I spent much of my childhood at Pony Club, and attended mini camp through to senior camp. At the VWH we were lucky that we had a full group of boys, so we had so much fun. I’m sure we were supposed to be cleaning tack but would always sneak off by the ponies, sitting on logs, plotting mayhem I’m sure. We had one night when we got to camp out for the night, all we did is sneak about trying to avoid the spotlight of the poor parent left in charge of us. I used to love doing jumping lanes with my ponies, and I remember having Jay Halim as a trainer, which was great. Camp was always about having fun, some learning, and making friends.

My take away from camp, was the fun and friends, it has to be about having fun.

Camp Essential: We didn’t really feed much back in those days, but as our horses are all on Optimum Balancer now, I would pack that so they could have a handful each day, plus a bag of Minty treats.

Being part of Wessex Gold Riding Club, I’ve been to a few of the camps at Stonar School. This is a great venue as used outside of school time, we get to use the dormitories, so a decent bed and a hot shower each night. Camp is always a great way to push yourself, being in a group gets your blood up, and I’ve ended up jumping higher than planned. One year I took Mylee, who was only six and newly broken to camp, with a lot of apprehension, as she was known for being a bit spicy at times. She was amazing and just got better every day. Out on cross country we were only doing the small fences but had the opportunity to jump the hedge into the next field and she flew it. I think I was grinning for days.

Camp Essential: My must have for that camp was a lot of Instant Magic, she was on Magic Powder anyway but I topped up every day and she was so good, keeping the spiciness under control.

I was lucky to be in the VWH Pony Club, which had a great team of boys, there was Tom McEwen and Charlie Longsdon in our ride, which shows how Pony Club can create great equestrians. Our group was always quite keen on the jumping so we had great fun doing jumping lanes and jumping around Cirencester Park. I remember one of the key things was to get finished and untacked quickly so you were first in line for the Honey Buns. I’ve only ever had them at camp, but they were amazing, so you didn’t want to miss out. Camp for me was always about seeing your mates and having fun, and we did learn along the way.

Camp Essential: I now teach at quite a few Pony Clubs, and my go to would always be Electro Salts and Ice Cool Gel. The ponies do so much more at camp than if they were at home so need a bit of support.

The best part of the PC camps had to be getting away from my parents for a few days, spending time with my friends and feeling so grown up in charge of my own pony, though the mucking out wasn’t so much fun!

Top Tip: My top tip for a brilliant camp would be to go with a holiday vibe, enjoy the experience with your horse and stay in touch with the friends you make so you can arrange to go again the next year!

Camp Essential: My first pony was a grey called Silver and I wish we’d had Muck Off stain remover as he loved to lay in dirt. It would be my camp essential now to help get full marks for grooming! My second pony, Mouse, was a dark bay which made life so much easier when it came to grooming. I’m sure he would say to take a bag of Minty treats to help break the ice with ponies (& people) who you've not met before.

I have lots of great memories from Pony Club camp days, all with the North Herefordshire Pony Club where my two older sisters and cousins were also regulars. I remember some very happy summer days where we were allowed use of a local trainer’s gallops before taking the ponies for a swim in the river to cool off afterwards! I was lucky enough to have a couple of fantastic ponies who shared my ambition to do everything at top speed – safe to say cross country was my favourite discipline by some distance. Stable management and tack cleaning were not areas of strength for me, my main aim usually to see what willing helpers I could persuade to help me! I think a 5/10 was probably my highest ever score at the daily tack inspection.

Top Tip: My top tip for Pony Club camp is make sure you go prepared for yourself and your pony – sunscreen, fly repellents, first aid kits for pony and rider, plus of course plenty of late night snacks to keep you well fuelled!

Camp Essential: Must have camp essential which is also a NAF recommendation would be electrolytes – replacing the salts lost when your horse or pony sweats is really important!

I never got the opportunity to do Pony Camp as a child, so it was always a bit bucket list item for me and when I brought my second horse Derek the TB in December the first thing I did was book us into our first camp in May this year!

It was the best experience a few days of just spending time with friends and the horses. I learned new tips and tricks, had amazing hacks in the woods and met some brilliant people and their ponies. My biggest takeaway was to just do these things and enjoy it – everyone is there to help and have a nice time so give it a go!

Camp Essential: I have a couple of camp essentials: Treats – he was always being given sweeties and his GastriVet and Electro Lytes – he worked really hard at camp so making sure he was supported with good feed and supplements was very important. I also use Farrier Solution on his feet every day!

