Camp Dovewood

Camp Dovewood in O'Brien, Florida is a five-star rated summer camp that combines horseback riding with the classic outdoor camp experience in rural Suwannee County. O'Brien sits in a quiet, wooded stretch of North Florida where kids can genuinely disconnect from screens and connect with animals and nature. With a perfect rating and a tight-knit camp community, Dovewood draws families from across the region who want their children to build real equestrian skills in a safe, supervised setting. It's the kind of place where kids come home sunburned, muddy, and asking to go back next summer.

The core offering here is horseback riding instruction integrated into a multi-week summer camp program, giving young riders far more saddle time than a weekly lesson ever could. Campers typically progress from basic horsemanship and grooming to actual riding skills, learning how to communicate with their horse and care for it responsibly. Beyond the riding, summer camps like Dovewood usually include a mix of outdoor activities, team-building exercises, and evening programs that round out the experience. Families can typically choose session lengths that fit their summer schedule, from shorter introductory weeks to longer immersive stays.

Camp Dovewood primarily serves families from Suwannee County and surrounding areas, including Live Oak, Lake City, and Gainesville. Families from the broader North Florida and South Georgia region make the drive for sessions, especially given how few dedicated equestrian summer camps exist in this part of the state.