pony club camp information

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Faberstall

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i'm 16 and got my new (first) pony last september. before i rode a pony which i was offered to take to PC camp but i had no one to go with so declined each year. i still have no one who would accompany me however i would love to go so i have a few questions...
how do i become able to attend a camp?
would i be too old at 17 (for next year) ?
do i have to be a part of a pony club for a certain amount of time and do i have to attend rallies in order to attend a camp?
would i struggle attending and not knowing anybody?

just some tips as to where i could get other information, what is expected of me and pony and any information that would be vital for you.

TIA
 
All branches are different but you would need to go to rallies before you go to camp as you and your pony need assessing to put you in a suitable ride at camp, depending which branch you choose there may be different camps to choose from, our branch you would have intermediate camp and senior camp (probably aimed at the more competitive/team type member).
You will also meet other riders at rallies and find someone to buddy up with at camp, if not the camp organiser will try to find you a suitable sharer as we don't like people alone. You take a tent or caravan with you for sleeping in but your food is normally provided, at our camp bedding and hay are supplied but you bring your ponies hard feed with you, most branches produce a really good brochure about what you need. You will probably need to apply as soon as details come out (Easter) as they tend to get booked very quickly. I am a total pony club supporter but sometimes Affiliated Riding Clubs can be the way to go at your age depending what is in your area
 
Every Pony Club branch is different, and have very different styles of camp, even between neighbouring branches, and some might not suit you at all, so first of all I would go on the PC website and see which branches are nearest to you, and then contact them with your questions. Some will be more helpful than others!

Some branches have strict rules on rally attendance, others do not, but it would be sensible to go to a couple of rallies or clinics before camp so you can be assessed and put in the right group for your level of ability. Most branches provide tents for members, and sometimes you need to provide your own. Sometimes older members are allowed to sleep in lorries.

The best way to meet others is to attend camp as you are together for so long. You would be placed in an appropriate ride according to your standard, and often they have teams of mixed ages and abilities to do stable chores and tasks, so you would meet a cross section of members.

But as Chuffy99 says, at 17 you might find a riding club suits you better, where you are treated more like a young adult. I have known some PC camps where they had no members over 16 attending, just because the older ones didn't want to go any more - no reflection of the branch, just a fact of life that there are not always many members of that age left. Other branches have a healthy older section, so you need to check this before you join a branch.
 
Pony Club camp is a defining experience - definitely go for it!

You need to join a branch -if you fall into the catchment of more than one given your age it is probably better to join the larger one. But don't be afraid to call the DC or secretary and ask about the age spread. You can join a pony club anytime up to the year in which you turn 25 so at 17 you are definitely not too old. But you would probably be better in a branch with a number of older members.

You must have done at least 3 rallies and achieved your D test to go to camp. (The D test is immensely basic don't worry about that). You will already know folk from doing rallies and the instructors will get to know you too so they can put you in a suitable ride. You don't have to have been a member for a set period of time - but the sooner you get involved the more folk you will know. The best source of information about what camp will be like for you in the branch you choose and at your age is going to be your peers in the pony club.
 
I wish I had gone to camp as a teen. My parents were non horsey and i was shy and lacked self confidence to put myself forward for PC or shows etc as I was worried everyone would be so much better than me, and know exactly what was going on, and in very horsey families etc etc.

My son has been to camp 3 times now and has had such a good time. He always comes home having done things he didn't think he'd be able to do at the beginning of the week.

I'd have a look on the PC website and give your local branch a call. I think the PC wide rule is 3 rallies before you're allowed to go to camp. (Exceptions made, e.g. one year we hadn't made any rallies as we were on yard lock down for 4 months due to strangles and then pony had a weird allergic skin reaction which meant he couldn't be ridden for 3 weeks, and I had a new baby as sound as he was well again so rallies weren't top of my agenda ;) and it was all super hectic, they were very understanding!)

Our branch is quite small, but the year before last there were lots of older members at camp. I think one member had their 18th birthday during the week a few years ago. This year they didn't have enough interest from the older teens so ran a mini camp for the 8-14/15 year olds split into three groups. My son (nearly 14) was in the older group. His usual pony club friends weren't able to make it this year and he was the only older boy but he had a great time and they all got on really well apparently. There were two older members aged about 18/20 who also came to help out, e.g. judge the end of camp dressage etc. Normal camp runs for a week, kids camp together in groups or sleep in a pair/trio in a lorry, ponies/horses are all stabled. The "yard groups" are mixed ages and abilities and they all seem to muck in together and help each other out. The first year he went he was 10, nearly 11 and was really looked after by the older members of his yard group as well as lots of support from the adult volunteers.

So in short, i'd give the DC or membership sec a call and ask if they have many older members and how they run things.
 
I went to my first pony club camp with my father this year and it was so much fun I made a bunch of new friends and has such fun on the cross country course, flatwork, working hunter and showjumping. I would fully recommend going but take your own lunches.
Good luck
 
My daughter attended camp up to the age of 18 - then uni took over, however she still attended but as an adult helper as she hadn't been to any rallies. OUr PC said a minimum of 3 rallies to be able to be considered for camp, mind you that usually only applied if it was oversubscribed. You can belong to the Pony Club until the end of your 25th year.
 
Depends on the branch as to how active they are with older ones. Daughter's branch caters well for the older ones, last year there were 10 who did a 17+ camp alongside main camp - less rules for the older ones, this year they offered a smaller Easter camp for the older ones at a well known trainer's yard. Numbers were not as high as previous couple of years as 2-3 had left. Oldest member is now 24. Their is also an Area 17+ camp arranged for older ones in the PC Area (covers quite a lot (18?) branches)
There is always a rule that you have to have attended at least 3 rallies to qualify to go - allows the instructors to assess you and your pony.
 
Camp is mega fun - I never got to attend as a member but got to attend several as a helper and as an instructor - we had a blast.

As others have said if you are not already a Pony Club member research the ones in your catchment area and join one that will cater for your age as well as your and your pony's ability.

You will make friends at camp so don't be shy at going on your own. Our camps stayed at a local stud after the season had ended, we used empty stables to sleep in - though not much sleeping got done - so much to talk about, the members also got to stable their horses and ponies and gain experience in looking after a stabled horse.
 
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