Resources for learning about and becoming involved with horses. clubs, private riding instructors, camps and guest ranches are great ways to learn about horses and to ride. Additionally, equine rescues and sanctuaries commonly offer volunteer workdays; some offer horse sponsorship & riding lessons.

Equine: Guest Ranches, Camps, Lessons & Therapy

Multiple Counties

Equine Assisted Psychotherapy; Serving Butte, Shasta & Tehama. Powerful & effective therapeutic approach uses horses as a tool for emotional growth. Addresses a variety of needs, including ADHD, trauma, abuse, eating disorders, anxiety, depression, relationship problems & more. Sliding scale avail. Denise Smith, LCSW, LCS#23506.
(530) 354-5474.

Kids Horse Camp; Chico. Year-round training program includes riding & horse care & management. Monthly camps include riding, care & use of equipment & horse art. (530) 345-4610 or (530) 342-6120.

Butte County

Almond Country Farms Equestrian Center; Durham. Lesson program includes riding (Western or English) & horse care. Summer camps offered. www.boardinghorseschico.com. 2304 Hutton Way. (530) 343-1558.

Shasta County

Carolyn Carroll Dressage; Anderson. Specializing in Lusitano & Andalusian horses. Offers lessons in dressage, summer camps offered. (530) 378-2973.

Galloping Forward; Palo Cedro. Private roping & riding lessons (must have own horse). Trail rides. (530) 547-2729.

NorCal Guided Trail Rides. Offers trail rides year-round throughout Northern CA, summer horse camps and year-round riding and horsemanship lessons for all ages, even little ones. www.norcaltrailrides.com. (530) 515-8958.

Siskiyou County

A Friend In Need Equine Rescue; Mt. Shasta. Riding lessons: Western & dressage; single lessons & monthly packages. www.afriendinneedequinerescue.com. (530) 261-1928.

Kidder Creek; Etna. Summer camps, riding lessons (Western) Sept.-April. www.mounthermon.org/attend/kidder-creek. (888) 226-7386.

Stable Hands; Serving Siskiyou County. Provides therapeutic horsemanship activities to disabled individuals. For full listing see section Special Needs: Developmental. www.stablehands.org. (530) 842-3082.

Tehama County

Sunshine Sanctuary; Los Molinos. Specializing in endangered rescued Colonial Spanish Horses. Offers horsemanship riding program, youth volunteer program, summer camps & more. www.sunshinesanctuary.org. 10931 Singer Ave. (530) 529-0183.

Other Counties

Coffee Creek Ranch; Trinity Center. Guest ranch. www.websiteq.com/member/coffeecreek.
(800) 624-4480.

Greenhorn Creek Guest Ranch; Quincy. Guest ranch, riding lessons, camps and special events. www.greenhornranch.com. (800) 587-2516.

Equine: Clubs for Youth

4H Equine Education. Youth program that offers a wide variety of equine projects including horsemanship, breeding, draft, drill, driving, English & western, gymkhana, judging, miniature, trail riding & ponies. www.ca4h.org/Projects/SET/Animal/EquineEducation.

Butte County: (530) 538-7201.

Shasta County: (530) 224-4900.

Siskiyou County: (530) 842-2711.

Tehama County: (530) 527-3101.

United States Pony Clubs, Inc. National horsemanship program for youth to age 25. Teaches riding, mounted sports & the care of horses & ponies, develops responsibility, leadership & sportsmanship. Dressage, jumping & eventing.  www.ponyclub.org. (859) 254-7669.  For information on starting a Pony club in your area: (209) 712-0498.

California High School Rodeo association; serving Butte, Shasta, Siskiyou & Tehama Counties. For youth in Junior and Senior High Schools with a 2.0 or high grade point average. Offers year-round horsemanship events. http://www.chsra-dist1.net. (530) 941-1362.

Equine: Rescues & Sanctuaries

For full listings info see Domestic & Farm Animals: Rescues, Sanctuaries & Farms in this section.

A Friend In Need Equine Rescue; Mt. Shasta. www.afriendinneedequinerescue.com.
(530) 261-1928.

Home at Last Sanctuary; Yankee Hill.
www.homeatlastsanctuary.blogspot.com.
(530) 514-1439.

Horse Plus Humane Society (formerly NorCal Equine Rescue); Oroville. www.horsehumane.org. (530) 282-5565.

Run For Home Haven Equine Rescue; Mt. Shasta. www.runforhomehaven.com. (530) 926-3361.

Safe Haven Horse Rescue; Cottonwood.
www.safehavenhorserescue.org. (530) 347-4941.

Sunshine Sanctuary; Los Molinos.
www.sunshinesanctuary.org. 10931 Singer Ave. (530) 529-0183.

Wild Horse Sanctuary; Shingletown.
www.wildhorsesanctuary.org. (530) 474-5770.