campers. The riding school is located on the bottom 15 acres. We enjoy sprawling ocean views & a constant flow of breezes from our full size arena, roundpen, pavilion and barn. There are very few insects, lots of cats & lots of dogs.

Map & Directions: Directions & gate code will be provided upon confirmation of services.

Meals: All meals are as healthy as possible. Vegetarian diets can be accommodated.

Horse Instruction: Horse lessons include how to catch and halter a horse, how to properly tie a horse, groom, measure, weigh and update records. Also learning prey & predator mentality, energy control & consideration, the importance of groundwork, how to yield hindquarters, how to lunge and why, how to move around your horse safely, how to read their head for emotions, how to use the 4 natural aids to make requests of your horse, pressure & release, balanced riding & correct alignment, fair use of reins, “woah & go”, trotting, 2-point, canter work as appropriate, and, most of all, connection.

Horse Goals: Riding in harmony with the horse to improve balance, relaxation and finding rhythm. Learning to ride is truly a lifelong endeavor and cannot be rushed, but supported through clear goals, positive reinforcement, support and fun.

Life Goals: Caring for and riding a horse teaches life skills, such as responsibility, determination and self-regulation. Connection happens through what is good for both rider & horse and therefore teaches empathy, teamwork and consideration for all life.

Horse Chores: Our 6 gentle horses need daily feed, water and pasture rotation. Pasture management includes removing dangerous rocks, picking up debris, checking fences & pulling weeds, as these are all important elements of pasture care.

Daily Farm Chores: An enclosed farm pasture with coop and free roaming pigs, goats and birds provides the perfect opportunity for an introduction to animal husbandry. Daily chores could include collecting eggs, watering farm animals, cleaning nesting boxes and re-securing safety measures against mongoose. The lessons will include: what is a broody hen? how to identify a rooster? how do you know what color egg a chicken will lay? how to recognize common chicken breed characteristics? types of turkeys? types of ducks? types of pigs? how do you habituate these animals? how do you castrate them? what is a responsible breeding program?

Daily House Chores: We have 2 kitchens and each will be utilized as needed. Daily wiping of counters, sweeping lanais, feeding dogs & cats, meal harvesting & preparation and washing dishes are just some of the daily house chores.

Staff: One instructor, Samantha Reid/owner, & 2 Barn Staff will be onsite at all times.

Safety: There is an inherent risk to riding horses. We take all precautionary measures to keep our school safe. The horses are worked 3 days a week for consistency. The horses are provided a pasture to roam freely to nourish their off/horse time. The horses are provided a combination of grazing pastures and alfalfa cubes for completely satiated animals. We provide helmets, boots, training reins, saddles and pads that are in good condition. Each horse has its own tack for ultimate comfort. We are fully insured.