"The Home of Happy Horses”
Over 200 Years of Collective Experience
Fun-Filled Horseback Riding Summer Camp for Chester County, PA, Children
Summer is the best time to give your children a break from using their smartphones, computers, and other electronic devices. Even educational and health experts agree that it’s ideal for young people to stay active during this season. When searching for recreational activities for your kids, SVF offers a great option with our summer camp.
We have a horseback riding summer camp where Chester County, PA, students take daily, private, half-hour riding lessons led by experienced instructors. These lessons are perfect for beginners and more advanced riders. Campers will also learn the basics of horse anatomy, horse care, and proper grooming and tacking while working on various craft projects. We believe that children should learn everything about horses to become more comfortable around these majestic creatures.
We have a horseback riding summer camp where Chester County, PA, students take daily, private, half-hour riding lessons led by experienced instructors. These lessons are perfect for beginners and more advanced riders. Campers will also learn the basics of horse anatomy, horse care, and proper grooming and tacking while working on various craft projects. We believe that children should learn everything about horses to become more comfortable around these majestic creatures.
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Camp Dates and Themes 2025:
- Week June 9-13: All about Horses - A comprehensive, in-depth learning experience about horses.
- Week June 16-20 Cowboys and Angels-We go back in time to the Wild West where cowboys, angels and horses ran free
- Week June 23-27: America the Beautiful-From the fabulous cities, the breathtaking landscape and the American culture, we learn what makes our country so special
- Week June 30-July 4 NO CAMP 4TH OF JULY WEEK-Lessons available/weather permitting
- Week July 7-11: Horses in Art- Campers will learn about various artist who portrayed horses through their work
- Week July 14-18: Spain-Take a virtual trip to Spain to learn about the culture, landscape and their horses
- Week July 21-25: Our Planet Earth-The third planet from our sun; let's learn cool facts about Earth and what we can do to preserve it.
- Week July 28- Aug 1: We love PA- Pennsylvania is our state and it's important to learn its history, landmarks and unique characteristics that make us proud.
Making Equine Education Interesting, Fun, and Safe
Some of our daily camp activities include:
- Theme-Based Arts and Crafts
- Horse Knowledge Games and Challenges
- Horse Show at the End of the Week
- Private Riding Lesson
Please note that all of our campers learn together since we don’t group them by age. Rest assured that your children are in good hands as our professional camp counselors are also trained equestrians. They were chosen to work at SVF based on their love for riding, teaching, and working with young people.
Our summer camp is for children ages 5 to 13 and runs for half a day (Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m-drop off begins around 8:30am.). Extended day schedules (8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.) are available for an additional charge, which you can pay for at our equestrian center. All beverages are included in the price; however, your child must bring their own lunch. Contact us today to sign your kids up for an unforgettable summer experience.
Payments
Enrolling in our camp costs $415 per week per child. If you use a credit card, an additional 2.9% fee will be charged. We do not offer daily rates nor accept refunds.
Before and aftercare costs an additional $200 per week (all inclusive.) This includes activities and afternoon snacks and beverages. For your reference, before-care hours are 8:00 a.m. to 8:45 a.m., while aftercare hours are 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The daily rate for aftercare is $25 per hour.
We charge an additional $30 (15.00 per item) per week for boot and helmet rentals.
A $100 nonrefundable deposit is required per week per child to maintain their spot in our summer camp. We also have a change-date fee of $10; however, changes must be done at least three weeks before the start of our camp. Balances will be collected in May for all weeks of camp. All payments must be made online at our shop now store. There is a 2.9% service fee added to your total.
Before and aftercare costs an additional $200 per week (all inclusive.) This includes activities and afternoon snacks and beverages. For your reference, before-care hours are 8:00 a.m. to 8:45 a.m., while aftercare hours are 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The daily rate for aftercare is $25 per hour.
We charge an additional $30 (15.00 per item) per week for boot and helmet rentals.
A $100 nonrefundable deposit is required per week per child to maintain their spot in our summer camp. We also have a change-date fee of $10; however, changes must be done at least three weeks before the start of our camp. Balances will be collected in May for all weeks of camp. All payments must be made online at our shop now store. There is a 2.9% service fee added to your total.
Release Forms
All campers must complete our customer information release form. Fill this out completely before your child joins our summer camp. For your convenience, we accept forms on the day of your children’s arrival at SVF. However, we highly encourage you to review and accept the form beforehand.
Mail or bring the document to 880 Valley Creek Rd, West Chester, PA 19380. You can also email us a scanned version of it. If you encounter any problems with registering or making online payments, call us at (484) 886-4278 or text Maria Kenny at (484) 798-8365.
