IN THE SADDLE
This month Chipping Pony Club have been having fun at camp, writes Megan Conlon. Photography: Diane Marsden
Three words – Pony Club camp. It’s the highlight of Chipping Pony Club’s calendar and everyone looks forward to it. This year Chipping held two camps, one was for the more experienced members (a week of camping and making use of the excellent facilities at Somerford Park) and the other was a mini-camp for the younger members, which consisted of two days in the sunshine at Chipping Show Field.
Senior Camp came first and everyone arrived and got settled with some good old-fashioned jacket potatoes. The horses had fantastic accommodation in the stable block – humans slightly less with members sleeping in horse trailers, tents and caravans – they even had a teepee!
Their days were filled with riding be it dressage, show jumping, cross country, hacking, jumping without hands or riding holding cups of water to see how level riders were. They groomed their ponies, cleaned and polished tack, had stable management lessons and swept the yard, a lot! This is all done under the remarkable guidance of the very dedicated instructors who made sure every activity was fun.
In the evenings members played games from table top cups to wheelbarrow races to three legged races to sack racing with four people in one sack! They also had two great talks from Heather Roberts, who is a qualified saddle fitter and Jess Turner, an equine dental technician. So, what is the best part about camp? It’s difficult to pinpoint but it’s a combination of spending a week with friends, bonding with your horse, learning so much in the space of just a week and camping! It was amazing to have so many new members there as well as some members from other branches – everyone got along really well!
No sooner had they recovered from the tiring week and it was mini-camp! There was an amazing range of ages with riders from three to eight and helpers from 11 to 16! Each younger member had a helper to guide them through the day and let’s just say a lot of friends were made!
Under capable instruction, they had every pony jumping, playing mounted games and even some cantering! Between all that and the stable management and races on foot, every single person had a blast!
Looking forward Chipping Pony Club have an event for all – the fundraising pub quiz at Longridge Golf Club on Friday 20th September at 7.30pm.
Everyone is welcome, tickets are £10 and include a hot supper and members promise there won’t be any questions about horses!
Please contact Joanne Conlon for details and tickets
If you are interested in joining the Pony Club, please contact Chipping’s District Commissioner Joanne Conlon 07739 687972 or email: chipping@pcuk.org
