Rachels Story

In August 2007 I went to Bramham Moor pony club senior camp for 6 nights. I was taking my pony Bella and my friend Holly took her pony Mac. We were both really looking forward to it we had travelled together to get to camp which was at a racecourse in the area.

When we arrived we had to find our bedroom (which were stables), feed room, tack room and the stable our horses were staying in. They were all labelled with our names on, and then we had to unload all our gear into the places it had to be stored for the time we were there. It was quite hard work because a lot of the things were quite heavy like the sacks of feed and all our suitcases but our parents gave us a helping hand! Before the horses were unloaded we had to make the horses beds and make sure they had water and hay. Finally it was time to unload the horses, they were all really excited been in a new place, they got put in there stables and we all had to go round to the entrance to have a meeting all about the week. Afterwards we said goodbye to our parents and went to our bedrooms, I met the girls next door to Holly and I and we made great friends, we were all in the same ride!

No one got any sleep on the first night everyone was too excited for the next day.

But before we knew it the time was 7.30am and time to go muck out. Most people went to muck out in there PJ’s but some like myself wore our jodphurs and shirt and tie underneath a jumper and tracksuit bottoms. When we finished mucking out we went to breakfast witch I really loved. Then it was time to groom and get tacked up ready for our inspection of tack and turnout. At the end of the week the results were added up. Then it was time for our morning lessons which was a mixture of everything. Lunch. Then back on again for more riding then usually a session of stable management. At the end of each day your stable would also get inspected and marked.

Every evening there was an evening activity which I really enjoyed these included: rounders, local cinema, swimming, mounted games try out, it’s a knockout (made by the lady at camp which was the best evening I had!) and a BBQ on the last night where parents were invited.

On the first few days of camp I was wide awake all the time put after that I was always desperate to get into my sleeping bag and go to sleep. Even though it is a tiring week it’s great fun! I would recommend pony club camp to anyone who loves horses. I had a GREAT time and it was the best part of my summer hols!

It’s not just yourself who enjoys it too it’s your pony!

In 2006, I went to Pony Club Camp. It was at Bryanston School, in Blandford. It was from 23rd to the 28th of July. I took Shah, Rachael took Joe Brown and Sophie took Blackjack to Junior Camp.

We arrived on Sunday, and we have to settle the horses in, put them in their tying up spot, and put all our equipment to do with the horses in our assigned trailers. The trailers are always packed! There is normally about 6-8 people in each group, and we have our own instructor for the week. I had Naomi, and I was in a group with Saffron, Daisy, Alice, Sabrina, Another Alice, and a couple more. We all knew each other, and got on well.

We were set in bedrooms. The house was big and confusing, but once you knew where your rooms (and your friend’s rooms!) were, it wasn’t quite so confusing! When we weren’t riding, the Pony Club offered lots of other activities. You could do Canoeing/Tennis/Swimming/Squash or just watch TV and hang with your friends.
I did Canoeing and had lots of fun, we played games, and I really enjoyed it, and we had our fun run back to the house.

Shah was a really good boy all week. We had to wake up at 7am to go collect our horses and feed them. Mornings were so hard, everybody was half asleep, and some cheeky ponies woke them up! It was half 7 and we were filling up hay nets and carrying water buckets to our horses that were happily stuffing their faces! Then it was rush back to the house, to wash hands and change shoes before getting to the Breakfast Hall. At camp, it’s made very clear that horses are far, far more important than us! Then we’d have breakfast, which was usually fried breakfast or cereal, fruit was on offer too (for all the healthy people!!!) and hot chocolate/tea/coffee/milk was on offer as well as fresh juice.
As soon as breakfast was finished, it was straight up to the house again to change for riding. When everyone was there, everybody would walk up to the horses, and groom, and tack up in record time!

We did a lot of activities. Dressage, Cross Country, Show Jumping, Mounted Games, hacks and more. My personal favorite was Cross Country. I think Shah liked it too, the chance to gallop, free with the wind… until he got to the hill! My worst activity was Dressage; I just couldn’t get the correct leg!

We’d finish off at the end of the day, with a thrilling tack cleaning session whilst we did practice for tests and achievement badges. The whole group sat around the trailer and cleaned whilst the instructor asked questions. After that, it would be a manic session to feed all horses and get them turned out in their fields, or put away in their stables.

Once you got back to the house, it was a quick wash and change before going to the Hall for tea. We’d have our food and drinks and go back to the house. We’d either go swimming, play squash or sit or stuff ourselves with sweets! Then we’d have supper and soon get to bed, or so the helpers thought! Most would chat for ages, or run round playing murder in the dark, or visit all your friends’ rooms!

