The 4 Day/3 Night Saddle Camp Program
What to Pack:
2 pairs of old jeans, jodhpurs or tracksuit pants, 4 polo-shirts (to protect your neck and shoulders from the sun), 2 warm jumpers and a very warm wind-proof jacket;
Riding boots (or school shoes – anything with a smooth sole and a slight heel);
4 pairs of socks and underwear;
Tooth-brush and tooth-paste;
Phone or Ipad (optional);
Drink Bottle;
Sun hat & sun-glasses (optional); and
Pyjamas (beanie, mittens and slippers in winter!);
Swimmers and swimming clothes (in warmer weather).
(All bed linen, bath towels & personal soaps are already here ready for you).
Saddle Camp Program
Tuesday
9.00 - Arrive and settle in. Choose your horse. Learn how to catch, tie up and feed.
9.30 - Learn how to groom a horse.
10.00 - Learn how to saddle up.
10.30 - Morning tea.
11.15 - Group Riding Lessons – Line of Balance, how to hold the reins, walk, trot, stop and steer. Or progress your skills if you have already learnt the basics.
12.30 - Learn the points of a horse.
1.00 - Lunch.
1.30 - Mounted games – a chance to put all your new skills into action - Ball & Racket Race, Diamond Flag Race and Bounce Pony.
2.30 - Harness up Champ and learn how to drive a pony & gig.
3.30 - Natural Horsemanship & Riding Bareback
4.00 - Unsaddle Horses and let them go for the night.
4.30 - If it’s hot we’ll head down to the Bombay Swimming Holes for a dip, or into town to use the pool. Otherwise, showers & afternoon tea.
6.00 - Dinner & Dessert
7.30 - Put Goats & Chickens away for the night. Spotlighting for Wild Animals on the way back.
8.30 - Hot Chocolates & popcorn with a movie.
Wednesday
7.00 - Breakfast and getting ready.
7.30 - Catch horses, feed and saddle up.
8.30 - Private Half Hour Riding Lessons. While you’re waiting for your turn learn how to lunge a horse, and colours & markings of horses.
10.00 - Picnic Trail Ride around property.
12.00 - Lunch.
1.00 - Ride down to Shoalhaven River swimming holes for a dip and afternoon tea. Practice Road Rules & your Signs & Commands as we go.
4.00 - Put horses away.
4.30 - Showers and afternoon tea
6.00 - Dinner & Dessert
7.30 - Put Goats & Chickens away for the night.
8.30 - Games on Foot in the Arena, then supper with Hot Chocolates and Popcorn
Thursday
7.00 - Breakfast and getting ready.
7.30 - Catch horses, feed and saddle up.
8.30 - Private Half Hour Riding Lessons. While you’re waiting, learn how to check your gear fits your horse and how to open & shut gates while mounted.
10.00 - Gymkhana Games – Ball & Racket Race, Diamond Flag Race and Barrel Race.
12.00 - Lunch.
12.45 - More Gymkhana Games – Bending Race, Bend Bar Aft, Bounce Pony & Candy Steady.
2.00 - Western Riding Class - Have a go riding Axl jogging (a slow trot) and loping (a slow canter), and trying a Sliding Stop. Get some great photos of you loping while swinging a lasso.
2.45 - First Aid for Horse Riders Class - There’ll be lots of role playing and drama on the trampoline as we practice dealing with snake bites, cuts, sprains, broken bones, bandages, slings, recovery position and DRABC.
3.15 pm - Cleaning Tack, polishing boots and raking the arena, in preparation for tomorrow’s Show Day.
4.00 - Put horses away
4.30 - afternoon tea and showers.
6.00 - Dinner.
7.30 - Movie Night – Popcorn & Hot Chocolate. Optional Spotlighting Tour of property.
Friday
7.00 - Breakfast and getting ready.
7.30 - Catch horses, feed and saddle up.
8.30 - Private Half Hour Riding Lessons. While waiting for your turn learn how to Fall Off (for fun, and just so you’re prepared in case you’re ever in a bad situation!)
10 - Learn how to plait up your horse for a show. Braid the tail, plait the mane, apply quarter markings, paint hooves, highlight white markings and put baby oil through the tail and on your horse’s face.
11 - Morning Tea
11.45 - Learn how to float a horse and have a go being floated around the paddock.
12.30 - Lunch and choose your Show Jacket.
1.15 - Compete in a Presentation Class, Leading Class and Riding Class.
2.00 - Practice and Ride a Dressage Test.
2.45 - Show-Jumping – Lesson & Competition.
3.15 - Party Games on Horseback - Walk & Trot Race, Egg & Spoon Race, Musical Chairs, Grooming Kit Race, Nut & Bolt Race, Golf Ball Race, Ribbon Race and Apple Bobbing.
4.00 - Ribbons, Certificates and Trophy will be presented. The trophy will be awarded to the Best Horse Person over the 4 Days - displaying consideration for their horse, kindness towards other riders and enthusiasm for learning more about horses.
N.B. The Saddle Camp Girls Only Riding Adventures have been designed for beginners. There is absolutely no prior experience necessary. But as you get more experienced and confident, we can make it as challenging as you’d like.
There is an absolute maximum of 4 girls staying at the Camp, the horses are experienced and enjoy their work, and the Instructor is an accredited Riding Instructor – Cert. IV Sports Coach Equestrian, with 26 years teaching experience in her own riding school (and 2 years in others). She’s also our cook (Cert. III Commercial Cookery), and there is always food at hand for whenever you’re hungry!