Programs | GVDS

GVDS Programs

Not all our events require being mounted - or even having a horse! Our educational programs take a holistic approach to our journey in this sport and recognize our members benefit from a wide range of learning opportunities, mental and physical, for ourselves and our horses. Through Zoom, we have been able to keep the schedule full for you!

Keep watching this space - more programs will be coming throughout the year. Post-event, we'll post related materials and videos in the members-only area of the site.

GVDS Programs

From my perspective EVERYONE who attended GVDS’s Summer Camp had a great time. The smiles and participation that I saw were not only on the campers attending but also on the volunteers, Leaders, horse handlers and even the parents who attended. Those kids were engaged!!! They learned a year’s worth of Pony Club knowledge in 3 days and they soaked it up like deep sea sponges.

As organizer I am SO PROUD of these kids. They stayed focused, they stayed brave in the mounted games and they stayed respectful and hard working.

I know that the adults were having fun because most of those who came and those who signed up to volunteer stayed waaay longer than they expected. It was so much fun watching the kids become so engaged that they became super heroes on the backs of their horses. The majority of horses came from the GVHR, a horse rescue barn run by the unsinkable Shelle DeVargis, who brought about 7 horses each day for it’s member kids.

This is the first summer camp offered by GVDS for kids. It was a day camp based around horse management skills. It is fairly easy to find a good riding trainer in the valley but more difficult to find access to the management skills needed to care for a horse. These children are learning to be responsible equestrians.

The mornings were schedules for lecture-type learning from GVDS members who are knowledgeable about various subjects.

Anita Williams started the week off with Bandaging. She demonstrated several types of leg bandages and then had all the kids practice on a few solid horses. As a reward she brought bags and bags of stable supplies and pads that sh e gave away to the kids at the end of her presentation.

Judi DeVore who was the backbone of the camp and managed to be there all 3 days assisting and teaching about grooming had all the kids shining their horses during her lecture on Tuesday. Inka Spatafora gave some pinpoint lessons on handling, leading and communicating with their horses. This came in handy when they moved to the riding arena later in the day where Inka helped them do safety checks get their tack correctly fitted.

Julie Burt, a very sought-after trainer from Paonia, drove over to teach the kids about lunging their horses. For safety reasons she had them lunge each other which gave the kids an idea of what the horse is feeling and thinking about this activity. There were some very good tips on lunging safely and gently for the horse’s sake.

Donna DuBois pretty much ruled Tuesday. She started the morning with lectures on parts of the horse, colors, markings etc. Then finished the morning with Vital Signs. We felt it was important that the kids know how to take their horse’s vital signs for a vet call so Donna showed examples of good medical kits to keep with them when traveling and how to detect lameness’s. Then Barbara Progess finished out the morning with braiding techniques. Donna’s very patient partners allowed all the kids to try their hand at classic braids and Kim Bair showed running braids for longer manes.
Wednesday brought Karen discussing show attire for English and Western and Krista Nobilo showed an excellent example of Western Dressage show attire. Karen tried to demystify all the rules regarding the different levels of shows so the kids know what to expect dress-wise. Then what pony camp can possibly be complete without Tack Cleaning. Barb Progess led the crew in cleaning their tack with proper supplies that they were able to take home with them.

So after a much needed break for the volunteers and a delicious Pizza lunch provided by Mr .Chislolm on Wed. everyone always looked forward to the afternoons. That meant RIDING!.

When Barb designed this camp she wanted it to be fun, educational and yet learning riding skills without the traditional lesson format. Watching her girls grow up on ponies that they could play on showed her that the best way to learn horsemanship and still enjoy it would be through games. So Monday started with simple games to accustom the riders to the basic controls of their horses – Red Light-Green Light, Simon Says and Pass the Noodle. Tuesday they upped the anti a little with Musical Chairs. This was the game voted ‘Most Fun’. The kids had to walk mouted around a circle and when the music stopped they had to emergency dismount, throw the reins over the horse’s head and drag them to the nearest chair. Some of the smarter horses caught on fast and ones like Shumer would actually trot to the nearest chair for his rider. It was all falling-down fun. Then everyone graduated on Wedseday to the Agility course. Riders spent ½ hr getting their horses used to all the obstacles and then they road through them all with a cheering peanut gallery giving them courage.

There is so much the kids learned:

Horse size makes no difference.
you can ride 1-handed
They had to trade horses
Agility with bridge & Noodle
Flapping things are always a challenge, especially when your rider wants you to Go THROUGH them!