In The Saddle
Megan Conlon attends Chipping Pony Club’s 2021 Senior Camp, which had something for everyone and was a great success! Photography: Diane Marsden
At 18 years old, I have been to many a camp with Chipping, with my first being way back in 2015 when I was just 12. Ponies have come and gone and the club has evolved over the years. I’ve watched those I was most inspired by grow up and move on and have suddenly found myself at the same age they used to be and in the same position of chatting to the younger members about their ponies. Senior Camp has always been a constant throughout all this – an annual event which is sure to be looked back on as one of the best weeks of the year. This one, with an age range from nine to 25, did not disappoint.
Each day consisted of two rides, varying between flatwork, show jumping, grid work, cross country and even some polocrosse for the younger members! Stable management and earning lots of achievement badges occupied the space between rides, as well as a tasty lunch! Evenings piqued interest with a variety of activities such as an educational talk from Bailey’s Horse Feeds about feeding our horses and even a performance of dressage to music from one of our very own instructors, Gilly, which brought tears to several eyes. Every day was topped off with a scrumptious evening meal and plenty of dancing and singing!
Of course, the heat called for intense water fights and playing in the paddling pool along with table tennis matches and space hopper races!
Once I’d recovered from the tiredness, I looked back on the week with pure happiness, genuinely feeling that it was the best camp I have ever been to. Wherever life takes me and whatever happens in the coming years, I know I’ll always have that week in my back pocket to keep me smiling.
Following on from that excitement, Junior Camp was just around the corner! Two days of learning, improving and having fun for our members aged five to 10! For myself and the other older members this meant trying to get our breath back after running beside the smallest ponies and cheering on the riders while they soared round jumps and had their first taste of mounted games!
It amazes me that after all these years, I can still vividly recall myself at Junior Camp for the first time, having that older member running beside me and I can’t fathom how far I have come since then. These camps really are moments to remember and this year was no different! With a standard that continues to rise year on year, I look forward to future camps with excitement and anticipation. This year I have certainly made memories that will last a lifetime.
If you’d like to know more about Pony Club, and in particular Chipping Branch, please contact the District Commissioner Joanne Conlon 01200 445143 or email: chipping@pcuk.org