Having never had a pony as a child I always felt I’d rather missed out on things like the fun of Pony Club camp. So when I got the chance, as an adult, to take my young Warmblood mare, Lucy, to Riding Club camp I jumped at it. Lucy was still pretty inexperienced, so it was a huge challenge for her, but also a great opportunity to learn. There were many new experiences for both of us, from stabling away overnight to even having a go at side-saddle! Other sessions covered flatwork, poles and gaining confidence working cross country on her own – something Lucy had struggled with. I think I was most pleased with simply completing a nice, small, course of show jumps, smoothly and confidently. Lucy did enjoy her jumping, and it was something she went on to do much more of in the future.

Top Tip: Make sure you write a list of everything you’ll need – check it and then add all the bits you forgot the first time! Plus, bring a decent airbed for your tent!

Camp Essential: Five Star Instant Magic – a ‘must have’ for helping a young, sharp, mare like Lucy to just think and be confident about everything. As it was, she acted like a complete ‘pro’, and took it in her stride. Also Muck Off – well she was a piebald, and you just knew the stable stains are going to find her white bits!

Attending ‘Eventers Camp’ with my young horse Major was an invaluable experience and a real milestone in his education. Camp offers the perfect environment for learning, bonding, and building confidence. For a horse starting out in their journey, being away from home, working in new surroundings, and taking on a variety of challenges is all part of growing up – and it was just as rewarding for me as a rider.
Over the course of camp, we tackled flatwork, polework, arena eventing and cross country, all designed to prepare us for our first affiliated event. Major even had his first experience going up the gallops – something completely new and exciting for him! Stabling away overnight, managing longer days and working at a higher intensity made it even more important to support him with the right care and supplements.

Camp Essentials: Metazone was an essential part of his routine throughout. After a long journey to camp and the increase in workload, Metazone helped keep him supported and performing at his best. To help him recover after each session and stay hydrated, I also gave him Electro Salts daily – ideal for replacing what he lost through sweat during hard work. And of course don't forget your NAF OFF Fly Spray, Silky, Lavender Wash and Farrier Solution to keep them looking their best too!
Camp was the perfect mix of fun, education, and hard work – and with the right products, Major truly thrived.

Camping, Chaos & Pony Club Legends
(aka: Why Clifton on Teme Pony Club Wasn't Your Average Pony Club)
Once upon a time (okay, around 2001), we were a plucky little bunch from the Clifton on Teme Pony Club starting our camp at Lincomb Equestrian – camping in a marquee, surviving on sweets and soggy socks, and proudly calling a rather huge marquee our home for the week. Unlike most Pony Clubs, we had more boys than girls, which meant us girls had to hold our ground – preferably with a hoof pick in one hand and a shampoo bottle in the other.

Top Tips:

1. Ditch the PJs – it’s all about the layers.
   If you’re camping outside, forget the matching nightwear. Think onion vibes – the more layers, the better. Thermals, hoodies, and most importantly: a beanie. You lose most of your heat through your head, so unless you fancy waking up as a human icicle, wear the hat. Always the hat.
2. Boxes are your best friend.
   Bags? A nightmare. You’ll spend more time rummaging than riding. The trick? Take one giant box for your stuff and one for your pony’s gear. Dump it all in. It’s organised chaos, and you’ll thank yourself when you’re not wrestling with 15 drawstring bags and a rogue boot.
3. Beverage strategy is key.
   If you’re heading to adult camp – stock up. Water, wine, hydration, celebration… you get the idea. If you’re off to Pony Club Camp, pack the same (with parental supervision, of course). The grown-ups might be “watching,” but a strategically offered fizzy drink might just increase your chances of a successful midnight escape while they snooze in deckchairs pretending to be responsible.

Camp Essentials:

• Five Star Metazone — the secret sauce to keeping your pony feeling like a superstar while they’re working hard and showing off.
• Silky — because every pony deserves to have a mane and tail so smooth you could practically plait it blindfolded. Goodbye, bed head!
• Leather Cleanse & Condition — the ultimate cheat code. Wipe this over your tack and voilà — it looks like you’ve been scrubbing for hours, without the elbow grease – don’t tell your instructors!
• Lavender Wash — pure refreshment in a bottle. I’m tempted to use it on myself! Perfect for sweaty ponies, it cools and freshens up those hard-working spots in a snap.