By Cameron Powers, Junior Animal Science Student

Two successful Horse Beginnings Camps were held June 14-15 and June 21-22 by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the Department of Animal Science in College Station. The camps introduced children aged 9-12 to the equine industry.

Spearheaded by Camey Powers, a junior animal science major, and Chelsie Huseman, Ph.D., assistant professor and extension horse specialist in the Department of Animal Science, the two camp sessions served more than 20 Texans and provided a comprehensive introduction to horse safety, handling and basic riding skills.

During the camp, participants learned essential groundwork skills, including how to properly halter and lead horses. They were educated on the various coat colors, parts of the horse, knot tying and basic nutrition, ensuring a well-rounded understanding of horse care. The youth also had the opportunity to experience the fundamentals of riding, learning to walk, trot, stop and back up with the horses.

"Our goal was to provide a safe and engaging environment where children could develop a love and appreciation for horses," Powers said. "The positive feedback from the participants and their parents has been incredibly rewarding."

Huseman added, "We wanted to create a memorable experience that not only teaches kids about horses but also encourages parents to understand how they can further support their children's interest in equine activities."

The camp was supported by dedicated student volunteers from Texas A&M University, many of whom are Animal Science Ambassadors, an organization within the department that helps educate the public and recruit students. Their involvement played a crucial role in ensuring the smooth operation of the event and providing valuable assistance to the young participants.

Excerpts from the response survey highlighted the camp's success:

  • "This was a great opportunity and so resourceful for my daughter as well as myself for next steps. Highly recommend!!"
  • "This camp was great. I appreciate the professionalism and trust the information we were getting was correct. I love the resources we got as well."
  • "Staff went above and beyond making sure students were given a great and safe time in and around horses."
  • "Although our children are exposed regularly to (race) horses, the opportunity for them to have hands-on experience is extremely limited. We were willing to travel 3 hours to attend your camp and it was worth it for us to see our children light up when they talked about what they did each day. Thank you for hosting a camp like this and looking forward to seeing it grow and offer more advanced opportunities in the future."

As part of the initiative, the camp organizers emphasized the importance of parental involvement in nurturing their children's newfound interest in horses. Huseman and Powers hosted a short informational seminar after each session of camp to give parents information on how to get their kids started in 4-H and with horses. Resources and guidance were provided to help parents explore further opportunities for their children in the equine world.

For more information about future camps and events, contact Camey Powers at [email protected] or Dr. Chelsie Huseman at [email protected].