Intensive training camp for the horseless? (and people's experiences)

[stangs]

I'm looking for two 3-4 day camps with good instruction in England/Wales:

a) One focused on flatwork/improving the seat. Ideally more classical dressage or biomechanics based.
b) One focused on improving the position and confidence, for SJ and/or XC.

And both preferably not hours away from a train station, or too expensive.

Any recommendations?

I know of Talland and the Mary Wanless camp, so would be very interested in hear people's experiences with those as well, what your schedule was and what the accommodation/horses were like.

 

[Cloball]

Following as struggling with finding good tuition horseless so this may be a good option. I think a lot of people do tend to go abroad to Spain and Portugal.

 

[SO1]

One of my friends goes here on a regular basis i don't know how far from a train station though
http://www.cotswoldsriding.co.uk/

 

[Annagain]

One of my friends goes here on a regular basis i don't know how far from a train station though
http://www.cotswoldsriding.co.uk/

The Cotswolds are quite well served with train stations. I imagine Moreton-in Marsh would be the closest to Broadway. Maybe Evesham would have more trains and wouldn't be much further.

 

[SEL]

I never did the camp at Mary Wanless's place but pre lockdown I did lessons and sat in on some of their clinics. You'll definitely get the biomechanics instruction there and they've got a simulator horse too.

Before I went I heard some moans that a lot of the lesson time was spent in walk so I was prepared for that. My first lesson had a fair bit (but my own horse was off work and my thigh muscles were feeling it) but after that it was trot and canter as instructed. Nice horses. Well schooled without being push button and not over used.

 

[ElleSkywalkingintheair]

I did an awesome camo at Wellington riding about 9 years ago, I didn't stay there as my brother lived very close at the time but there were cottages you could rent there I think ?

 

[Tiddlypom]

I did Mary Wanless many years ago when she held camps at West Wilts. I took my own horse, but some people were provided with horses.

It was good and pretty intensive.

 

[teapot]

I did an awesome camo at Wellington riding about 9 years ago, I didn't stay there as my brother lived very close at the time but there were cottages you could rent there I think ?

Not sure Wellington offer much if any accommodation these days for adults. You have to camp or use the local hotels if you book their Equifestival thing. The few hotels there are within ten mins are of varying price levels. They also don’t offer camps/multiple days course anymore for those without their own horses. Their attitude towards those without their own horses has changed a fair bit in recent years…

OP - Talland would be your best bet, or Ingestre (cheaper price wise). I think the biggest thing to consider is how much you can physically do and get the benefit from over x amount of days, if you’re not riding daily/regularly. Both will offer a bespoke course to what you want

 

[teapot]

Double post.

 

[stangs]

One of my friends goes here on a regular basis i don't know how far from a train station though
http://www.cotswoldsriding.co.uk/

Looks very doable location wise, thanks.

It was good and pretty intensive.

Was in intensive in the sense that you rode lots or that the day was packed?

OP - Talland would be your best bet, or Ingestre (cheaper price wise). I think the biggest thing to consider is how much you can physically do and get the benefit from over x amount of days, if you’re not riding daily/regularly. Both will offer a bespoke course to what you want

I'm definitely not riding fit, though should be riding more regularly round the time I plan on doing a camp. I was thinking 2 hour long lessons a day (3's probably not doable?), and hopefully lots of lesson-watching or theory studying.

 

[clinkerbuilt]

Can I ask where the details of camp dates/schedules are for Ingestre? On being riding unfit: I did two lessons a day mixed with a couple of hacks and one day of 3 lessons, on some nice warmbloods in Galiny in Poland, and it was doable/helped fitness. But probably could have got way more out of it had I been fitter.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Was it intensive in the sense that you rode lots or that the day was packed?

I'm definitely not riding fit, though should be riding more regularly round the time I plan on doing a camp. I was thinking 2 hour long lessons a day (3's probably not doable?), and hopefully lots of lesson-watching or theory studying.

Please bear on mind that I went to Mary Wanless nearly 30 years ago, so the courses may well be different now.

Two ridden sessions a day (1 flat, 1 jump) plus a lecture/workshop. Lots of lesson watching encouraged. A 'back person' visited whose name I forget and was deeply suspicious of, as it was more the laying on of hands, came and did my horse wonders.

We attendees all got together without MW in the evenings at a local pub to talk horse and to mull over the day's proceedings. It was a very supportive clinic.

 

[HuskyFluff]

I went to Cotswolds Riding once. I was put on a headshaker who was not pleasant to ride, and didn't really learn anything. I also watched the lesson before mine as I was early - this was an older man with all the balance of a sack of spuds (even at walk) being told to kick the horse (that was struggling to carry him) harder and harder to get him into canter. I wasn't overly impressed.

 

[Sam_J]

Have you looked at Arrow Equestrian? Arrow Equestrian

It's probably nearly 20 years since I went, but it is still run by the same person and I was very impressed with her ethos and the care of her horses.

 

[stangs]

Have you looked at Arrow Equestrian? Arrow Equestrian

It's probably nearly 20 years since I went, but it is still run by the same person and I was very impressed with her ethos and the care of her horses.

Exactly the type of place I was hoping to find out about, thank you!

 

[rextherobber]

Have you looked at Arrow Equestrian? Arrow Equestrian

It's probably nearly 20 years since I went, but it is still run by the same person and I was very impressed with her ethos and the care of her horses.

This sounds really good! Was going to say it's a pity it's so far away, but then I saw they offer accommodation too

 

[canteron]

This sounds really good! Was going to say it's a pity it's so far away, but then I saw they offer accommodation too

Wow - looks good …. I’m coming with you!!!

 

[sbloom]

Arrow Training is fab, I only have experience of going there to watch Erik Herbermann several times but I would definitely endorse them.

 

[Orangehorse]

I have been to Arrow Equestrian too. It was a weekend mostly as an introduction to Alexander Technique. Very good. I think I stayed at a B & B, but I had a car obviously.

 

[Sam_J]

@stangs If you do go on a training camp (especially the Arrow one) will you report back? I'd be very interested to hear where you went and how you got on.

 

[rextherobber]

@stangs If you do go on a training camp (especially the Arrow one) will you report back? I'd be very interested to hear where you went and how you got on.

Me too!