Kids Summer Fun Guide

Every kid has their favorite kind of animal, but horses often rank among the highest. What other animal (except the St. Bernard that lives down the street) could carry you around on its back and nuzzle you with its velvetly soft nose, all in return for a little love and a lot of feed? If you can't fulfill your little girl's birthday wish for a pony, send her to one of the places listed below. Most are in the city limits or on the outskirts, and all will transform your tot into a true Texan.

BEAR CREEK STABLES Beginning to advanced riders aged 7-16 are welcome at Bear Creek's horse program. Individualized riding programs culminate with a camper horse show as the camp's finale. Both Western and English riding are taught, alongside safety training, grooming, saddling, clipping, bathing, and weekly trail rides. And when the horses need a break, there are plenty of arts and crafts, nature walks, and games to keep the kids busy. Bear Creek camps also offer a swimming program for all levels, ages 7-16. 13017 Bob Johnson Rd., Manchaca. 512/282-0250.

BLUE STAR RIDING AND TRAINING CENTER offers two-week sessions for both beginners and advanced riders. Students will each be assigned to their own horse with a partner, and they'll take care of it for two weeks like it's their own. They'll learn everything from feeding to grooming the horse, and of course, riding. English and Western riding lessons and horse management skills are all covered. Free transportation from North and South Austin locations. Ages 7-18. 243-2583 or http://www.b-star.com.

THE CAMP AT SPICEWOOD COUNTRY SCHOOL has 20 years experience working with children in West and Northwest Austin. They offer a safe, shaded day camp with both indoor and outdoor activities, with an emphasis on swimming and horseback riding instruction. Two-week sessions, 9am-3pm or 7:30am-5:30pm. Ages 31/2-11. 6102 Spicewood Springs. 346-2992.

KELLY'S KIDS summer horse camp promises riding, riding, riding! Horse riding lessons, grooming, bridling, saddling, complete horse care (even bathing, yup!), trail ride days, horse arts and crafts, picnics, and camp horse shows on Fridays. They even have an indoor arena to beat the heat. 863-7649.

KING'S BRIDGE FARM offers an English horseback riding camp. There are daily riding and horsecare lessons, arts and crafts, a weekly camp horse show, and a wilderness trail ride. They even have tack shop and a swimming pool on the grounds. Transportation is available from West Lake, Northwest Austin, Round Rock, and Pflugerville. Ages 7-16. 710 County Rd., Leander. 259-3479 or http://www.kbf.com.

RIO VISTA FARM & TACK SHOP will teach you how to drive a pony cart. Cool, eh? They also offer English horse riding, with two lessons daily, a visit to the thoroughbred breeding facility onsite, arts and crafts, horse theory, and a horse show on Fridays. The camp is geared toward small groups of up to 16 students a week. For ages 7-16, meets Mon-Fri, 9am-4pm. Transportation available from West Lake and North Austin. Near Austin-Bergstrom International Airport: call for directions. 247-2303.

SWITCH WILLO STABLES offers riding lessons for beginners and advanced riders at their heavily wooded north Austin location. Safety is heavily stressed. Campers will receive English horse riding instruction daily, with additional barn lessons, arts and crafts, and field trips to vets and tack shops. For ages 7-15. Mon-Fri, 9am-4pm. 4829 Switch Willow Rd. 345-2507, 346-6227, or http://www.switchwillo.com.

TOP PRIORITY HORSE has 20 years experience working with horses. They offer small sessions of eight kids per week, with lots of hands-on experience for participants. Each day focuses on something different, like Western or English riding, horse care and identification, or trail riding. Classes run through June and July, and the first part of August. For ages 6-12. Located 15 minutes east of Hutto. 751-0661.