Youth horse camp finds new home

Sagebrush-Ranch takes its act to Floyd Lamb park

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Bath time had never been so exciting for the group of 5-, 6- and 7-year-olds. They stood around a horse named Short Stack, intently working baby shampoo into a lather all over the animal's gray coat.

The kids were participating in the Sagebrush-Ranch spring break horse camp, held April 10 through 14 at the new Sagebrush-Ranch location in Floyd Lamb State Park, 9200 Tule Springs Road.

"This is where they come to learn," ranch hand Rannie Beaver said.

The camp offers interested students lessons on how to ride, handle and care for horses.

Kids are split into groups by age and experience. Each group has one adult and one experienced teenager who serves as a junior teacher. The students go for rides through the park every day and older students receive arena and trotting lessons.

An obstacle course is set up and they are taught to navigate with the horses.

"We start out walking," Beaver said. "You have to walk before you can run."

Troy Valenzuela, the ranch's manager, said after just one week of being around the horses, many of the kids have become extremely confident.

"We have a girl who was terrified to get on the horse," Valenzuela said. "She was shaking. Now she's doing great."

The older students help cleaning and feeding the horses at the end of each day.

"There's a lot more to learn about horses than just riding," said student Sarah Contois, 11. "I like being around horses. I don't really mind cleaning up after them."

Summer camps will be available in two-week sessions throughout June, July and August. There also are winter break camps each year.

The camps are open to children ages 5 to 17.

The Floyd Lamb State Park location, which opened in October, also hosts a licensed riding school. There are 46 horses available for lessons every Saturday for adults and children over 5.

Classes are taught in a group setting with about 10 students at a time. There are two levels for each children and adults.

Lessons are not required to take a guided tour of the park on horseback. The tours are given at a walking pace and everyone is instructed on basic rules before they begin.

Tours are available every day for anyone over 5 years old. Riders can take one-hour or two-hour horseback rides or half-hour pony rides. The shorter rides go through the park and around the lakes, while the longer rides go toward the mountains outside the park boundaries.

Floyd Lamb State Park is open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. The entrance fee is $6 per car or $60 for a year pass.

Sagebrush-Ranch also offers horseback riding at its Moapa Valley location, on Interstate 15 at exit 80. For more information, visit www.sagebrush-ranch.com.