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Frequently Asked Questions2022-03-15T10:28:32+10:00

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is my child’s riding ability?2022-01-15T09:21:13+10:00

NEVER RIDDEN/ NO EXPERIENCE – Total beginners.  May have been on a pony lead but have never ridden independently.

WALK- Little experience with horses.  This rider knows how to ask the horse to move forward, turn and stop and can mount and walk off unassisted.
LEARNING TO TROT – Basic experience with horses. The rider is starting to learn to rise trot but may not have the rhythm yet.

TROTTING WELL – The rider can ride with great central a at trot. This ride may be eager to learn to canter. 

LEARNING TO CANTER – The rider is rise trotting well with great control and has started learning to canter but needs to continue to work on mastering the canter. 

CANTERING WELL- The rider is competently cantering with great control and a good seat.

ADVANCED – Advanced riders can naturally work a horse through all paces having several years of experience riding behind them. They may ride as a part of their working life, compete or train horses. 

  • Parents responsible for providing accurate information about their child’s riding ability.
  • When in doubt it is safer to say your child is of lesser ability rather than a greater ability.
  • We can always find a more advanced horse but it is harder to have a spare beginner horse.
  • Please understand that your child’s ‘riding ability’ is what you child can currently do, not what they want to achieve. For example if your child wants to canter but can currently only trot, please select trotting not cantering.
  • Remember ALL horses can walk, trot, canter and gallop, it’s simply that they are educated to work at a particular pace to carry a certain riding ability.
What are the payment methods?2022-01-14T17:16:13+10:00
  • Camp payments are made online with the option of credit/ debit card, PayPal or Direct Transfer.
  • Merchandise and extras may be paid for at the Kiah Park office.  Currently we are cash only however as of April camps 2022 we hope to have Eftpos facilities.
  • We accept cash only for canteen purchases.
What is the cancellation and refund policy?2022-01-15T09:36:07+10:00
Can I have a receipt or invoice for funding purposes?2022-01-14T17:26:21+10:00

As of April Camps 2022 bookings and PAYMENT is an online process.  Once completing your online payment you will receive a receipt in order to be reimbursed by your funding provider.  The receipt will outline the items purchased including this statement which has been suitable for NDIS funding:

KIAH PARK HORSE RIDING CAMP: Assists in the development of life skills with a focus on horse riding combined with a variety of outdoor activity and education. While continually developing independence, participants build on old friendships and establish new positive relationships with fellow campers each time they attend the Kiah Kids Camp program.

What is the age and qualification of staff?2022-01-15T09:29:58+10:00
  • Owners Laine and Jodi Keough have life long experience with horses and hold their Blue Cards, First Aid and Horse Safety Australia Instructor Qualification.  They enjoy being involved with the kids where the can throughout the camp.
  • Our Horse Riding Instructors are 18 yrs and over, holding blue cards, first aid and a Horse Safety Australia Instructor Qualification.  We have staff with up to 12 years involvement with Kiah Park. Each riding group will have an instructor and supervisors with them, riding at a ratio of at least 1 staff to 6 kids.
  • All adult staff who are generally aged 18 to 30 years hold a blue card.
  • Each cabin has at least one 18-year old supervisor in the cabin.  Generally two to three staff sleep in each of the girls cabins. Generally one to two staff sleep in the boys cabin as traditionally there is fewer boys than girls.
  • We also have helpers from 15 yrs of age who are working toward being supervisors and instructors.
Is horse riding a high risk activity?2022-01-13T18:38:22+10:00

Is there a risk with horse riding? Yes! Along with other sporting and recreational activities, however unlikely, it is possible that horse riding may result in injury or even death. Kiah Park is a Horse Safety Australia accredited site and at Kiah Park Horse Riding Camp we respect the Horse Safety Australia guidelines to minimise the risk in all horse related activity. We employ qualified instructors to lead each group of riders along with extra staff/supervisors.

Parents/ carers are fully responsible and accountable in supplying accurate information about their child’s riding ability on the booking form to ensure we have the most suitable horse available when they arrive at camp. We assess each rider’s ability in the arena prior to going on trails. When parents/ carers provide accurate information we can easily assign an ideal horse to rider. By booking into Kiah Park Horse Riding Camp you agree that Kiah Park Horse Riding camp is not liable for any degree of injury.Please supply us with accurate information on your booking form.

