4-H camp teaches kids equestrian skills

KINGSTON — The Kootenai/Shoshone 4-H Program hosted their annual horse camp last week where the participants learned several equestrian drills and skills.

Throughout the camp, the kids learned various new skills which culminated with a drill performance on the night of June 22.

The kids learned western skills, English skills, jumping and ranch horse drills, as well as doing a daily craft.

Easy Riders 4-H club leader Leslee Stanley was pleased with how the weeklong event went, especially considering how busy it was.

“The week went great,” Stanley said. “It was pretty awesome when all of our first-year members were loping (slow run) and jumping by the end of the week. What’s neat is that the kids come with their families and they camp all week, the kids get up at 6:30 a.m. to feed and care for their horses, then they would ride their horses from 8 a.m. through 5-6 p.m. Everybody was just constantly thanking us and telling us how much they enjoyed the week.”

The horse camp is put on by the 4-H horse leaders.

4-H is delivered by Cooperative Extension, a community of more than 100 public universities across the nation that provides experiences where young people learn by doing.

Kids complete hands-on projects in areas like health, science, agriculture and citizenship, in a positive environment where they receive guidance from adult mentors and are encouraged to take on proactive leadership roles.

Kids experience 4-H in every county and parish in the country, through in-school and after-school programs, school and community clubs and 4-H camps.

The 4-H program would like to thank Dave Smith and Wood’s Crushing for their contributions to the camp.

For more information or to get involved with the Easy Riders contact Leslee Stanley at 208-512-1566 or by email at horsemensassoc@gmail.com.