For all the parents .
I really loved listening to this episode with Colt Starter/Father of 3 on how we gets his children started on horses.
It’s an awesome perspective from a Cowboy’s POV, and it really fitted in with mine too.
Hope you enjoy it, and have a laugh too! From Helen
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/working-cows/id1307361758?i=1000651075469
This weekend coming (9, 10 & 11 March) celebrates the day Canberra was officially named in 1903.
It was originally named Canberry (which means Meeting Place) by a local Ngunnawal clan.
And you can celebrate by meeting your old friends or meeting new friends,
riding horses at Saddle Camp!
There’s just a few places left for our:
Show Day
Gymkhana
River Ride
See all the Details Here
You could even stay for a Sunday Night Camp that would include our Show Day, Gymkhana and (optionally) our River Ride.
It’s not on the booking system as it’s a little “customisable”, but you can hit reply to this email to ask questions and/or book in.
The Cafe is open for your parents to chill at, or to take a picnic out and relax in a hammock.
Tell your brother to bring his bike or skateboard for the new Skateboard Park in town :)
The swimming holes nearby are divine to cool off, and the weather is perfect for being outdoors.
Check out www.saddlecamp.com.au and www.braidwoodfarmstay.com.au to plan your awesome long weekend!
And call Helen on 0417 456 093 if you have any questions!
Wishing you a Very Happy “Meeting Place” Weekend,
from Helen, Rob, Blake, Dexter & Carson xoxox
Save this link for your parents and brothers - for your next visit for horse riding…
Holy smokes! Apart from Horse Riding at Saddle Camp, I had no idea there was so much fun events happening in the rest of Braidwood!
Our local Chamber of Commerce has put up an online Events Calendar for all of us local businesses to let everyone know what’s going on. So we can join in too :)
I couldn’t believe that this weekend has skateboarding lessons on Sunday AND there’s a Car Show joining in with our Braidwood Show on Saturday.
Save this link for when you’re next visiting for horse riding.
Your parents and brothers will have a brilliant time too, doing something they love.
I’ll save this link on our Braidwood Farm Stay “Play” page too.
Looking forward to seeing you for loads of fun soon!
From Helen, Rob, Blake, Dexter and Carson xoxox
P.S. Just click the tab for “What’s On in Braidwood and Villages” and it will take you straight down the page to it.
When you click on any event you like, it comes up with ALL the details.
So excited to let you know I’ve started coaching with Stacy Westfall, my Idol.
Bridle-less and Bareback Free-Style Champion. The best example of having a great working relationship with a horse that I’ve ever seen.
Which is exactly what I want with our Saddle Camp horses, so I can more easily make your riding dreams come true too.
We’ll be working on my riding communication, and how I can more easily pass that information on to you while you’re riding.
And what I especially love about working with Stacy, is filming our lessons, and then evaluating after.
I’ve now got the perfect tripod for my phone in the arena - the arena rail, against the light post :)
So when you’re next here for your riding lesson, we’ll film it, and I’ll send you home with an evaluation form.
It’s going to make the “feedback” loop quicker, so you can more quickly and easily master your balance, and communication with the horse you’re riding.
Looking forward to seeing all of us progress with our Riding Dreams!
From Helen, Destiny, Axl, Cadie and Champ xoxox
P.S. Here’s our Booking Link for formal private lessons - https://www.bookitlive.net/privatebooking/saddlecamp/S10bdfb1d22
P.P.S. We’ll be able to film you riding in ALL of our riding camps in the arena. See our Riding Adventures and Overnight Camps pages for all the options.
See all the details on www.saddlecamp.com.au/riding-lessons. Hope to see you there! Helen
Every year from 2007 to 2018, we’d invite our Trophy Winners from that year’s Riding Camps to come back to compete in a Riding Challenge for:
HUGE trophies (up to 3rd place),
a Saddle Camp Champion Rider shirt,
and an awesome weekend of Sleeping under the Stars
at our Saddle Camp Sleep Out.
In 2019, the drought brought our Tradition to a screeching halt.
But we’re FINALLY ready to celebrate again!
If you win a trophy at Saddle Camp this year, you’ll be invited to compete in our Champions Challenge on Saturday 21 December.
