Adult Horse Camp Being Offered at an Evansville Stable this Fall

When my daughter was six, she started begging for horseback riding lessons. Having grown up with horses, I thought it was great! My mom still has a couple at her place, so we’d take her out for rides. But once the riding bug bit her, there was no stopping her. We checked out a few stables and settled on Double M, where she started lessons every other week when the weather allowed.

After a couple of years, she fell in love with a sweet mare named Sugar. When Sug became available for lease, we jumped at the chance. We took her to shows and fairs, and we had the best time together. Sadly, at 32, Sug just couldn’t handle running barrels and spending all day in the heat anymore. So, we bought our first horse and a trailer and boarded him at Double M. Now my daughter is taking hunt seat and barrel racing lessons—and we went from bi-weekly lessons to spending hours at the barn multiple times a week. Things have definitely progressed!

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Over the past six years, I’ve spent more than 2,000 hours at that barn or shows—equating to about 87 days! It can get pretty boring watching your kid have the time of their life. I tried to fill my time with mucking stalls or brushing horses but it wasn't the same. Recently, I’ve started bonding with one of the lesson horses named Thor. When we first arrived at Double M, Thor was leased by a high school girl, but once that lease ended, he wasn't used as much. He’s a bit more advanced, so he doesn’t get as much attention, but I love spending time with him—caring for him, working with him, and riding. Plus he's a big snuggle bug (with a hint of anxiety) so we are like two peas in a pod.

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I recently saw a Tiktok that hit home for me. It said, "I'll let you in on a secret. Life is better when you make space for what you love. This world will rob you of every ounce of happiness that you possess if you let it.  You have to be intentional about giving yourself something to look forward to. You have to prioritize your joy. So you can finally be happy."

My new relationship with Thor has brought so much joy to my life. Recently, I found the sound bite and included it in a TikTok that I made of us trail riding. (Yes, our horse Tucker has his own TikTok account. What?!)

What’s funny is that we have several adults at the barn taking lessons or leasing horses. There’s even a ladies' group that meets on Fridays to go trail riding in the woods next to the barn! Sometimes when we leave childhood, we give up on our passions because life gets in the way. I'm here to tell you, that we all need to cultivate and spend time with that thing that gives us joy.

I’ve heard many adults, both men and women, express a desire to learn about horses and ride but feel hesitant to join classes with kids or just don’t know where to start. And, even though I grew up with horses, I quickly realized I hadn't even scratched the tip of the iceberg on horse care. The people at our barn have taught me so much. So when I found out about an adult horseback riding camp at a barn in Evansville, I was really excited! What a great opportunity!

Hoof Beats Stable, located on the west side of Evansville, offers both adult and kids' lessons and there is even free a equine-assisted therapy program for veterans. 

The owner, Rachelle Camp, mentioned that many 4-H kids have parents who want to get involved but aren’t sure how. To address that, she started an Adult Horse Camp last year, and it was a hit! The best part? It’s open to any adult looking to learn more about horses and get some saddle time.

Rachelle told me, "I had a lot of 4H parents who wanted to be more involved but were intimidated so we decided to do this camp. We teach them as much as we can - like handling, safety, nutrition, tacking, and the basics of riding. They do get to ride in this camp too!"

The camp is scheduled for Sunday, November 24th, and is capped at 10 spots. However, Rachelle mentioned that if there’s enough interest, they’ll consider adding another date. Participants must be at least 18 years old, and the cost is $100 per person. It’s a fantastic opportunity for adults to get some hands-on experience with horses! If you'd like to register you can call 8124301533 or message their facebook page. 

And if you can't make it to this camp and you still have that burning desire to fulfill a childhood dream or newfound interest, contact a local stable and ask about adult lessons. You will NOT be sorry! I promise!

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