https://campkern.org/horse-programs.html

Circle K Ranch at YMCA Camp Kern, 5291 OH 350, Oregonia, OH (2026)

02/13/2026

🐴😛 𝐀𝐏𝐎𝐋𝐋𝐎 𝐇𝐀𝐒 𝐀 𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘 𝐈𝐌𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐓 𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓… 😛🐴
(yes, he’s sticking his tongue out until you read it!)

Hey 𝐂𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐊 𝐑𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬! Apollo wanted to remind everyone that
𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐎𝐍 𝐒𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐒𝐈𝐆𝐍-𝐔𝐏𝐒 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐍 — but time is running out!

📅 𝐍𝐄𝐗𝐓 𝐒𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐒: 𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐀𝐘, 𝐅𝐄𝐁𝐑𝐔𝐀𝐑𝐘 𝟐𝟐
You have about 10 days to get everything finalized.

✨ 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐍𝐄𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐎 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖:
• 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧-𝐮𝐩𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐚𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐎𝐍𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐄
• 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐭
• 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 — 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐭 𝐀𝐒𝐀𝐏

📧 𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 𝐎𝐑 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐘 𝐓𝐎 𝐒𝐈𝐆𝐍 𝐔𝐏?
Email 𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐀𝐒𝐀𝐏 at
👉 𝐉𝐌𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐬@𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐲𝐦𝐜𝐚.𝐨𝐫𝐠

Apollo says procrastinating is overrated… and he’s not impressed 😜
𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧-𝐮𝐩𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 — 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐭!

02/08/2026

🐴🏈 Doc’s Super Bowl prediction is in!
After some serious mini deliberation… Patriots it is!

01/26/2026

🐎 Meet the Herd Monday: Saleen ✨

Meet Saleen, known around the barn by her barn name, with the registered name Sheza Zipn Skippa Star. Saleen is a double-registered Palomino and APHA Paint horse, and her golden coat, white mane and tail, apron face blaze, and four white stockings make her a standout in the herd.

Because of her calm personality and beautiful coloring, Saleen is often used to help campers learn the parts of the horse — including one of our favorite activities, painting her coat while learning anatomy in a hands-on way. She takes it all in stride, making every activity fun and safe.

Saleen brings years of experience to our program. She’s worked lessons, trail rides, and summer camps in Ohio and Kentucky, led Boy Scout trail rides at Woodland Trails for three summers, and has even carried the American flag in previous programs, opening large fundraising events. Her knowledge and steady temperament make her an incredible asset to our herd and a trusted partner for our campers.

She’s also a part of our equine-assisted learning programs, helping participants gain confidence, improve communication, and learn teamwork — all through hands-on interaction with horses.

When she’s not busy working with campers, Saleen enjoys spending time with her best pony friend, Ali. 💕

We’re so lucky to have Saleen as part of our herd — reliable, talented, and full of heart 🩷🐴

01/24/2026

💙❄️ SNOWMAGEDDON 2026 PREP = STAFF ABSOLUTELY CRUSHED IT ❄️💙

I cannot say thank you enough to the incredible humans who showed up early this morning to help us prep before the snow hits. Days like today are a reminder that barn work is truly a labor of love—and our staff shows that love over and over again.

Because of their dedication, we were able to:
🐴 Bed all stalls and add extra bedding in the corners so horses have warm, safe places to rest if it’s not safe to use the spreader tomorrow
🌾 Make sure everyone has extra hay (and quick access to more if needed)
🔥 Ensure heated buckets are clean, plugged in, and ready
🧣 Blanket horses where needed due to age or health
🌲 Put extra hay out under the pine trees so our outdoor herd can keep hay in their bellies to stay warm
🏠 Bring in those who need to be inside due to age or frequent “creative decision-making” injuries 😉
⏰ And get everything done efficiently as a team
so we’re feeding by 2:30 PM

Our herd thrives on consistency—water, hay, and routine are non-negotiable. When those things slip, the risks are real: colic, ulcers, stress. This team understands that, and they show up no matter the weather.

I truly believe you can never show barn staff enough appreciation. This is a job that always has to get done—holidays, snowstorms, freezing temps—it doesn’t stop. And yet, they still go above and beyond.

A huge shoutout to:
👏 Haleigh, Michael, Rylee, Savannah, Emma, and Rich

And an extra thank-you to those who picked up hours outside the equine department—OE and GRT staff, we see you and we appreciate you more than you know. 💙

Not everyone worked today, but everyone is valued. Today just deserved a special spotlight for those who braved the cold and made sure our horses are safe, warm, and cared for.

