When Summer Goes
Who said the fun of summer camp had to stop once you
reached adulthood? What if your adolescent dreams of
riding a horse in a flowing dress or chasing the hunt in a
formal habit straight out of an 1800’s era painting could
come true? Every summer in New Jersey, a group of women gather
to pursue these very dreams at Camp Leaping Horn.
Campers can come to the four-day long camp and expect a wide
array of activities, from riding lessons, to unmounted lectures and
workshops, glamorous photo-shoots, shopping from vendors, and more.
Attendees are close knit, but more diverse than you can imagine.
Ladies, both new to and those seasoned to riding aside, as well as their
teachers for the week, flock from all across the United States, Canada,
and even as far as the U.K to attend Camp.
Attending Camp Leaping Horn is a newly found annual tradition as well
for Abigail Thurston, who hauled her BLM Mustang Alvaro close to three
hours to Camp from the Hershey, Pennsylvania area.
“The things that I look forward to when I come to Camp is that I’m with
a group of people who want to have a good time, and they’re all really
interested in doing side saddle intensively,” she said. “It’s relaxed; it’s a
friendly atmosphere where people won’t judge you.”
With a busy schedule and challenging riding lessons, rider self care is of
utmost importance during the week, and Camp Leaping Horn campers
are treated like royalty. All campers received a swag bag from Horsemen’s
outlet filled with equine goodies and products from a variety of
Camp sponsors. Amongst the vendors were both a massage therapist
and a physical therapist. Black Diamond Designs, owned by Amy
Magee, which specializes in tack and attire for sidesaddle riders was
on location all week working on saddles and other leather accessories
for campers. Paws and Rewind Photography was also on site to treat
campers and auditors to a studio portrait photo-shoot fit for a queen.
The ladies of Camp got to spend time applying their makeup and dressing
in their formal habit, reenactment dress, or fun parade wear for the
shoot. With the spirit of Camp in full display, the “dressing room” bustled
with ladies helping each other style hair, assist with tying stock ties, and
lending pieces of their extensive apparel collections without hesitation.
“My favorite part of Camp, I have to admit, might be the dressing
up,” said Mary Pat Gallagher of The Amwell Valley Hounds, a first time
Camp Leaping Horn attendee. “The community at Camp has been
really, really welcoming. I was worried that, this was my first time ever
doing side saddle, and my horse’s, so I wasn’t sure if I would be able
to find the right equipment and be able to get myself situated with everything
you need, but everyone jumped in, was helping you, lending
you stuff. I think three people wore my top hat, which is probably the
only piece of equipment I came with that was actually side saddle
related,” she laughed.
Pie Truono competed at the Devon Horse Show side saddle this year after
getting a helping hand on her side saddle journey at Camp Leaping Horn
last year. PC Paws and Rewind LLC.
Left to right, Tammie Conway of VA, Laureen Bartfield of NC, instructor
Angela Greer-Alutin of NY, and Virginia Hankins of CA. are all CLH alumni.
PC Paws and Rewind LLC.
Lifestyle
Some big changes are in store for Camp Leaping Horn, with a fall
version to debut this year, coinciding with the recent purchase of an
equestrian facility by Camp Director Jennifer Stevenson. “With the camaraderie
and educational opportunities of Camp, I feel it is important
EQUINE to continue to grow and supplement the side saddle community with a
variety of inclusive educational and social experiences,” Stevenson said
For more information on upcoming events from Camp Leaping Horn,
please visit their website: www.campleapinghorn.com
76 www.EliteEquestrianMagazine.com Sideways
Left to right, Fox hunters Lynn Berry, Jennifer Singleton, Angela Greer-
Alutin, and Mary Pat Gallagher pose during the CLH formal photo shoot.
/www.campleapinghorn.com
/www.EliteEquestrianMagazine.com