GSLE Equestrian Programs

Wrangler/Spur Program

The Wrangler/Spur Program is open to girls 12 and above who are interested in leadership.

Head Wranglers

Head Wranglers are level three and four program members who want to further their leadership.

Staff and Volunteers

Staff and volunteers ensure the safety of all on weekends and at events.

Family Pony Picnic

Enjoy a picnic with your family and a visit from the Camp Marydale horses.

Love Hug and Groom

Take a hike to the barn and for pony rides, horse painting, and more!

Junior Horseback Rider

At this workshop, take the reins as you learn how to ride a horse and even go on a trail.

Everything Equine

Everything Equine is a multi-part series focusing on several areas of the equine industry.

Summer Resident Camp

There are a variety of programs available during summer resident camp.

Summer Leadership

Throughout summer camp, take part in our exciting leadership opportunities.

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Meet our Teams

The Wrangler/Spur Program has two teams who are responsible for representing Girl Scouts Louisiana East and the Wrangler/Spur Program.

Wrangler Show Team

The Wrangler Show Team was created in September 2021 to further the progression of girl opportunities. This team currently consists of four Wrangler and Head Wrangler Girl Scouts. Wrangler Show Team tryouts are held annually and are open to any level three or four girl program members. The team competes locally at horse shows and rodeos, and they ride in parades to promote Girl Scouts throughout southeast Louisiana.

Leadership Team

The Leadership Team was created to give girls an oppurtunity to excel in ways off of the horse!

Equestrian Opportunities

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If you are age 14 or older and LOVE horses, come be a part of the Girl Scout Louisiana East’s Wrangler Program. You will be paired with adult mentors to teach Western horseback riding workshops at Camp Marydale to troops and service units. Wranglers also help out with special weekend events such as Love, Hug & Groom.

Our Spurs are girls, ages 12 and up, who shadow the Wranglers to learn what it takes to be a Wrangler, and help, as well. Once Spurs are 14 they are eligible to advance to the Wrangler level. It is not a requirement to be a Spur before joining the Wrangler program.

How much time does it take?

Wranglers and Spurs are expected to participate in at least two of the three “Wrangler/Spur Program Training Weekends” a year (August-May) in order to maintain a level of safety in the program. This allows for current knowledge of the program and allows the Wranglers to learn new skills. In order to stay “active” in the program, girls are required to participate at least two weekends a semester (August-December, January-May), excluding the Wrangler/Spur Training Weekends mentioned previously. All new Wranglers and Spurs are required to attend a program orientation before she may be placed on the schedule.

Wrangler/Spur Training Weekends

This program at Camp Marydale is open to girls 12+ years old who are interested in joining the Wrangler/Spur Program regardless of experience. You will learn policies and procedures necessary in the program and meet current Wranglers, Spurs, adults, and the horses. Adults who are interested in volunteering in the program must also attend a Training Weekend session prior to volunteering. The next Wrangler/Spur Program events are listed on the calendar. If you’re interested in learning more about becoming a Wrangler or a Spur, contact Kaylee Pendergrass at 225-726-6192 or kpendergrass@gsle.org.

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Head Wranglers/Head Wranglers in Training

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Equestrian Specialist

Kaylee Pendergrass is the equestrian specialist who oversees all barn programs including the Wrangler/Spur Program, the Wrangler Show Team, and the Lesson Program.

Riding Instructors

Riding instructors are hired by Girl Scouts Louisiana East to ensure the safety of girls on and around the horses.

Wrangler Adults

Wrangler/Spur adult volunteers are necessary for this program to succeed – please join! As with all programs we have to have enough adults working with the girls each weekend according to Safety Activity Checkpoints: Horseback Riding.

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Family Pony Picnic

Open to girls, grades K-1, adults, families

Come Picnic with the ponies at Camp Marydale! Pack your picnic, and pick your favorite spot at camp to enjoy your lunch. Meanwhile the Camp Marydale Wranglers will bring some of their best friends to meet you while you eat! Daisy Girl Scouts and their families will get the chance to brush a pony, learn about our horse herd, feed their new friend a treat, and even get a picture with their favorite pony!

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Junior Horseback Rider

Open to girls, grades 4-8, adults

Riding a horse is one of the most exciting things you can do. But ask any good horseback rider her secret to success and she'll say that understanding a horse is as important as learning to ride one. During this fabulous weekend, members of our Wrangler/Spur program will share with you the basics of horseback riding, teach you how to take care of a horse and about horse safety, prepare you for your ride, practice your ride, and take you out on a trail ride, if weather permits!

Special note: When signing up multiple members of a troop, at least 1 but no more than 3 registered and background checked adult volunteers from the troop must also sign up. Also, every effort will be made for troops to lodge together, however, daytime rotation groups will be assigned for the best fit of horse and rider. This means that your troop will likely be in different rotation groups for the day. Attending adults will be assigned to a group as well and are expected to stay with that group during the daytime activities.

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Everything Equine

The Everything Equine Workshop introduces a new patch progression to the barn at Camp Marydale! If you are wanting to get outdoors and interact with the horses in an entirely new way, this might be the program for you! In addition to increasing your knowledge of basic horsemanship, you will participate in an obstacle course on horseback and a cookout dinner under the stars. Girls will learn about Equine Hippology, the basics of horsecare, and what it takes to be a part of this equine industry!