We killed it today. 🐴❄️💪
Forever grateful for this team.

01/22/2026

🐎✨ IT’S BACK — AND WE’RE AIMING EVEN BIGGER THIS YEAR! ✨🐎

We are thrilled to announce our 2nd Annual Tack Exchange, hosted at YMCA Camp Kern and benefiting the incredible horses of Circle K Ranch!

📅 Saturday, March 28
⏰ 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
📍 Circle K Ranch @ YMCA Camp Kern
📍 5291 OH-350, Oregonia, OH 45054

Whether you’re looking to buy, sell, trade, or just browse, this is a great opportunity to connect with fellow horse people while directly supporting our hardworking camp herd 🐴❤️

🔸 Shoppers:
• $1 donation requested at the door
• Gently used tack, equipment, and horse gear
• All proceeds support the care of our camp horses

🔸 Vendors:
Interested in reserving a booth? We’d love to have you!
📧 Email: [email protected]
📩 Or send a direct message here on Facebook

Last year was an amazing start — and with your help, this year will be even better! Please share this post, tag your horse friends, and help us spread the word throughout the equine community.

🐎💛 We can’t wait to see you there!

01/20/2026

💙 Meet the Herd Monday: Vada

Meet Vada— our tall, elegant gray mare who is impossible to miss 🤍🐴

Vada is a 9-year-old Thoroughbred, also known as an Off-the-Track Thoroughbred (OTTB). While she spent her early years training to be a racehorse, she has fully embraced a much different lifestyle here at camp — one that is calm, steady, and all about partnership. As Vada would say, “When’s the race?” (Thankfully, never 😉).

Vada is one of only two gray horses on camp property, and at 16.2 hands, she stands out whether she’s in the pasture or in the arena. Like all gray horses, she was born dark and has gradually lightened with age — a change we’ve had the joy of watching over the past two years.

What truly sets Vada apart is her personality. She is a classic camp horse — kind, brave, and unbothered by her surroundings. She has a gentle, almost puppy-dog desire to please her rider and is always willing to try her best. At the same time, Vada is smart and experienced enough to know when something doesn’t feel right, making her a wonderful and safe partner for beginner riders.

Steady, thoughtful, and beautiful inside and out — Vada is a horse who quietly teaches confidence and trust every day, and we are so lucky to have her as part of our herd 💙

✨ Fun fact: Vada is named after the movie My Girl (1991).

01/13/2026

✨ Testimonial Tuesday | Full-Circle Moment ✨

At Camp Kern’s Circle K Ranch, horsemanship is about so much more than riding. It’s about compassion, responsibility, patience, and heart. We strive to instill the YMCA values of being caring, honest, respectful, and responsible, shaping not just skilled riders, but confident, thoughtful horsemen and horsewomen.

We are incredibly blessed to watch beginner riders grow with us—some going on to show competitively, some fulfilling the dream of horse ownership. While it’s never easy to see riders move on, we celebrate them fiercely and cheer them on every step of the way.

Today was one of those emotional, tears-of-joy days. A full-circle moment. One of our lesson horses, Xavier, has found his forever home with a rider who grew up in our program. He will be loved endlessly, spoiled beyond belief, and given every opportunity to shine. We cannot wait to watch Zoë excel with him in the show ring. 💫

🖤 From Zoë’s dad, Brent:

“Zoë took the next step in a lifelong dream today.

She started asking me to ride horses about the time she started walking. I finally agreed to sign her up for lessons three years ago, and my hair stylist recommended that I check out Camp Kern’s Circle K Ranch.

We did, and Zoë began riding lessons, which we soon discovered were more than riding lessons. They were tack your horse, care for your horse, clean up after your horse, fall more deeply in love with horses, and regulate your emotions with firmness, patience, and compassion lessons. We also fell in love with the Camp Kern staff.

Last year, we switched to another barn so Zoë could start competitive showing, but we stayed in touch with our lifelong friends at Circle K.

Today, Circle K agreed to sell us Xavier, an incredible show horse, so Zoë can continue her horsemanship journey with more showing, more learning, more responsibility, and even more love for horses.

Thank you for making this possible.

