At La Junta our goal is not only to  teach how to ride, but to experience the challenges and rewards that come with true trailriding.  Our campers ride along, across and even swim through the river.  They ride up and back down the La Junta hills, crashing through the brush, jumping fallen logs and climbing stone bluffs.  Our staff teach the fellows how to sit (and stay in) their saddle in numerous conditions along various terrains.  Rarely do they settle for a staight, flat, simple trailride.  Our goal over their summers a La Junta is to produce horsemen.

Each term, the older campers take overnight HORSEBACK campouts to our 500 acre game ranch, where they enjoy a brisk evening trailride and a sizzling burger cookout, caring for their mounts that evening and then a once in a lifetime sunrise trailride home.  Older campers can also experience working ranch trips where rounding up goats and sheep and riding fenceline are important chores.

One of the most traditional and popular activities at La Junta is horseback riding.  Perhaps it's because in the heart of every young boy is a deep down desire to re-live some of the excitement of the old west...to be a cowboy.

Instruction begins for all campers in the riding arena with direct counselor supervision and campers progress over the term to the picturesque riding trails that criss cross the La Junta hills and riverfront. Campers start out in age group classes but are regrouped by skill level as the term progresses.  The La Junta The riding staff teaches not only how to ride, but also the meaning of the life of the cowboy, caring for horses, and skills of the outdoors

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La Junta's modern stables, round pen and arena complex make the perfect homebase for this traditional activity.  We own our entire  string of 40 camp horses, maintaining them on our own property, helping to assure not only healthy animals but a continuity which allows our riding staff the confident knowledge of which campers can handle which horses (and which horses can handle which kids).

All of this excitement and adventure add up to ensure Horseback Riding remains a highlight!