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t Pineland Farms, horses rule.

They gallop across green fields. They train in indoor and outdoor arenas. They munch on hay in stalls in immaculate barns.

And when campers arrived last week, the children quickly learned one thing above all else: respect the horse.

“They’ve learned that horses get tired. They’ve learned they’re not just like a bike they can get on and ride whenever they want,” said instructor Amy Huntley as a handful of girls groomed and petted Brownie, a chocolate colored 15-year-old Arabian-quarter horse.

Owned by Pineland Farms and funded by the Libra Foundation, the 100-acre Pineland Farms Equestrian Center in New Gloucester was established in 2002 to breed, raise and train Dutch warmblood horses for dressage.

It has 35 horses ranging from 3-month-old colts to a 15-year-old mare.

A few years ago the center added the Pineland Farms Riding Academy at Broad Park, a 20-acre campus a few miles down the road in Gray.

Dedicated to riding lessons and a summer camp, it has 14 horses, including Arabians and quarter horses.

Last week, 10 children ages 7 to 10 years old spent days learning how to handle, care for and appreciate the animals.

“I’m not scared. I know they’re just like big teddy bears, nice and kind,” said 11-year-old Jack Gushee of New Gloucester as he waited to lead Matty – the horse outweighed him by at least 900 pounds – around the indoor ring.

Some of the campers had years of riding experience. Others just started. Most wanted to go to camp because they were fascinated by horses.

“I like riding horses because they’re just amazing,” said 9-year-old Emma Downey of Cumberland Center. “The best part is being with the horses, riding them, cantering, everything.”

Dedicated to education, agriculture and public service, Pineland Farms keeps the riding academy and equestrian center open to the public.

For $35 a half hour, children and adults can take one-on-one lessons.

For a few dollars at the Pineland Farms welcome center, visitors can take a self-guided tour of the farms, including the equestrian center.

Last week, as campers fed baby carrots to their horses at the riding academy, visitors wandered around the equestrian center, “oohing” at the stately 7-year-old Twilight Zone and giggling as Alana, a 2-year-old filly, noisily chewed her food.

“Wow,” said one woman, pausing in the middle of the barn to gaze at the horses in their stalls. “Wow.”