Forever grateful,
Brent and Zoë”

Moments like this are why we do what we do. 💙🐎

01/13/2026

✨ Meet Zap ✨

Zap is one of those horses who quietly leaves a lasting impression on everyone he meets. At 22 years old, this American Paint Horse has done it all — from trail rides and drill team to lessons, camps, and therapeutic riding — and he shows up every single day with the same steady, dependable heart.

Zap is truly as steady as they come. Whether he’s helping a rider gain confidence for the first time, leading a calm trail ride, or supporting participants in therapeutic lessons, he has an incredible ability to meet people right where they are. His passion lies in allowing riders of all abilities to showcase their skills and feel successful in the saddle.

Little kids are his absolute favorite, and it shows. Zap has a way of making everyone feel safe, welcome, and important — often forming instant connections with those who need him most. He’s lived and worked in both Ohio and Kentucky, and even performed at the Kentucky Horse Park’s Parade of Breeds, proudly representing the American Paint Horse.

In 2021, Zap was named a Finalist for the Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA) School Horse of the Year — and while that honor meant a lot, we think he earns Horse of the Year status every single day right here at camp.

Even though he often gets confused with our other sorrel and white Paint Horses, Zap is one of a kind — not related to any of them, and completely irreplaceable to us. 💚

We’re so grateful to have Zap as part of our herd and our community. Horses like him don’t just teach lessons — they change lives.

🐴✨ Meet the Herd Monday ✨🐴

01/06/2026

🌟 TESTIMONIAL TUESDAY 🌟
We are so excited to kick off our very first Testimonial Tuesday by sharing a story that truly captures why we do what we do here at Camp Kern. Horses have a special way of teaching life lessons that reach far beyond the saddle, and Amelia’s journey is a perfect example of that magic. 🐎✨

💬 From one of our amazing lesson parents:

“Amelia has been riding at Camp Kern since she first participated in the Homeschool Co-op in the Spring of 2024. With the spark to actually ride a horse came a deep love and appreciation that fueled her desire to improve her skills and knowledge and confidently grow as a person.

Having saddled up on six different horses, many life lessons were attained: overcoming fear through perseverance, trusting your inner strength and breathing in the moment, confidently attacking new challenges, finding joy in the little and big things, and friendship in gentle giants — along with grit, bravery, and independence!

Amelia isn’t the same girl she was. Thanks to the love and respect for horses she gained through her lessons and time spent at Camp Kern, we are forever thankful to see our girl overcome her struggles and find her footing for the future.” 💙

Stories like Amelia’s remind us that our program is about so much more than riding — it’s about confidence, growth, resilience, and connection. We are so proud of Amelia and incredibly grateful to her family for trusting us with her journey. 💫

🐴💙 Stay tuned for more Testimonial Tuesdays

01/05/2026

✨ Meet the Herd Monday ✨
Without further ado, meet one of the shortest (but mightiest!) members of our herd — Miss Ali 🐴💖

Ali is a 14-year-old Welsh pony whose best friend is the lovely Saleen. She’s a retired show pony who once loved driving carts — both solo and in pairs — and she still carries that confident, can-do attitude today.

Ali’s story at Camp Kern is extra special. Her owner is a Camp Kern alumna from the early 1990s and even served as a counselor here. We’re so thrilled that Ali now gets to live where her owner’s love for horses first began. 💕 Fun fact: Ali’s owner was also married here at camp — talk about full circle moments!

Ali is one of only two gray horses at Camp Kern. She was born bay and gradually turned into a beautiful flea-bitten gray with speckles as she aged. She even has a hidden star under her coat — you can usually only spot it after a bath when her face is wet, and it’s absolutely adorable ⭐️

Another fun fact: Welsh ponies originated in Wales and are known for being hardy, strong, and versatile. They were bred to work in mountainous terrain, which explains why Ali is so sure-footed, tough, and great at just about everything she does.

Here at Camp Kern, Ali truly lives her best pony life. She helps with pony rides, participates in our lesson program, and fully embraces summer camp fun. She’s often the pony who gets colored and painted — her gray coat makes her the perfect canvas 🎨🐴

One last fun tip: pink does NOT come out of her tail very well 😂 One summer, Ali proudly rocked a pink tail for the entire season because we just couldn’t get all the color out!

We’re so lucky to have Miss Ali as part of our herd, and she’s happy to be right where she belongs — being a pony, making memories, and spreading joy at Camp Kern. 💗

Circle K Ranch at YMCA Camp Kern

02/13/2026

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