Is all the riding gear my child needs supplied by you?2022-01-14T17:09:25+10:00
  • You are welcome to use your own riding helmet providing it is in date however helmets are provided at not extra cost.
  • If you don’t have riding boots they can be hired for $25 a week.
  • Campers must ride in jeans or jodphurs
  • Campers MUST wear a collared shirt riding preferably a long sleeve shirt.  (Long Sleeve and Polo Shirts are available to purchase at Kiah Park)
What is the accommodation for boys and girls?2022-01-15T09:00:13+10:00
  • The accommodation is bunkhouse style cabins and dormitory.
  • Boys and girls are housed separately.
  • We put girls of similar ages in the same cabin group.
  • Friends can request to bunk together.  If there is an age difference the older child will bunk down with the younger age group.  We do prefer to keep kids of similar ages together.
  • The female supervisors sleep in the cabins with the children.
  • If we have a male supervisor they will sleep in the boys cabin.
  • All 18 yr + supervisors hold blue cards.
Can you cater for my child’s special diet?2022-01-13T09:35:39+10:00

Yes! We offer special diets for those with medical reason. We are able to cater for dietary requirements, including gluten free and coeliac and dairy free, etc.  Our menu does not include meals with seafood or nuts. Please just get in touch with us and we will work with you to cater the menu plan to your child’s specific needs. The additional cost for a 7 Day Camp is $140 and for Weekends the cost is $80.

What are the extra horse riding lessons?2022-01-15T09:05:13+10:00

We offer extra horse riding lesson for those who wish to further their horsemanship skills.

  • Lessons are $45 for half an hour of riding time.
  • They are group lessons of no more than six riders.
  • We ideally focus on what areas the rider needs to improve in.
  • We can incorporate jumping for those who can canter. We will NOT conduct a jumping lesson if the rider can not competently canter.
How do I contact my child at camp?2015-08-11T10:39:09+10:00

You are welcome to call your child on our phone 5486 6166 for a chat at dinner time, between 6.30 – 7.00pm. If you get the answering machine keep trying as it means the line is busy.

Can I bring my dog to Kiah Park?2022-01-15T09:27:31+10:00
What ages are the children who come to camp?2022-01-14T16:59:06+10:00

We welcome boys and girls aged 6 to 16 years of age to holiday horse riding camps.  The boys and girls enjoy all activities together and have seperate accommodation and toilet/ shower facilities.

What if it the weather is not suitable for riding some days and the children don’t get their allotted amount of rides, do we get reimbursed?2022-01-14T11:04:49+10:00

It will rain at some point during some of our holiday camps.  We don’t let the rain stop our fun we simple shuffle the program to ensure we can slot in as many rides as we can as long as it is safe to do so.  A bit of rain usually just adds to the experience. It is not only about horse riding but also about developing character, independence and resilience, and of course making wonderful friends and having fun.

We do not offer discounts or refunds for striking bad weather.  We all continue to make the most of the conditions we are faced with. Our Leaders looking after the children 24/7  have alternative fun if it is absolutely impossible to ride out.

What if my child misbehaves at camp?2019-12-05T16:20:13+10:00

We believe that children function best in an environment which has clearly-set boundaries and guidelines to follow. These boundaries and guidelines are explained to the children at the beginning of camp during the Welcome Talk. We stress the importance of these guidelines, why they are there and what happens if they are not adhered to. For example, if you run on the concrete and fall over you will hurt yourself, or if you run around the horses you might scare them and they may kick out. This means the campers know why a particular behaviour is not acceptable and will begin to think before they act, alter their behaviour and ultimately develop self-discipline.

Children are encouraged to follow expectations through positive reinforcement and redirection and staff are required to role model ideal behaviour at all times. Staff members are instructed to be firm but fair in their redirection, encouraging children to take responsibility for their own actions and the subsequent consequences.

We have a zero tolerance on bullying, swearing and refusing to following instruction. If a child presents with these behaviours, they will be brought into a meeting to investigate the reason for their behaviour and given a reminder that this particular behaviour is not acceptable. If it is something serious Kiah Park management will immediately contact the child’s parent/carer and ask them to communicate with the child to encourage them to correct their behaviour. If we do not see an improvement in the behaviour, the child will again be called into a meeting and told that if they do not comply they will be sent home. Thereafter if there is no improvement, the child’s parent/carer will be called to pick their child up.

Do you offer trail rides to family groups?2015-08-11T10:37:31+10:00

We are happy to arrange trail rides for a group of at least 12 people. Please phone us: 5486 6166 or email: [email protected]  to discuss your options.

Will my child be swimming at camp?2015-08-11T10:36:46+10:00

We do love a bit of a splash in the dam during hot weather, but the children do not go beyond knee-deep. All water activities are very carefully monitored, particularly children who are not confident swimmers. Sometimes we have a water-fight up near the cabins.

How early should I make my booking?2022-01-14T17:17:35+10:00

We love early bookings! To avoid disappointment, it is best to make your booking as soon as the camp bookings are open and you are confident with your family plans.

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