Local horse camp takes in abandoned and abused horses
Horses Unlimited Rescue and Education center hosts four-day educational camps where people learn all about horses.
Owner Victoria Hall told ABC-7 she has been helping the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office with abandoned and abused horses for nearly seven years. When she receives the horses, she works on rehabilitating them. Some of the horses are eventually adopted, some are kept at Horses Unlimited for events.
Some of those events include monthly Gymkhanas, which is barrel racing, pole bending and key hole races to name a few.
This is the second year for the summer camp, it helps raise funds for Horses Unlimited to build an arena.
“We’re tying to raise money for our back pasture, for our horses. Right now, they just have wire panel fencing and we want to buy them metal panels,” Hall said, “It will be more secure for the horses and it will be easier for volunteers to get in and out to work with them.”
The arena will also allow for a safe place to ride as well as create a space to host events for the community.
There are currently about ten kids enrolled in the camp. They feed the horses, learn about horses, ride the horses and clean up after the animals.
Caitlin Dolan, attending the summer camp, said she usually rides Armstrong, her favorite horse. “I like to teach him new things, because normally he is a horse that doesn’t like to run, but I’ve been able to help teach him that he can run. It makes me feel proud and happy,” Dolan said.
Rachel Hall also participates in the camp her mother owns. Rachel enjoys feeding the chickens and educating other people about horses.
The camp has already started. The last day is Friday the 13th. The camp costs $200 dollars, but Victoria said Wednesday will be discounted to $180.
If you don’t want to attend the camp, but still want to ride horses, you can go during regular business hours and takes lessons.
Horses Unlimited is located at 15415 Buck Wheat, in the Montana Vista area.
