If there is one thing that parents are often seeking, it is horse camps for their horse crazy kids. The first place that always comes to mind is Centaur Rising at Anchorage Farm in Pine. Owners Jim and Kris Cooper have been putting on summer horse camps every year since 1992.   In 2006 the horse camp entity became Centaur Rising (CR), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Kris realized after 20 years of working in the corporate world as a psychologist, that it was time for her to combine her training, passion for animals and the outdoors into a horse camp that would prepare kids with life skills for the future. Overall, Centaur Rising strives to help kids develop self-confidence, a sense of mastery, a feeling of uniqueness and the ability to make wise decisions.

The camp is thorough, teaching all aspects including the responsibilities of horse ownership, horse care, safety (they have an impeccable safety record), basic horse knowledge (colors, markings, breeds, tack) and a correct foundation for riding. A key aspect of that training is educating the students to learn compassion for the horses and learn to effectively communicate with them.

The first day of camp, each camper adopts a specific horse, which means that the camper is responsible for horse turnout, stall cleaning, grooming, tacking and learning to ride their adopted horse. Camp staff intentionally helps to foster a relationship between the child and their horse, so the child learns to understand the horses individual personality and unique view of the world.

Recently a young student asked Kris if she loved horses, Kris responded, “yes I do; but even more than loving horses, I like teaching people how to get along with horses and how to make a commitment to them.  I like people too.  If I can teach them to better relate to horses, they learn how to get along better with other people too.”

Advanced students help to operate the horse camps learning life skills in how to teach, supervise, plan, delegate and work together. Of course Jim is a vital part of all that goes on behind the scenes and in the operation of Anchorage Farm, including shoeing all of the horses.

CR offers five types of camps: Little Kids’ Camp (ages 5-7), Basic Horse Camp (one lesson/day), Intensive and Advanced camps (two lessons/day) and a Dressage Camp (August 4-7, 2015). Nic Sigler, an FEI level instructor/trainer/competitor from Evergreen, will be co-instructor of the latter camp, geared to both adults and more advanced young people. The Dressage Camp will be followed by a Rocky Mountain Dressage Society sanctioned Dressage show, which will include classes in Western Dressage.

Centaur Rising also offers riding instruction for adults and children year-round, including after school programs. They are hosting three Dressage shows (the first is a schooling show) and several clinics this year. For detailed information and the full schedule on the Events page, go to their website, www.centaurrising.org. Reach Kris and Jim at 303-838-5086, info@centaurrising.org, address: 12889 S. Parker Ave, Pine.