summer camp 2011

 

Thursday 14 to Sunday 17 July 2011

 

Forest Edge Arena, Drymere, Swaffham. Norfolk. PE37 8AS

 

CAMP REPORT

 

This years Summer Camp returned to Forest Edge Arena where 21 horses and riders were warmly welcomed by owners Steve and Penny Garrett.

 

Thursday afternoon saw the beginning of four action packed days.  By 4pm most of the horses had been settled into their allocated stables and the riders were enjoying afternoon tea in the restaurant.  Those who were new to camp this year had started to explore Forest Edge and its surroundings.  In order to keep the horses as stress free as possible on arrival four “fairy godmothers” had visited previously to prepare the stables in advance.  The larger horses were in the permanent block and the ponies and smaller horses in the portable stables.  Accommodation was as usual in trailers, lorries, caravans and tents but this year we also had the bunkhouse available.

 

A welcome gift for each member awaited them with a variety of useful items and little essentials for the stay.  ICE tags were distributed for attachment to saddles and riders for hacking in the forest, fortunately this year they did not have to be used for any emergencies!

 

As we have become accustomed to at Forest Edge, one of the highlights of the stay is the home cooked food which enables us to all eat together in the restaurant, and more importantly no preparation or washing up afterwards!  Penny and Steve catered for all our needs with some superb meals and the first night set the standard for the duration of the holiday.

 

We were delighted to start the programme on Thursday night with a visit from Becky Chapman.  Her introduction and lecture introduced us to the vast subjects of biomechanics, posture and alignment and she had some willing participants to sit on her saddle horse for a quick analysis of their position in the saddle and the subsequent effect on the horse.  Becky had already struck a chord with most of us from the rider’s perspective and we then went on to see it all in action when she progressed to a demonstration lesson using two of the “fairy godmothers” – Jo Dedross riding Phyllis and Rose Kimberley riding Neo.

 

Friday saw the start of our more formal lessons with Grania Haigh.  This year Grania instructed us for all the disciplines – flatwork, jumping and cross country over the three remaining days.  We were all able to gain from her vast experience and her straight forward approach.  Time always flies past during the lessons but very often it is a small tip or piece of advice which can make such a difference to our understanding and execution of in this case dressage movements.  As our dressage competition was to follow in the afternoon, Grania concentrated on some of the required movements in each level of the tests and it became obvious when watching the tests later that several riders were able to put her advice into action immediately.

Throughout Friday, during the comings and goings of everyone taking part in lessons, the dressage competition and heading out for some hacking in the forest, Isabel Harker from Spillers Nutrition managed to see every horse individually for some very useful feeding advice and condition scoring.  Most of the horses were quite happy to be lured onto the weighbridge with the aid of a treat and this provided a useful starting point for her consultations.  She gave us very sensible, practical advice on feed and any weight issues as well as answering our questions with much common sense.  She ran a competition throughout the sessions asking us to guess the weight of our horses before putting them on the weighbridge.  The closest guess won a very nice prize from Spillers – the lucky winner was Rose Kimberley who guessed the weight of Neo to within 2kgs!   Spillers also added a very nice prize for our Tombola which was drawn on Saturday night.

 

The dressage competition used our own specially written tests for walk/trot, preliminary and novice levels with everyone taking part making a real effort with their turnout of themselves and their horses.  Many were plaited and riders looked very smart for the occasion.  Grania judged the three levels separately as normal but again this year a special award was presented across the three tests using four criteria of turnout of rider and horse, presentation of test and freedom paces Grania also presented rosettes for the highest percentage scores of the day across the three levels.

 

Later in the afternoon we were pleased to welcome Sally Cobbald MRCVS from Catley Cross Veterinary Practice along with her husband Matthew and baby son William.  Sally is currently on maternity leave from the Practice but was able to join us for the afternoon and evening firstly for microchipping and later for a veterinary lecture.

 

Sally microchipped five horses (all of whom were perfectly behaved).  One member’s horse was scanned and found to already have been chipped which was a nice surprise for her.

 

As Friday turned out to be sunny and warm we all gathered for an impromptu glass of wine in the evening sun around the campsite before dinner.  It was a good opportunity to discuss the day’s events and it was quite obvious that the riders were starting to relax and enjoy themselves.

 

After another super dinner Sally presented a talk on Worming and an update on Colic.  Both talks were very informative and led to some interesting questions and debate.  Although Sally had prepared a first aid lecture as well, we decided to postpone that one for another day as the wine, food and a very busy day in the saddle meant that the campers were beginning to fade fast.  With another full programme on Saturday we decided to hit our sleeping bags/duvets for the night.

 

Saturdays programme began with Steve building the course for the show jumping lessons.  He was a little overwhelmed with the size of the assembled work party all eager to give their help and advice! However he put together a lovely colour co-ordinated course suitable for such a superb arena. Another quick change of equipment was necessary for the Le Trec taster session in the afternoon which was run this year by Jill Perry.  The draw for the tombola took place before the evening meal, with some superb prizes for the lucky winners.  As there had been a few showers we opted for fish and chips in the restaurant instead of the barbeque al fresco to accompany the ever popular quiz.  Carol acted as question master and Vanessa as chief scrutineer.  Another great evening’s entertainment.

  

No lie in for Sunday as we kicked off at 9am with the Cross Country sessions running simultaneously with clear round jumping.  The clear round jumping was a new innovation this year making good use of the all the facilities during the hiring time.  From poles on the ground up to some dizzy heights for the experienced riders – nearly everyone had a go.  With huge encouragement from the arena party even the more “reluctant heroes” completed the course in walk, trot or canter whichever suited them best.  Several members who are not usually tempted to into a jumping arena and those with young and inexperienced horses pleasantly surprised themselves.  The friendly, non competitive atmosphere provided the perfect surroundings for just having a go without any pressure, and the beaming smiles on completion of the rounds reflected not only the sense of relief but of real achievement.

 

The winner of the picture board competition with almost a perfect score was Elaine Norman. 

 

Following lunch and prize giving there was just one item left on the agenda.  We were all assembled on foot in the indoor arena for one final fling.  It was decided that one member who had missed out on the jumping should still have a go – in true Colne Valley style she jumped a course of jumps on foot accompanied by the rest of the members and received her clear round rosette with pride and much giggling!

 

Sadly it was then time to have a last hack, pack up and go home.  Four very action packed days, but by the feed back forms received afterwards it was definitely all worthwhile.

 

Finally I would like to thank all the members who attended camp this year for making it such fun – the club motto on the header is “Encouragement with Enjoyment” and I really think that camp really did achieve this aim thanks to everyone’s involvement.

 

Plans have already begun for next year’s camp which will be held from Wed 1 to Sat 4 August, again at Forest Edge Arena.

 

Shirley Haxell & Chris Kimberley

 

Please forgive me for reproducing some of the quotes from the feedback questionnaires:-

 

“I rode my first bigger course of jumps in control in a snaffle and went clear!”

 

“I have achieved a lot through this experience i.e. jumping.  I hadn’t done it before but now am very keen to learn.  I felt the experience was fab!  We loved every minute.”

 

“Fantastic setting and staff always made you feel very welcome.”

 

“Lost another 1lb towards my target weight walking to and fro across car park with heavy saddle.”

 

“Thoroughly enjoyed trip in groups of equal ability.  Information/help always to hand.  Everyone encouraging each other.  Have just stopped crying with laughter over my clear round on foot!