It’s a timed Obstacle Course bending through poles, moving Santa’s Sack, riding a Keyhole and jumping a Spread.
There’ll be HUGE Trophies awarded up to 3rd place, and the Winner will be gifted a Saddle Camp Champion Rider ‘24 polo shirt.
And EVERYONE will have the opportunity to book in for our Saddle Camp Sleep Out that night, with loads of action on the Saturday and Sunday - 21 & 22 December.
Our 2024 goal is to have a roof over the arena ready for our Sleep Out.
And over the weekend of 21 & 22 December, we’ll have many other riding and non-riding challenges, games and excitement.
Wishing you an ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC year ahead, and we really can’t wait to see you at the 2024 Champion’s Challenge!
From Helen, Rob, Blake, Dexter, Carson and all our Team xoxox
Braidwood Times Article on our 2016 Champion’s Challenge and Saddle Camp Sleep Out.
And just in case you’re worried extreme weather might interrupt your camp, I wanted to share our plan…
First off, if you’re very worried re the forecast leading up to your camp, I can easily refund your payment or postpone to another date.
I’ve kept our camps to small numbers of riders so we can be more flexible - with our daily plan and with postponing your camp.
If it’s hot, the spa is under cover right next to the arena, so we can jump in to cool off anytime.
If there’s a bush-fire, children are our priority, and I’ll take everyone into the Evacuation Point in Braidwood.
If there’s a power blackout, the power boards have been set up so we can plug the generators straight in.
So our air-conditioning, wifi, water pumps and fridges will keep working :)
If there’s days of heavy rain, and the Bombay bridge gets to 10 cms over and is still rising, and there are children that need to get home (and parents that have driven a long way to collect them), I’ll bring the girls to my Mother-in-law’s house on the Braidwood side of Bombay Bridge.
If a thunderstorm comes over, we can quickly get the horses under cover at their tie-up area.
To be more specific, we need to stop riding at 37 degrees C, and in 30 km plus winds.
Heavy rain doesn’t stop our trail rides, we just put rain coats on :)
And this year, we’ll be getting a roof over the arena!
Taking a lot of the unpredictability away.
If anyone has covid, we’ll follow the NSW Health Service Guidelines and contact everyone involved to let them know.
And if you come down with covid before the start of the camp, I’ll refund or postpone your camp.
No matter what excitement the weather brings us these school holidays, I know we’re going to have an absolutely, fantastic time Riding Horses.
I can’t wait to see you then, from Helen, Cadie, Destiny, Champ and Axl xoxox
If your daughter’s wishing for a Horse for Christmas,
then a Gift Certificate for her Horse Riding Camp under the tree is a neat way of making it happen.
This is the last week to get her Gift Certificate in the mail to you though!
You can choose from Huge 4 day/3 night Camps to
little Mini Adventure Rides.
Simply follow the links to book, and in the Notes section write your daughter’s name and how you’d like it signed off. Eg Mum & Dad.
’ll print it on quality Pink Paper, and package it up with our Riders Log Book and lots of Sparkles.
And pop it in the mail.
But Sunday 7 pm is our deadline for making the Australia Post deadline!
If you have any questions at all, text or call Helen on 0417 456 093,.
We’ve set it up under the verandah of the Clubhouse, next to the arena, with a pool safety fence around it.
You’re going to love it on those hot days!
When you get too hot riding in the arena, you’ll be able to quickly jump in the spa to cool down.
Then at the end of our big day of riding, we’ll put the bubbles, lights and music on to relax those muscles - and have fun!
Your parents will be able to watch you riding in the arena, while they relax in the bubbles with a long cool drink… Your brothers will love it too!
If you ride your bike or horse out for a treat at the cafe, you can cool off quickly in the spa.
And if you’re staying overnight in a Tiny House, you’ll be able to relax in the warm bubbles and enjoy watching the stars and the visiting possums.
But Saddle Camp Riders get first priority!
Can’t wait to see you in there soon,
from Helen, Rob, Blake, Dexter and Carson xoxox
Farm Fresh Eggs and Baked Brownies are available for sale in our on-site Farm Shop.
