HOWDY CAMPERS!!!!!!

So – finally what you’ve all been waiting for – NEWS ON SENIOR CAMP!!

WHEN – Sunday 4pm 6th August – Thursday evening 10th August 2023

WHERE – the amazing Hickstead showground

WHO – Year 7 and above….

WHAT –  Fun, friendship, freedom from parents and fabulous food! Learning, laughter, use of amazing facilities for progressing, riding, jumping, bonding and caring for your trusty pony/horse and lifelong shared experience with your fellow campers.

Full price for Residential Camp £350.50, payable in instalments £100.50 deposit by end of April (non refundable), £150.50 payable by 31st May  and final payment by 30th June. Alternatively  you can secure your place by paying in full.  Membership must be current in order to book your place on Residential Camp.

To book tickets see rally calendar or click link here:

PLEASE DO BOOK ON QUICKLY AS PLACES ARE LIMITED AND WHILST WE WILL PRIORITISE OUR MEMBERS, DUE TO THE CLOSURE OF SEVERAL LOCAL PONY CLUBS WE WILL OFFER PLACES TO OTHER PONY CLUBS FROM MAY 1st IF NEEDED.

What can they expect?

From day one they should expect to have FUN!  On average there will be 40 members at camp.  The week consists of flat work ,jumping, stable management and using some of the amazing facilities at Hickstead including the water complex in ring 4, but most of all,  having  a great time with all your friends.

This year- as many of you know – its a new team organising camp (familiar faces though!). Due to building work at Hickstead we will this year be

………….CAMPING…..!!!!!

Camping will be in any of

1. Your lorry/trailer (hook up will be available with a contribution to cost if needed)
2. Your own or borrowed tent
3. Provided by us

We have limited ability to supply camping accommodation but can do if necessary as we don’t want anyone to not be able to come for this reason.

PLEASE LET US KNOW WHEN BOOKING YOUR PLACE WHETHER YOUR CHILD WILL BE IN 1, 2 Or 3 AS ABOVE

As a result the focus this year is on making memories and being independent whilst of course having a fantastic time and being safe and cared for.

• Ponies/horses will be kept in professionally supervised yard. However part of camp is members fully caring for their own precious steeds! A list of equipment needed for your pony is in the forms to follow.
• We have a buddy/yard system whereby younger members are supported by older campers in a team and we have pastoral adult support throughout
• Meals are provided for the whole of camp and this year we are lucky to have the chef from Hickstead filling hungry bellies! (Hope he lives up to Carol..!!)
• We have a set of experienced instructors whom we use all year and following their feedback campers are designated “Rides” of between 5 and 7 riders for the week. The Rides are decided by many factors including current pony club test riding level, age of rider, size of pony/horse, and friendship groups. Most importantly we will be prioritising rides to build confidence, encourage team working, and create networks of support and ambition within our pony club for the competing year.
• The forms will provide further information.

ADULT HELPERS:

We will need a minimal amount of parental support but do of course need extra hands for set up, poo picking in arenas, stand by for rides, any emergency situations. Please tick the box on the forms if you are happy to go on our volunteer list.

We will ask parents to join together to create a CELEBRATION PICNIC /BBQ on the final Thursday evening after our presentation before packing up and taking exhausted ponies and children home to sleep……

Requirements to attend Residential camp

You must have attended at least 3 rallies on the pony you are taking to camp in the previous 12 months to be eligible to attend. Camp counts as one rally if you are riding the same pony. If a rider has not attended three rallies on a new pony they will be asked to do so before confirming their place so they can be seen riding and grouped accordingly.

THIS IS A PONY CLUB NATIONAL REQUIREMENT BUT EXCEPTIONS WILL OF COURSE BE CONSIDERED WITH DISCRETION AND DISCUSSION WITHIN COMMITEE IN THE FOLLOWING CIRCUMSTANCES :

1. PC Members from another pony club  – just get in touch and we will contact DC or mutual instructors to confirm suitability and attendance at their rallies. Ideally would like to see the combination in action in some way!
2. Sudden lameness and being lent another pony/horse  – if combination are known or assessed.
3. Young/Green horses who may need rest/swop as agreed with instructors . GROUPS will not be changed though from initial pairing,

For any queries please email pennyharlington@aol.com