Jon Walker Stables & Riding Academy Inc.

Jon Walker Stables & Riding Academy offers comprehensive equestrian programs designed to build horsemanship skills, confidence, and a deep connection with horses. Located on a beautiful 27-acre horse farm in Gastonia, North Carolina, the facility features both indoor and outdoor riding areas, providing an ideal setting for children to learn and grow. Run by national champion trainers with over 50 years of combined experience, all camp staff are working riders at the facility, ensuring expert ins Jon Walker Stables & Riding Academy offers comprehensive equestrian programs designed to build horsemanship skills, confidence, and a deep connection with horses. Located on a beautiful 27-acre horse farm in Gastonia, North Carolina, the facility features both indoor and outdoor riding areas, providing an ideal setting for children to learn and grow. Run by national champion trainers with over 50 years of combined experience, all camp staff are working riders at the facility, ensuring expert instruction and mentorship. The summer day camps focus on horsemanship, sportsmanship, and fostering independence while children unplug from technology and attune to nature. The camp experience is carefully structured to accommodate different skill levels, with beginner and intermediate sessions consisting of 15 minutes of basic horsemanship instruction, 30-45 minutes of riding time, and 15 minutes of post-riding instruction. Beyond riding, campers engage in a variety of enriching activities including horse care and equipment handling, arts and crafts, games, water activities, and special Friday horse show presentations where they can demonstrate their newly acquired skills. The program emphasizes safety as the top priority, with all campers required to wear helmets, and maintains small group sizes of 15-20 children to ensure personalized attention and quality instruction. In addition to summer day camps, Jon Walker Stables offers year-round riding lessons, specialized JWS Show Team training, barn sleepovers, drop-off days, and unique experiences like Ladies Night riding events. Whether children are complete beginners or looking to advance their skills, the facility provides a welcoming, supportive environment where they can develop communication skills, leadership abilities, and a lifelong passion for horses and horsemanship.