Pony Club camp prize-winners

CHILDREN from the Henley area enjoyed success at Woodland Hunt’s pony club summer camp, with many winning prizes.

About 46 under-12s attended the junior camp while another 33 aged 12 to 17 attended senior camp.

They were split into groups with their ponies and instructors taught them various skills as part of their “rallies”, including dressage, cross country and show jumping.

At the end of the four-day camp, a show day was held, where children could showcase what they had learned.

The junior and senior tack and turnout competitions were judged by principal Michael Skinner, who attended the first ever camp at Woodland Hunt in 1952.

Emma Dag, district commissioner, said: “Throughout the week, they ride for two hours a day in groups and do horse and pony care for an hour in order to work towards efficiency standards taught to a specific standard test level by the coaches.

“On the last day, both camps have competitions.

“For the junior camp, both the riders and their ponies go home each day whereas in senior camp, it is residential.

“The rides break down into what competitions they are going to do. The categories are best score for show jumping, highest score at dressage and a show jumping into cross country competition as well as handy pony.

“The riders are judged on their tack and turnout as we expect turnouts to be of a very high standard.

“There are winners at every level and we also have a section competition. They have to muck out and do jobs around the site such as litter picking and clearing up hay and straw.

“There are section prizes and vice section prizes and also a best boy prize and best first timer.”

Arabella Brind, eight, who attends Shiplake Primary School, was awarded the annual combined training trophy after the camp at Woodland Hunt’s Harpsden Pony Club.

She was awarded rosettes for her performance within her group, which contained five children, and her group came third overall in another competition.

Her mother, Lilly, said: “She was delighted to win. On the first day, the pony was a bit tricky and bucked a couple of times. She came home feeling disappointed and said to me: ‘I will probably come last’ but she ended up coming first.

“She has only had this pony, Olly, for two months and they are a great team, even though it has only been a short amount of time. He currently lives at our house in a little paddock.”

Arabella gets to keep the combined training trophy for a year before handing it back at the next camp with her name engraved on it.

Her mother said: “It was a total surprise, especially because last year she went to camp with quite a difficult pony and so was not expecting anything.

“I was really proud. She did the most amazing clear round. There were two groups doing show jumping and she had no faults in the arena, which had eight cross and straight poles and an oxer, which is quite a wide jump.”

Mrs Brind described Arabella, who has been riding since she was two, as “pony-obsessed”.

She said: “She is really good. She would ride every day if she could and when we are not busy, we will ride every day. We also do our own thing in an arena or go hacking together.

“She rides about five to seven times a week. She is really good at taking care of the pony and even picking up poo, which is not very glamorous. She helps out and grooms him and makes sure his feet are okay.”

Jemima Stone, nine, from Wallingford, won spirit of camp and came second in the show jump, while her team, the orange team, came first in all the woodland sections by winning quizzes throughout the week.

Her award was for kindness and being a team player in camp.

Her mother, Sarah, said she was given it by the coaches because she was very helpful.

Jemima, who attends Cranford House School in Moulsford, said: “I like taking part in teams. I was riding on my horse Scooby, whom I have had for a year. He is good.

“It was a very fun week and I liked show jumping and cross country. I did the highest course I have ever jumped which was quite scary at first but got really fun as I like Scooby’s speed.

“All my team were cheering ‘Go, Jemima’, although at one point Scooby refused to do a jump and I was pushed up and landed on his neck, then fell off. He galloped away to find some hay.”

She has been riding for five years and said: “I will definitely go again next year. I like hockey and football as well but I think horse riding is my favourite.”

Jemimah Ogsdon, 14, from Sonning Common, helped out at junior camp and went on to win best tack and turnout at senior camp.

She said: “Throughout the week, they rate how your pony turns out and is presented and the people with the highest scores will go into the finals.

“Michael Skinner will come in and look at everyone. It was quite good because last year I was in it but I had a grey pony which made it a bit harder.

“This year I had a bay and it is easier to make them look good with the mud and so I did do quite well. I was a bit surprised because there were lots of people that got good scores.”

Jemimah, who attends Langtree School in Woodcote, won two rosettes and a trophy.

She said: “I was not very nervous being judged by Michael Skinner because he is really nice.

“I loved camp; it is one of my favourite things and I look forward to it. I am borrowing my mum’s friend’s pony called Elliott because my pony is lame at the moment. At first it was a bit strange and very different to my pony but he is such a nice horse and has a good temperament.

“It was nerve-wracking on the first night but then it turned out to be really fun. The worst bit was mucking out but it turned into less of a chore and more fun being with my friends.

“The lessons were challenging but fun as the teachers really pushed me. I had a different instructor as well, so I was able to learn new things, which is good.”

Max Dag, 16, from Woodcote, won best section leader, best boy and best section overall at senior camp.

The Shiplake College pupil won rosettes and a trophy.

He said: “It felt really good to win them because the best section especially was about keeping everyone together and involved a lot of work like waking up early and taking care of all the horses.

“It was quite full on. We had to start at 7am and feed and do a general welfare check on the horses before we did anything else. We also finished quite late. I am used to the whole camping side as I have done it for quite a few years.

“I have had my pony, Belle, for three years. We have qualified for regional Pony Club championships and competed there but in general we stay with the local pony clubs and do hacking in the bridleways around where I live.

“I was surprised to win best boy as there were five of us and it felt a lot more competitive this year.

“We are all friends though and we were all trying to keep everyone going as by the end of the week we were tired and the horses were tired.

“I learnt a lot this year about teamwork and managing a team as well as more about everyone and their horses. My favourite part was the competition day. Everyone puts everything into this week and it feels great to know I have won some things.”

Imogen Bater, nine, from Wheeler End, won the handy pony award at junior camp.

She had to do a rigorous course with her pony involving an “around the world”, picking up and throwing a bottle, hula hooping and skipping, all while jumping on and off her pony.

She said: “I won with my pony Chelsea Girl, whom I’ve had for about seven years. We didn’t train, we just got told what we were doing and then I did it.”

Imogen, who attends Frieth Primary School, started riding around four years ago and now rides three times a week. She said: “The first time I was on a horse was on my mum’s big horse — it was so fun.

“The best moment of camp was probably when I went to go over the jump but my pony refused but then she did it because I used my whip and legs. I only use the whip when I havea refusal.

“One of the most important lessons I learned at camp was when we went over cross country. I learned to lean back while going downhill otherwise you can fall forwards.”

Archie Aitken, 11, won the Dag family eventers challenge cup, donated by Mrs Dag, while his sister, Eloise, won spirit of camp for those aged eight and under.

Archie, who is to attend Lambrook School in Bracknell when his family move from London to Harpsden, had to go around a course with show jumps and cross country aspects.

He finished with the top speed and was the only contestant to clear the course with no faults.

His mother, Lucinda, said: “He has only taken up riding again recently and did an amazing job by winning.

“We were a bit nervous and were not expecting him to like it as much as he did but it was such a success this year.

“Eloise was super-proud and had the biggest smile on her face — she was beside herself.”

Archie said: “I am really happy I won the cup. I really liked seeing all my friends and it was not intense, it was always really relaxed and fun.

“We would have riding in the mornings and afternoons, then a lunch break and do a lot of different activities.

“The jumping was new for me and I am not really that good so I was quite nervous but it was really good to win the challenge.

“The pony I have loaned, called Billy, was very sweet and we were a good team and that encouraged me.

“I was a bit scared because when I was younger, I had a couple of accidents and so got only back into riding when I was 10. I think I am going to senior camp next year and I am excited for that.”