As the summer hols hit, there are few things that our younger equestrians are looking forward to more than their Pony Club camp. In fact, for many, it’s the highlight of their break from the drudgery of school . . . But for parents, particularly those who didn’t get to enjoy three days of intense pony-ing as a child, it can be uber stressful trying to work out what they might need so here’s a handy list of tips and hints to make these valuable and exciting days a true success:
Remember to pack for all weathers, your child could be as grateful for shorts and short-sleeved shirts, as they could be for welly-boots and waterproofs.
Pack a clock/watch, this may not be on offer in the accommodation provided and will ensure your child is on schedule and isn’t constantly asking stable mothers what the time is . . .
Leave plenty of time to prepare your horse’s stable and make sure you take the wherewithal to produce a comfortable home from home.
It’s helpful to bring multiple haynets so the morning drill can be achieved smoothly.
Don’t forget a water bucket! Stables rarely have troughs or drinkers so this is a must . . . large flexible tubs are perfect as you can use them for carrying equipment to and fro.
If you have the time then planning a fun fancy dress will go down a storm - you’ll find that some parents go ALL out for this. A common theme this year seems to be the Olympics (unsurprisingly), so get medalled up!
There’s often a prize for the best decorated room so bring some bunting and a few themed items (which can then be used for fancy dress to save money) to brighten things up.
Nobody wants to be the camper who’s constantly having to borrow grooming kit so make sure you take the full caboodle. This might mean you end up with a spa day’s worth of bottles and sprays but it’ll be worth it when the best turned out prizes are dished out.
Fly spray. Your four-legged chums will thank you for it.
Plaiting bands - you will be marked for turnout and plaiting will be a big part of this.
Don’t forget to read about the extras . . . camp organisers will often request a cake to keep the troops marching so do remember to bring some tasty treats. This goes for your ponies too . . . they will be working hard so a delicious bag of pony-treats will be the perfect reward for their efforts and devotion.
Use large sandwich bags for your pony’s meals; this saves the space/expense of multiple tupperware and they’re easy to transport. But do remember the bucket to serve it in.
Bedding . . . this time not for pony, but for camper. And a towel.
In case of a rainy evening, it’s a nice idea to pack a card game - UNO, Dobble or a traditional pack of cards.
FINALLY, so much effort goes into organising your children’s camp - and it’s all done on a volunteer basis. If you have the funds, a bottle of wine or bunch of flowers for your organisers is a truly appreciated gesture of thanks.
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