SENIOR CAMP 2023

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 experiences with your fellow campers.

Full price for Residential Camp £350 NO PRICE RISE! Payable in instalments £100 deposit by end of May (non refundable), £150 payable by 30th June  and final payment by 31st July. Alternatively  you can secure your place by paying in full.  Membership must be current in order to book your place on Residential Camp.

PLEASE DO BOOK ON QUICKLY AS PLACES ARE LIMITED AND WHILST WE WILL PRIORITISE OUR MEMBERS, PLACES WILL BE OFFERED TO OTHER LOCAL PONY CLUBS IF NOT BOOKED BY JUNE.

What can CAMPERS expect?

From day one they should expect to have FUN!  The week consists of flat work ,jumping, stable management and use of the amazing facilities at Hickstead including the water complex in ring 4. We have an amazing bunch of instructors who will ensure you have fun, challenge yourself and meet your camp goals.

Due to the success of our ‘Festival Vibes’ camp last year, we will once again be camping in the stable field in tents, horse boxes, caravans or camper vans.

We also have limited dorm accommodation for anyone who really needs it – please let us know if you have an accommodation issue.

• 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!
• 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 let us know if you would like to help at camp.

We will ask parents to join together to create a CELEBRATION PICNIC 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 AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CAMP COMMITTEE 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/swap as agreed with instructors . GROUPS will not be changed though from initial pairing,

For any queries please email pennyharlington@aol.com