Spring is a great time to explore DuBois Center from horseback! Join our equestrian team on Saturday, March 23 and/or April 13 from 9 am – 5 pm for a full day of fun with the DuBois Center herd. Designed for both beginner and more experienced riders, these are horse-intensive days of grooming, tacking, riding, instruction and other horse-related activities. Beginners will be introduced to basic skills, while experienced riders work on more advanced options. Minimum age is 12. The cost is $65 per day with lunch included.
Online registration is now open, or complete and mail this form. Questions? Contact DuBois Center 618-787-2202 or email.
Spring is a great time to explore DuBois Center from horseback! Join our equestrian team on Saturday, March 23 AND/OR April 13 from 9 am – 5 pm for a full day of fun with the DuBois Center herd.
Designed for both beginner and more experienced riders, these are horse-intensive days of grooming, tacking, riding, instruction and other horse-related activities. Beginners will be introduced to basic skills, while experienced riders work on more advanced options.
The minimum age to participate is 12 years old and the cost is $65 per person, per day with lunch included.
Online registration is now open, or you may complete and mail this form. Hurry! These days often fill up fast.
Questions? Contact DuBois Center 618-787-2202 or email.
A question we get asked a lot at DuBois Center is, “What do you do with the horses in the winter?” The answer varies depending on the severity of the weather. Horses possess many adaptations to help them stay comfortable in even the most extreme conditions.
For instance, you might notice that our herd is fuzzier in the winter. Their thicker coats help insulate them from the cold, as well as retaining oil that repels moisture. Internally, their metabolism heats the horses from the inside out. As long as a horse has an adequate supply of hay and grain (which we provide) to fuel this “furnace,” it will not suffer from lower temperatures. Short bouts of physical exertion, such as bucking and running as well as shivering, also help to heat up muscles and stabilize internal temperatures.
During extreme conditions, like during the recent polar vortex, our horses come into the barn daily for an extra feeding. The barn is adapted as a wind shelter and left open on one end, allowing the horses to meander in and out at their leisure. In addition, there is a heated waterer outside the barn, providing the horses (and barn cats) with constant access to fresh water.
So, when the temperatures drop and wind speeds pick up, have no fear – a combination of horse anatomy and proactive care ensure the health of our herd.
Looking for a rewarding summer job working with children and horses? How about hands-on experience managing a trail ride program? DuBois Center has an opening for a dedicated summer barn coordinator. In addition to caring for our 20-horse herd, our summer barn team utilizes basic riding instruction and time “getting to know the ponies” to help campers build self-confidence and learn to respect and appreciate God’s amazing creation. For those who have never experienced a horse up close, the first moments can be overwhelming. However, with nurturing guidance, campers quickly learn that they can overcome their fears and experience something wonderful. Tears often transform into giant smiles.
For more information, check out the attached flier and contact Shirley at email or 618-787-2202.
Join our equestrian team on Saturday, April 13, 2019 from 9 am – 5 pm for a full day of fun with the DuBois Center herd! Designed for both beginner and more experienced riders, this is a horse-intensive day of grooming, tacking, riding, instruction and other horse-related activities. Beginners will be introduced to basic skills, while experienced riders work on more advanced options. The cost for this event is $65 with lunch included. Online registration begins February 1. Questions? Contact DuBois Center at dcinfo@DuBoisCenter.orgor 618-787-2202.
Join our equestrian team on Saturday, November 3 from 9am – 5pm for a full day of fun with the DuBois Center herd! Designed for both beginner and experienced riders, this is a horse-intensive day of instruction – tackle grooming, tacking, riding, and other horse-related activities. Beginners will be introduced to basic skills, while experienced riders work on more advanced options. The cost for this event is $60 with lunch included.
Register by October 13 and save $5. Final registration deadline is October 20 – if space is still available. Register online or click here for a flier and reservation form. Questions? Contact DuBois Center 618-787-2202 or by email at dcinfo@DuBoisCenter.org.
We’ve got HAY! After a very dry end to the 2017 growing season, our supply was running low. Now, in preparation for heavy summer rains, additional sturdy wooden pallets on which to set the bales are needed.
Storing hay off the ground keeps it out of the mud. The drier the bales remain, the more able we are to reduce the growth of mold. Mold contributes to large amounts of waste. In addition, moldy hay is not healthy for our horses. Keeping the hay drier also helps to retain its nutritional content throughout the year.
Approximately 30 additional new or gently used sturdy pallets are needed. If you have or can find any that meet these specs, contact Scott Kuether at sekuether21@gmail.com.
Our Horse Camps are filling quickly, but there are still great options for most age groups. If the weather cooperates, horse campers have the option to ride each day! They spend more time with the ponies, but still have time for other camp favorites such as swimming, 9-Square and crafts. Some mornings, they’re up and at ’em long before chow time – the horses need to be fed and groomed before breakfast. Some evenings, untacking, feeding and barn chores come before evening games.
Younger campers can hop aboard the Pony Express for an introduction to horse camp. Older campers can choose from a variety of sessions. Ready to sign up? Register online today. For more information, pick up a camp brochure in your church office or check out the brochure online. You may also contact DuBois Center at dcinfo@DuBoisCenter.org or 618-787-2202 to have one sent to you.