0 Students on horses at the equestrian center

Creating Memories: Summer Camp at the Equestrian Center

August 3, 2026

By Hannah Williamson ’19

Summertime at the barn is my favorite time of the year.ÌýHoughton’s campus is a bit emptier, the students have gone home, andÌýthingsÌýseem to beÌýquieting down . . . but not at theÌýEquestrian Center.ÌýIn fact,Ìýit’sÌýquite the opposite. The Houghton equestrian programÌýhostsÌýandÌýorganizesÌýtwo large,Ìýrecognized dressage shows at the start and end of the summer—andÌýsandwichedÌýinÌýbetween,ÌýweÌýkeep busy runningÌýmultiple weeks ofÌýequestrian campÌýfor horse-lovingÌýyouth.

Over the course of the summer, ÓûÂþɬÌýrunsÌýfiveÌýweeks of girls’Ìýovernight residentialÌýequestrianÌýcamp forÌýridersÌýages 10-18,Ìýand one week of day camp for girls and boys ages 7-14, hosting upwards of 100 campers.ÌýThe goal of our campsÌýis to create a fun and safe environment whereÌýcampersÌýwill see and feel God’s love lived out while learning and growing in their horsemanship skills. WeÌýwelcomeÌýridersÌýofÌýall levelsÌýandÌýexperienceÌýto join us forÌýa great weekÌýat camp.

During their timeÌýat camp,ÌýridersÌýare able to choose whatÌýskillsÌýthey would like to work on.ÌýTheyÌýhave the opportunity to use oneÌýof our amazingÌýlessonÌýhorses,ÌýorÌýcan bring their own horse for the week. Campers are able to work onÌýdressage, hunters, jumpers,Ìýeventing, and/or westernÌýduring their time at camp. Whether they are brand new to horses, improving current skills, orÌýexperienced ridersÌýeagerÌýto try something new,Ìýthere is an opportunity forÌýeveryone.

Hannah Williamson on a horse outside

I think itÌýis incredible howÌýbroadly knownÌýHoughton’sÌýequestrian campÌýis. We have campersÌýwhoÌýcome from all over the country and even internationally. In recent summers, IÌýhave had campers comeÌýfrom as close as just down the street to as far as California, Florida, Saudi Arabia and even Russia.ÌýI always askÌýthe campers coming from farther away how they heard about us. Sometimes,Ìýthey have a Houghton connectionÌýthrough friends, family, or their church,Ìýbut often they reply, “Your camp is one of the first ones to pop up when searching for best overnight equestrian camps.â€

OurÌýsmall equestrian camp programÌýisÌýsuch a big draw that can lead to potentialÌýcollegeÌýstudents who may otherwise not haveÌýdiscovered Houghton.ÌýMany summerÌýcampers have turned intoÌýHoughtonÌýstudentsÌýwhoÌýbecome involved in our Equestrian Program by eitherÌýpursuing a major or a minor in an equestrian field.ÌýEvery year, weÌýhave students in our incoming classÌýwhoÌýhave been campers, some years as many as five students. ManyÌýincoming studentsÌýhave shared that their time as a camperÌýimpactedÌýtheir college decision in choosing to come to Houghton.

Students in our program, whether having been a camper previously or not,Ìýcan have the opportunity to work over the summer as a camp counselor and/or instructor. This is a greatÌýhands-on learning opportunityÌýfor current students to build on their leadership skills and betterÌýprepareÌýthemselvesÌýfor future jobs in the equestrian field.ÌýForÌýthoseÌýwhoÌýstarted as campers,ÌýitÌýcan be a fulfilling full-circle moment to be on the other side of campÌýtoÌýhelp campersÌýcreateÌýspecial memories.

Coming full circle isÌýsomething I understand well.ÌýAlthough IÌýdidn’tÌýattend Houghton’s equestrian camp, my start with horses kicked off at Royal Ridges Retreat, where I was a camper at their equestrian camp. I laterÌýworked as a camp counselor and then as a campÌýwrangler.ÌýThose experiences led me to pursueÌýmy degree at Houghton andÌýthenÌýstay on toÌýdirectÌýour summer camp program.ÌýLooking back, I never would have thought that my start in summer camps would have been soÌýinfluential—butÌýhere I am,Ìý15 years later,Ìýable to give all of the campersÌýwhoÌýcome through Houghton’s equestrian camp thoseÌýspecialÌýsummer camp memories that willÌýstayÌýwith them for a lifetime.

Hannah Williamson ’19 has served at Houghton since the summer of 2019 as the Assistant Equestrian Program Director and Equestrian Events Coordinator. Her role as the Equestrian Camp Director officially started the summer of 2022 after having worked as a counselor and assistant director inÌýpreviousÌýsummers. She holds aÌýbachelor of scienceÌýin equine studies from ÓûÂþɬ and is a Certified Horsemanship Association Instructor and Equine Facility Manager.Ìý
Ìý

Recent Articles

equestrian rider with horse in outdoor arena

True Excellence & Entering the Next Chapter

Aug 4, 2026
Aerial view of the Equestrian Center at ÓûÂþɬ.

Heart of Gold

Aug 4, 2026
Aerial view of the Equestrian Center at ÓûÂþɬ.

Blessings on the Hill

Aug 3, 2026