STABLES

The Stables is one of Lost Valleys best attractions. The Stables offeres the Horsemanship Merit Badge, overnight trail rides, and hour long trail rides.  It's an area that all campers can enjoy. 

Trail Rides: Horseback is the best way to travel around Lost Valley!  Our hour long trail rides are for all experience levels from those who never ridden, to experienced riders. Scouts and adults are welcome to ride; Scouts do not have to have or be enrolled in the Horsemanship merit badge to participate. Staff will saddle horses for all riders. Rides depart from and return to the stables, but will travel around camp at a walking speed.  Trial Rides are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.  Long pants and helmets (provided) are required for everyone (adults and staff included), and boots with a heel are preferred.

Overnight Rides: One of our most popular events.  Horses will take campers down the trail to the overnight site for a cowboy dinner, games, and a night under the stars.  Bring along your sleeping bag and stretch out on the ground for a night of cowboy-style camping, just like the cattle drivers of the old west.  Rides depart before dinner (around 4:45), since a cowboy dinner is served at the overnight site.  Scouts ride their horses back to the stables in time for breakfast.  No prior riding experience is necessary to participate.  Scouts do not have to be enrolled in the Horsemanship merit badge, and adults are welcome as well.  Rides are filled on a first-come, first-served basis, and they fill very up fast. Long pants and helmets (provided) are required for everyone (adults and staff included), and boots with a heel are preferred

Horsemanship Merit Badge Instructional Ride: During the instructional ride, Scouts will be taught by staff how to control a horse, and then follow a pattern as required for the merit badge completion.  Scouts must pay a fee for this ride, which is required for merit badge completion. Around $10.  Long pants are required and a helmet will be provided.  Boots with a heel are preferred.  This requirement is number 11: 

On level ground, continuously do the following movements. Do them correctly, at ease, and in harmony with the horse:

a. Mount the horse, b. Walk the horse in a straight line for 60 feet, c. Make a half circle of not more than 16 feet in radius, d. Trot or jog in a straight line for at least 60 feet, e. Make a half circle of not more than 30 feet in radius at a jog or trot, f. Halt straight, g. Back up straight four paces, h. Halt and dismount.

Stables' staff and camper saddling a horse.

Trail Ride, 1974.	Stables Wrangler, 1990.	Stables Pasture Aerial, 1988.	Trail Ride, 1980.
Stables, circa 1975.	Stables, 1983.	Stables fire, 1986.	Stables re-construction, 1987.
Trading Post Wagon, circa 1972.	Chuck Wagon, 1985.

History of the Stables Program

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