Soon the week was finished, and we did a Combined Training Session. I unfortunately knocked one jump down in Showjumping, but I was quite happy with my dressage test, considering I had been stressing over it all week!

My plan next year for camp is to improve enormously this year and I can’t wait for camp 2007. BRING IT ON!

We are the Hambledon Hunt North Branch and this year we had a record number of 60 PC members who came to Junior Camp.

This year also saw a new venue used which was actaully the Hambledon Hunt North DC’s premises.

We had the use of the DC’s lovely barn for the instructors lunches and scoring.

The DC has built a fantastic new cross country course. Each of the 10 instructors had their own dressage arena and there were 3 show jumping arenas, a grid as well as two cross country courses covering from 1’ up to well over 3’.

On the last day we held a one day event and everyone had a great time!!!

Junior camp took place 3rd-6th August at Henford Ashwater. What a wonderful camp it was.

Being my daughters first camp, and myself NOT a horsey mum I decided to stay all the days and nights. The kids were just brilliant.

Friday evening. Arrived after 5pm to settle ponys into stables and to get everyones beds set up. Boys in the caravan and girls in the studio.Rosie James cooked a wonderful Barb`ecue with fun and games in the pony paddock with Mary for all the children to get to know each other.Then bed, it took a long time for first time campers to get to sleep,my daughter still awake at 1am.

Saturday morning arrived far to quickly with the cock doodling by 5am.There were alot of bleary eyed children on the yard and mucking out and feeding by 7-45am.While Rosie and I sorted out the breakfast and toast run.The toast seem to vanish from the plate quicker than it popped out of the toaster!!!!!

Kids then back on yard and Mary over saw brushing, tacking up and getting ready for general inspection at 9-45. Ready for the two rides to go out at 10am.By this time with not much sleep myself I thought I could maybe get a quiet snooze, but oh no the breakfast dishes still awaited and general yard chores, drinks and refreshments for mid-morning break to sort out.It was a good job Rosie bought enough food to feed an army.

The ponies in the small ride with Katie, seemed to be doing the “River Dance” all morning, there hooves just would`nt walk, they just danced around the paddock all 7 of them in a ring.

We all took a break for lunch with pasties and yummy chocolate cake for the instuctors and Mary.

Ready to ride again by 2pm,but needed rain gear, as thundry showers threatened the afternoons fun.But this did`nt dampen the sprits of the kids they were always on a high.

The ponies in the small ride were still enthusiastic after lunch and I think every child ended up on the ground at least once!!!!!!!! so it was decided to have a water fight on the sunday , and for every time you fell off that was how many large buckert of water you had tipped over you. After tea of cottage pie and strawberry pavlova we had a disco ,even the big kids like Mary and myself enjoyed the trendy music!!!!! Mary doing the actions of Y.M.C.A.

By this time the little children were very tired so into bed and they were asleep by 9-15pm.

Myself very tired as well as none of us mums slept much the first night.But for some reason not alot of sleep was had the second night.We were waiting for the tooth fairy to come to Louella.

Sunday morning came and I was up at 6am to put my head under the cold tap to wake myself up.The kettle was boiling by 6-30 and Mary was on the yard checking ponies.

Kids all woke bright and breezy to start thier chores.I walked around the yard and was impressed to see how the youngest of children at 6 had listened to Mary and were getting on with thier work.The older kids who could do there work quicker did`nt seem to mind helping the little one out.The children practiced show jumping, dressage and cross country today.

My heart was in my mouth when I saw how Catherine was jumping out in the big field,although her pony wasn’t being very helpful she seemed to be glued to the saddle!!Before camp she could`nt use a whip, now she cant put it down.
The afternoon was fun with apple bobbing for the little ones and cross country games.The older ride was in the big field doing jumping.

Then all back on the yard for the” Megga Water Fight “. I had to do a quick change as the least you had on the better.The water was every where,Mary, Lorna and I seemed to be soaked from head to toe.I managed to tip a 3 gallon container of water over Mary`s head which the children thought was Brill!!!!!!!!!!

Rosie did us a supper tea of roast chicken and chocolate gateau. Then we finished off the eveving with skittles.

Monday morning and competitions day.William was first on the yard plaiting Billy by 6-15am The other kids soon followed.The ponies soon looked smart with all plaits of different shapes and sizes, The little kids managed to do some as well, all on there own and you could see how proud they were with there work.

10am and it was the start of tack and turn out, the children were all very smart .The rest of the competitions followed on.We had another Barbecue for lunch then it was all hands on deck to clean,tidy and pack away,before Prize Giving.

All the children won prizes for something which Julie presented.William scored 9 in dressage which I gather is Brill.!!!!!!!!! My first camp is over and being a non horsey mum myself, I can honestly say it wont be my last.