What Makes Our Summer Camp So Special? Safe, outdoor fun!
Comprehensive Horse Education
By joining our camp, your child will enjoy an exciting and educational experience. SVF’s program includes general information about horses and horseback-riding styles, including English, hunter, jumper, etc. Our instructors show genuine care for your child’s riding development. We aim to ensure every camper has a fun week.
Personalized Attention and More Riding Time
During our daily half-hour private riding lessons, each child is assigned their own qualified instructor and highly trained pony. By conducting these lessons in small groups, campers spend more time with their horses. They’ll learn how to groom these gentle animals and what their various body parts are called.
Fun Extracurricular Activities
Campers enjoy fulfilling enrichment activities, including:
- Taking Horsemanship Classes (i.e., Proper Horse Care)
- Playing Games
- Making Crafts
- Doing Painting Projects
- Braiding Horse Manes
- Making Horse Treats
- Painting Our Ponies During Their Horseback Riding Vacation
Picturesque Setting
SVF owns 48 acres of land located along Valley Creek Road. Our property has a farmhouse and barn and is surrounded by trees, hills, and expansive pastures. Campers will see many forms of wildlife during their stay at our equestrian center. We even have a newly reconstructed riding arena. There’s no better place for your child to spend their week than on our beautiful property with our lovely horses.
Flexible Time Schedule
Our camp runs Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m.; although, before and aftercare are available for an additional fee. We encourage our campers to wear comfortable clothes, including long pants and shoes (not flip-flops), and pack the following items:
- Lunch
- Bathing Suit
- Towel
- Shorts
- Flip-Flops
- Sunscreen
- Riding Helmet (We have riding helmets at our barn if you don’t own one.)
- Riding Boots or Any Boots with Heels (We have riding boots at our barn if you don’t own a pair.)
Campers ride, do crafts, and learn together since we don’t group them according to age. If your child is an advanced rider, contact us to inquire about our specially designed riding programs. Our low child-to-counselor ratio (1:1 for riding and 1:5 for art projects and classes) ensures campers get the attention and learning experiences they deserve.
Before and Aftercare
The camp’s before-care hours are 8:00 a.m.- 8:45 a.m., while aftercare hours are 1:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m. Our weekly rate is $200 per child; this covers the entire day. If you need extra hours, email Maria, and she’ll give you a quote. Light snacks and beverages are included in the rate. This option must be included while you register your child so we can plan with our staff.
We also offer an hourly rate of $25 per child if your little one only needs care services for a couple of days during the week. Sometimes, campers want to stay a little longer at our equestrian center with their friends; this gives their parents extra personal time. A light snack and beverage are included in the price during our horseback riding vacations. To reserve a spot, please indicate this during registration under “Additional Notes.” The fee must be included in the registration payment.
Summer camp programs and activities during aftercare include:
- Scheduled Hikes on Our Property
- More Hands-On Experience with Our Horses
- Light Barn Work
- Extra Arts and Crafts Projects
- More Time for Board Games and Yard Games
Signing up for aftercare must be done and paid for with registration. Daily before/aftercare sign-up required prior to the first day of camp. Otherwise, we can’t guarantee availability.
Experienced and Friendly Instructors
Our instructors are qualified, experienced, and educated in horseback riding. For them, working at SVF isn’t just a job. They work at our center because they love horses and horseback riding and enjoy sharing their knowledge and expertise with children.
Maria handpicks reliable, respectful, experienced, and friendly counselors to teach your children because their time at SVF should be more enjoyable than they imagined. We want your child to be happy so they come back year after year.
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2025 Camp Dates and Themes:
- Week June 9-13: All about Horses - A comprehensive, in-depth learning experience about horses.
- Week June 16-20: Cowboys and Angels-We go back in time to the Wild West where cowboys, angels and horses ran free
- Week June 23-27: America the Beautiful-From the fabulous cities, the breathtaking landscape and the American culture, we learn what makes our country so special
- Week June 30-July 4 NO CAMP 4TH OF JULY WEEK-Lessons available/weather permitting
- Week July 7-11: Horses in Art- Campers will learn about various artist who portrayed horses through their work
- Week July 14-18: Spain-Take a virtual trip to Spain to learn about the culture, landscape and their horses
- Week July 21-25: Our Planet Earth-The third planet from our sun; let's learn cool facts about Earth and what we can do to preserve it.
- Week July 28- Aug 1: We love PA- Pennsylvania is our state and it's important to learn its history, landmarks and unique characteristics that make us proud.