After completing this Workshop, the Girls will be ready to attend half day and weekend programs offered throughout the rest of the year to complete their patch! The following program names are as listed: Basics of Equine (Half Day), Equine STEM (Weekend), Equine Health (Half Day), Equine Environment/Communication (Half Day). Check the calendar as these dates are already posted for you to register! The Everything Equine Workshop is a prerequisite for the following programs. Juniors who have completed the Junior Horseback Rider Workshop can register for the Everything Equine Workshop, while the other programs are for Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassadors.

Equine Basics-
After completing our Everything Equine workshop, come out to the Equestrian Center and earn another patch in the series! Learn about the different kinds of saddles in the barn and what disciplines they are used for! Learn about breeds of horses used for different riding sports and get the opportunity to ride in the different saddles those disciplines are for!

Equine S.T.E.M.-
Join us at the equestrian center to learn about the endless opportunities of STEM in the Equine Industry. Science: Equine Genetics! How different horse breeds affect height, weight and endurance of the animal. Take a look into our own horses’ genetics and noticing interesting traits they have gotten from their horse parents! Technology: Discover how technology has assisted the veterinary community and horse owners in both diagnosing and treating disease. This day you have the opportunity to analyze x-ray film, utilize red light therapy to increase circulation, and use infrared thermometers to determine high heat areas on the horse! Engineering: Look into the safety points in our necessary riding gear and determine the points of the body they protect! Design a new and innovative safety item that could be added to the equine sport! Math: Equine nutrition is primarily math based! We will calculate the herds’ required daily intake and calculate the yearly cost to feed the Marydale herd. Finish the STEM day with a short horseback riding lesson in the covered arena followed by a relaxing trail ride through the camp!

Equine Health-
Return to the Equestrian Center to explore the world of equine health. You will take a deeper look into the movement of the Marydale herd in a thorough ground lesson. After completing this badge, you will have the ability to assess equine lameness and the steps you can take to help! In addition, you will have a horseback riding session!

Equine Environment and Equine Communication-
Return to the equestrian center to learn about the horses’ environment and mechanism for communication! Learn how horses differ in the wild versus in human hands? Explore how horses communicate via body language, team building, and more. Ground lessons will be followed by a short riding lesson in the covered arena followed by a trail visiting all of the pasture space our horses have access to throughout the year!

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Summer Resident Camp

Pony Express
Brownies - open to girls entering grades 2 and 3

Our Equestrian team is ready to help you, the horseback -riding beginner, you'll get to groom your new best friend, give them a colorful makeover and go on a pony ride in our arena. Come join us and our four-legged friends for this exciting session! Brownies will earn the Pets badge. *Sunday to Tuesday sessions: Check-in 3 p.m. Sunday, check-out 3 p.m. Tuesday.*

Cowgirls
Juniors - open to girls entering grades 4 and 5

Brush off your boots! It’s time to grab the reins and hang on tight! in this camp session you will learn the basic of horsemanship. Groom, saddle, and study the essentials of walking, trotting, and trail riding on your horse! When you aren’t playing cowgirl, you’ll be swimming, cooking over an open fire, and discovering all that camp has to offer.

Night riders
Juniors, Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassadors - open to girls entering grades 4 - 12

Are you an intermediate to advance rider looking to have a little fun horseback? In the session, you will have a chance to ride at night (in a lit arena) while you work on your horsemanship skills, play rodeo games, and even take a trail at dusk. You will participate in an overnight trail ride where you'll ride your horse to your camping site, pitch a tent, and listen to the many sounds of the night.

Trail Blazers
Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassadors - open to girls entering grades 6 - 12

Saddle up cowgirls! Trail Blazers is the perfect short session for those girls who LOVE to trail ride! As a special treat for this outfit, Trail Blazers will take their gear out for a sleepover trail ride, cook over a fire, and develop outdoor living, horsemanship and horseback riding skills.

Mane-ly Horses
Juniors - open to girls entering grades 4 and 5

Here is your chance to see if hanging out with the Marydale horses is for you! In this short three-day session, you will learn the basics of riding and grooming horses. Get ready for the last day because you will be kicking up your heels on a trail ride to test out what you have learned. Little or NO riding skills needed.

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Saddle Club-Open to Cadettes going into 6-8 grade

Ready to be a Ranch Hand, but just not old enough? Try out the Saddle Club, designed especially for those girls who are eager to train to become a Ranch Hand. You will spend the week learning the ropes by assisting the Ranch Hands and riding staff at the barn, caring for the horses and, in your spare time, riding! Formerly Spurs-in-Training. *The focus of this program is not riding—it is learning leadership skills.

Ranch Hands-Open to Senior and Ambassadors going into 9-12 grade
Discover your leadership and horsemanship potential. Explore the basics of assisting the riding program at Marydale. You will spend a week learning the ropes by assisting the riding staff at the barn, caring for the horses and, in your spare time, riding! Previously WIT I *The focus of this program is not riding--it is learning leadership skills.

Barn Aide-Open to Senior and Ambassadors going into 9-12 grade
Are you looking for a way to spend your summer with the Marydale’s horses? Spend several, or all, weeks at the Camp Marydale barn sprucing up the teaching methods you already know, establishing your leadership and decision making skills, and leading trail rides. Send an email to Kaylee Pendergrass at kpendergrass@gsle.org to schedule an interview for the Barn Aide position. *The focus of this program is not riding.