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You are in: Branches / Holcombe Hunt / Holcombe Hunt Activities / Miscellaneous - Reports / Miscellaneous Activities 2008
Mini Camp 2008
By kind permission of Mr & Mrs D Grundy
Six children arrived at Stoney Knoll Farm on Monday 26th May to start their two days at Mini Camp. The members arrived at 10am each day and parents eagerly left them so as they could spend a day at home in peace and quiet.
There was no peace and quiet for the instructors and helpers at camp though, as the members laughed and giggled continuously for two whole days!
The weather was quite good, it was fine but a little windy on the first day, with showers early on Tuesday but it soon fined up and certainly didn't stop our members from doing any of the activities planned.
As the members arrived they were allocated a 'buddy,' this was an older member of pony club who had already spent a week previously at 'big camp.' Our buddies for the week were: Megan Lathom, Jenna Haslam, Tom Grundy, Catherine and Joanne Bowker. The buddies were there to help and assist the younger members during their time at mini camp.
Members soon settled and the first task of the day was to groom the ponies. After grooming, all the members tacked up their ponies and had a lesson. Our instructors were Becky Jenkinson and Daisy Shufflebottom.
The ponies were then put away for a rest while the members had a lesson, on foot, about the dressage arena and how to ride a dressage test.
Then it was time for a well earned lunch.
Victoria and her mum had baked chocolate crispies for everyone too, yumee!
After lunch the members learnt all about the grooming kit and how to use everything in it to groom.
Then it was time to ride again. Dawn Grundy and Daisy arranged for the members to do Prince Phillip Cup Mounted Games. This was very exciting and certainly woke the members up, everyone was laughing and there was lots of cheering and shouts of "MOVE OUT THE WAY, I'M COMING!"
After riding the members had a short break for a drink and a snack before going on a long walk around the paddocks and through the woods identifying and learning about poisonous plants, some even tried to have a sneaky paddle in the brook!
Time passed all too quickly for the members and eventually the parents arrived to take the cheerful, pleasant and extremely lively and energetic members home.
Day two started with all the members quartering the ponies and then all had a ridden lesson.
The ponies were taken on a hack to cool off.
The members then cleaned their tack.
And members proved to be very resourceful when it came to putting their girths back on their saddles!
Time for lunch again, and today Victoria and her mum had baked fancy cakes for everyone!
While the younger members finished their lunch, the older buddies perpared the ponies ready for the show later that day.
Even Tom tried his hand at plaiting so as not to let his buddy down!
The afternoon activities started with the 'pairs dressage.'
This was followed with some spectacular show jumping
And then more games too!
The parents then enjoyed a musical ride display, performed by the members.
Finally it was time for the presentation, where the members recieved rosettes and treats for their performances during the afternoon, before leaving to put their ponies to bed for a well earned rest.
It certainly had been a fabulous two days for all involved, both children and ponies behaved impeccably and were certainly members to be proud of.
Many thanks must go to our instructors - Becky and Daisy, our buddies - Tom, Jenna, Megan, Catherine and Joanne, for the use of the venue - Mr & Mrs Grundy and last but not least to - Charlotte, Elesha, Daniel, Victoria, Isabelle, Chelsea and all their parents and ponies.
See you all next time
Kay xx