It’s fun brushing up on horse sense (From Worcester News)

It’s fun brushing up on horse sense

11:28am Monday 19th September 2011 in Equestrian By Sara Pawsey

THERE was plenty of fun and horsey games at Malvern Pony Club’s summer camp. Dozens of youngsters gathered at the Three Counties Showground for four days of competitions and the chance to brush up their equine skills in riding and horse care.

Senior members of the pony club spent a more intensive residential week at Hartpury College near Gloucester. They enjoyed lessons on the Olympic arena at Hartpury which was built especially for the Para Olympic dressage games.

The junior camp was made up of 33 riders and their ponies, who enjoyed the luxury of the first class stables at the showground which is famed across the country for its high standard of equine facilities.

While the ponies were supervised by adult volunteers who camped for the week, the junior riders (aged between three and 11) arrived each day to clean their ponies, muck out stables, tack up and ride all morning and afternoon in groups.

Lessons included flat work, dressage and showjumping with fun ‘handy pony’ style gymkhana games, too.

Junior camp at the event was run by Denise Owen and Vicki Slater with help from the Egginton and Esling families and many others from around the area acting as instructors.

Hilary Raitt, one of the organisers, said: “With various dressage and show jumping competitions, all riders went home with rosettes and prizes at the end of the week when we held a competition day. Prizes went out for stable care, tack and turnout and ponies’ behaviour, too.”

The overall camp trophy went to Abi Lovegrove for getting the most points across all care, turnout and riding trials. Becky Ravenhill rode off with a number of first place wins in the riding competitions, including showjumping.

If you would like to know more about Malvern Pony Club then visit the website at malvernponyclub.com.