shelleycamps

The Shelley Centre for Therapeutic Riding's Camp

In May we held two one day "camps". The first day was for 8 children whose visits included to a local farm to watch sheep-shearing, putting new collars on the sheepdog puppies and chatting with the donkeys and chickens. Back at the stables they groomed their ponies, and while the 4 of them went for a hack out on the local tracks the other 4 had an introduction to vaulting on Fred Jennie Leggate's wonderful vaulting horse that was visiting the centre. They all thoroughly enjoyed their day.

The next day 8 more children came to groom their ponies, their ride out on a hack was to another helper's home where we had a picnic lunch, then rode back. To ease aching muscles and tired helpers we went for a swim which was most refreshing, on a beautiful hot day. The following are reports from children who came on the first day:-

Saturday:

On Saturday this is my special day. I first went swimming then I went to the horse camp. When I got there I went to watch some people shearing sheep at a very nice farm. I saw lots of their animals. This is a list of the animals that I saw - dogs, sheep and cows. After the farm we went back to the riding centre we had a nice lunch then we got our horses ready to go for a long ride. A little girl went first then I had a go on Fred. This is a list of the things that I did on Fred. Lying down, working on him, clapping on him, sitting backwards on him and having a nice time on him.

After we had a go on Fred we had tea. After tea I went for a nice long ride in the fields. When I got back from the ride we took the tack off then it was time to go home.

This Saturday was one of the best because I went to Shelley Riding Centre.

James Willer

Pony Camp Day:

Eight children, all excited about Pony Camp - a whole day of riding, sheep shearing and puppies.

We arrived at 10.00am, introduced ourselves and then got straight back in the cars and drove to Spring Hill to watch sheep shearing. The sheep were shorn by Sheila the sheep-shearing shepherdess. We now know all there is to know about sheep shearing - whether we can remember any of it is another matter. The highlight of the day for me was holding a Collie puppy called Jan, who was getting acquainted with her new collar. She had two brothers and a sister and they were all only five weeks old. After that we piled back to Shelley Centre for a lunch of various things to energise us for stable management.

We groomed our ponies so they looked fabulous for our afternoon ride. I drew the short straw and had to get the mud our of Jeeves' mud laden hooves. Not the best was to be introduced to a hoof pick!

After the ponies were tacked up and finally looking presentable, we split into groups and while one rode the other group practised vaulting. I rode in the first group, who explored the local fields. It was a challenge, as we had to stop the ponies from trying to eat the grass at every opportunity (we failed miserably).

Whilst the second group rode, the first group groomed the Shetland ponies, getting covered in hair in the process! It didn't matter how hard we brushed, we were still up to our eyeballs in flying hair. Despite looking like hairy bears by the end, it was immensely enjoyable.

After finally cleaning off all the hairs we drove home tired but very happy.

Thanks to all the organisers and helpers who made pony camp what it is, oh and the ponies of course!

Amy Miller

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