The Camp Ketcha Horse Barn offers a variety of year round programming to children and adults alike in the Great Portland area. We are a community centered stable, focusing on child development, general equine education and proper riding skills. We firmly believe that horseback riding can help promote emotional and physical strength by developing responsibility, independence, and self-esteem as well as balance, flexibility and a strong core in our riders. We also understand the power of experiential education, or “learning through doing”, and we center our offerings around this premise. We teach both English (with a focus on Dressage and Jumping) and Western lessons. We also offer Mommy and Me programs to allow parents and children to learn riding skills while making new memories together.
Located in Scarborough, Maine our facilities include a 12-stall barn, an outdoor arena, large pastures and numerous trails. We employ a variety of quality instructors with riding experience in many disciplines. We pride ourselves in maintaining happy and healthy school horses that make wonderful partners and teachers.
Stop by the barn 9am to 5pm, seven days a week to check out the facilities, watch a lesson or class in progress, and meet the horses. Please call 207-883-8977 Ext 110 if you would like to set up an appointment for a guided tour.
Ketcha Corrall Newsletter:
April 2011
Our Saturday Pony Rides from 12-1 are off to a great start! We've had a lot of families join us for the event, and we'd love to see your family stop by. It's a great way to see if horseback riding is something that your children might be interested in without spending a lot of money, or just a fun and unique activity to add to your weekend. Stop by this Saturday from 12-1pm for a pony ride, $5 per child, ages 2+, no appointment necessary.
We will be having a clinic with Faith Duplinsky on April 17th, 2011. Faith is the 2010 Reigon 8 Jr/Young Rider 4th Level Champion in Dressage. She is an upbeat and positive instructor that focuses on teaching good, basic riding skills, how to problems solve and how to be a more effective rider in fun, simple ways. There are 8 time slots in total, 8am to 4pm. Lessons are $50 per hour. This event is open to the public, and we will accept trailer-in lessons. This will be a community event, and auditors are welcome for free.
This winter, we built a “kids lounge” recently in our barn, providing a space for our regular leasing students to store their small gear, hang out together , read from our Library and share any equine related art work. This area has been a great hit with our students and as the weather gets warmer, it will quickly become the hang out spot! We will also be featuring select horse related student writing pieces on our Bulletin Board. If you’ve got something you’d like to share, please submit it to our head staff—We’d love to see it!
We’d like to give a special thanks to our year round volunteers who help to make the barn run smoothly and brighten us with their presence and hard work.
We are excited for this next season, and we hope you are too! Plan to stop by on May 15th for our Open House at the barn. We'll have having a Musical Freestyle Dressage Riding Demonstration by one of our riding instructors that you won't want to miss! If you’ve got any questions about our offerings, please feel free to contact either Jessie, Equine Programs Director, our Lead Riding Instructor, or you can stop by the barn.
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FAQ:
When do you teach riding lessons?
Here at Camp Ketcha, we teach horseback riding lessons from 8:30 am to 7:00 pm during the off-season (September-May). Generally, these are hour long lessons, but a 1/2 hour lesson may also be available. During summer camp season (June, July & August), we only teach lessons "before/after hours"; therefore, we offer lessons from 8-9am, 12-1pm and and 3:30-7pm.
How can I get my child (or myself) signed up for lessons?
To find out more information or sign up for lessons, please contact our Lead Riding Instructor to set up a lesson with any of our wonderful instructors. You can reach her at 207-883-8977 Ext 110 or barn@campketcha.org.
Can my children take semi-private lessons together?
Yes, they can. However, we do have a minimum age for semi-private lessons of 9 years old. They must also be evaluated by our instructors by taking at least one private lesson to determine eligibility for a semi-private lesson. Once they are comfortable and safe independently riding, and we feel that the child-child match is appropriate, you will be able to set up semi-private lessons.
If your children are either under 9 years old, or are not yet advanced enough to qualify, your kids can still take lessons similtaneously in our arena with two different instructors. You will be billed for two private lessons and your children will receive individual attention, but you will only have to make one trip to the barn!
Can my children take just one Horsemanship Class on a drop in basis?
If there is space available in our classes (limit 6 children per class), your child can join on a "drop-in" basis for the prorated amount of $35 per class. We do ask that you give 24 hours notice when possible. Also, keep in mind that if your child is not already enrolled in any of our programs, you will have to have paperwork filled out prior to arrival.
How old do you have to be to ride?
Children must be 6 years old to take riding lessons. However, we do offer pony rides for children ages 2+ and Mommy and Me for Wee Ones classes for children ages 3-5. So there are many alternative ways to get involved with horses to prepare for your child's first lesson!
How do I go about leasing a horse?
You must be currently enrolled in our lesson program to be eligible to lease one of our lesson horses. You must be able to independently get your horse from the paddock, tack up and ride safely and confidently on your own. Your instructor must evaluate and okay your current riding level for safety reasons. In addition, leases are available only if our school horses are available during your requested times.
Once your instructor has okayed you to lease, please bring in a list of proposed times to our Lead Riding Instructor or Equine Programs Director and your prefered lease horse choices. We will determine when or if times and days are available for each horse. From there, we will confirm your alloted 2 riding times per week and which horse you will be riding. Lease payments are due at the beginning of each month. Leasee must continue to take a minimum of 2 lessons per month.
Do you ever offer Horse Shows?
We do offer horse shows. We do have two 4-H affiliated Horse Shows that are open to the general public and two Horse Shows only available to camp and lesson students. For more information, please call the barn.
2012 HORSE SHOW DATES:
Please check back soon.
Can I request more information?
Absolutely. If you'd like to chat with one of our staff members to answer any of your questions, you can call the barn at 207-883-8977 Ext 110. If you stop by the barn, we have informational materials that you can bring home that are located to the left of the office entrance. Alternatively, if you'd like to request for us to mail you information you can contact us at barn@campketcha.org with your name, address, phone number, and the programs that you are interested in.
Where are you located?
Our physical address is 12 Spurwink Road, Scarborough Maine. We are located in Scarborough, Maine near the intersection of Rt 144 (Black Point Road) and Rt 77 (Spurwink Road). If you are coming from Scarborough, we are located about 1/4 of a mile down, after you turn onto Spurwink Road on the left. If you are coming from Cape Elizabeth, we are located about 1/4 before Spurwink meets Black Point Road on the right. Coming from this direction, you will see the barn before you see the Main Camp Ketcha Office.
