Aspiring cowgirls and cowboys who love to ride horses, or would like to learn should know that May 1 is the deadline to enter the Horse Country Farm’s essay contest.

Winners can win a free week at horse camp, which includes lessons, trail rides, horse care and games on horseback.

Every camper at Horse Country Farm has his or her own horse for the entire camp session – no horse sharing!

Camp Horse Country at Horse Country Farm offers:

• Cowgirl Camp, for cowboys too, with riding lessons, trail rides and a real horse show.

• Advanced Wrangler Camp, older riders practice the basics and learn more, through long trail rides, Barrel Racing, Lessons, Horse Care, Patterns, Drill, Trot and Gallop Work.

• Counselor-In-Training Camp is for riders who have been to horse camp before. Teen camp counselor must learn to teach and leadership skills in the one week CIT camp. They also learn to train colts, practice ground work and learn natural horsemanship techniques in this intensive riding camp.

Contest entrants can choose one of the two beginnings:

“I love horses because…” or “I want to come to horse camp because… .” Counselors write on “I want to be a senior (or junior) camp counselor because… .”

Essays must be typed, double-spaced, or legibly handwritten, and all must include parental permission to participate.

Winning essays earn $15 to $100 discounts for one week of camp, and grand prize winners each receive a free week of camp.

One senior and one junior counselor will win a free week of C.I.T. training camp. Mail essays to P.O. Box 2, Granite Falls, WA 98252 by May 1 or drop them off at the box in the Horse Country Farm Office.

For information call 360-691-7509 or 425-335-4773 or go to Web site at www.horsecountryfarm.com.