Not your average pony camp!

This is where future stablehands are forged, horse dreams come to life, and kids learn that hard work can be a whole lot of fun!

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Camps are age and skill ranked, with each week adapted to its respective group. They can expect to...

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✅ Work hands-on with real horses (the muddy, munchy, magical kind)
✅ Learn horse safety & handling with confidence
✅ Groom, feed, scoop poop (yep!), and care like a pro
✅ Explore equine health, nutrition & first aid
✅ Build real-life character: honesty, teamwork, grit, and empathy

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💡 We learn through laughter, games, challenges, and barnyard shenanigans.
(Hint: There will be relay races. There may be water buckets.) But we don't fill the time with fluff.

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**This isn’t a riding camp—it’s a hands-on adventure for kids and teens who dream of farm life, want to become a stablehand, or hope to own a horse someday but haven’t had the chance to learn the ropes. They'll get tons of up-close time with the horses—feeding, grooming, leading, and learning what it really takes to care for them like a pro. It's their chance to dive into the heart of horse care behind the scenes and see what farm life is really all about!**

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🗓 Summer 2025 Sessions:

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🐴 June 2–6: Jr. Stablehands 1 - for beginners (recommended ages 6-11). Learning the basics of horse handling, safety, chores, and farm life skills. Lots of games interwoven with the learning! We will discuss a core character quality each day. 9am to 2pm daily. Light, healthy snacks provided; bring own lunch!

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🐴 June 9–13: Jr. Stablehands 2 - for those who have completed Stablehands 1 or have already taken lessons here or elsewhere in the past. (recommended ages 6-11). Taking it up to the next level with basic first aid, nutrition, more advanced stablehand skills. We will discuss a core character quality each day. 9am to 2pm daily. Light, healthy snacks provided; bring own lunch! 

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🐴 June 16–20: Hobby Horse Camp! First of its kind in our area!! Campers can bring their hobby horse, and we will have jumping and barrel race competitions in addition to learning about real horses, real chores, and real life character qualities that will carry into other areas of life! We will discuss a core character quality each day. 9am to 2pm daily. Light, healthy snacks provided; bring own lunch!

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🐴 July 7–11: Sr. Stablehands 1 -  (recommended 12+). Learning the basics of horse handling, safety, chores, and farm life skills. Lots of games interwoven with the learning! We will discuss a core character quality each day. 9am to 2pm daily. Light, healthy snacks provided; bring own lunch!

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🐴 July 14–18: Sr. Stablehands 2 and Advanced Stablehands - for those who have completed Stablehands 1 or have already taken lessons here or elsewhere in the past. (recommended ages 12+). Taking it up to the next level with basic first aid, nutrition, more advanced stablehand skills. For advanced stablehands, there will additional, super practical sessions on trailering, loading, electric fence fundamentals and repair, etc. 9am to 2pm daily. Light, healthy snacks provided; bring own lunch!

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🎁 Come for a second week and get $50 off

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If you have any questions, feel free to email Anna Grace McGonigal at annagrace@hiddencreekhorsefarm.com, or text 864-421-4971.

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Register now! Space is limited!

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Meet the Director - Anna Grace McGonigal
(a.k.a. Chief Hay-Fluffer, Horse Hugger, and Purveyor of Purpose)

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She was that horse-crazy girl who started riding at 9, drew horses on every spare piece of paper, and rode her bike by tying jump ropes on the handlebars as reins (she says don’t try that at home). She’s been a barn rat, stable hand, summer camp counselor, ranch hand, show team member, riding instructor, and—since 2017—the director of HCHF, a highly rated horse boarding and lesson barn.

 

She’s got a master’s degree in Equine Science from the Royal Vet School at University of Edinburgh, a love for Jesus, and a deeply rooted belief that horses and kids are a pretty great combo when it comes to building strong character.

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Raised in a faith-filled home and now raising three horse-loving daughters with her college professor husband, she believes the barn shouldn't be a place of privilege—but a place of purpose. Her family chose the horse life to make a difference in the lives of horses and people. (Fun facts: between them, they have traveled to 17 countries on mission trips, and (true story) she once rode a horse in Belarus while wearing a skirt.)

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At HCHF, she blends rock-solid horsemanship with a biblical world view, believing kids learn best when faith meets fun.

 

Expect science-backed equine education, plenty of games, laughter, competition, barn chores, and yes, a little sweat, because these things help kids grow in confidence, kindness, and horse sense. 

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Around here, we believe in training better horse people starts by growing better humans. 

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What parents of students are saying:

 

"Definitely his favorite part of the week."

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"She loves her time at the barn!"

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"Thank you for sharing a little taste of heaven here on earth with her and her friends."

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 "L absolutely loved last week.👏🏻👏🏻"

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"S was telling me how much he LOVED the horses and learning how to do things with them."

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"B wants to continue throughout the summer. He thinks he found something he really enjoys! Yay!!!🥳"

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"They both had so much fun yesterday! Thank you so much."

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 "MJ loves getting to come every week. Y’all do such a great job!"

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 "She loves her time there."

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 "M really enjoys her time with you and Sugar."

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 "L begged me to make an ask if she and A could just come work. She loves working and seeing the sheep."

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"What a special place you have there. The girls and I are grateful!" 

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"We love you and your farm!"