Senior Camp 2023
Senior Camp is a week long residential camp for members aged 11 and over and will run from Sunday 30th July to Friday 4th August.
It has been held at Plumpton Racecourse for over 60 years and traditionally has between 60 – 70 members attending. This year we are still in the planning stage, we will confirm arrangements shortly.
This camp is fully residential: riders and horses stay for the whole week and there will be no going home at night. No visitors are permitted except for those who have volunteered to help in the kitchen.
Horses are stabled in the secure racecourse stable yard under the care of Pat Turner and her team of muck fairies. They oversee the welfare of your horse ensuring they are properly fed, watered and cared for as well as supervising the yard duties.
Campers sleep in dormitories within the racecourse grandstand which is patrolled at night by a security team. The welfare of campers is overseen by our Matron, meals are prepared and eaten here under the supervision of Gill McPate who organises a rota of Mums and Dads to come in and assist with the preparation of meals and also the laundering of shirts and jodphurs.
Camp is a combination of hard work and fun, with the emphasis being on fun! Our Chief Instructor, organises the rides with their instructors – activities include jumping, flat work, stable management and a games afternoon. On the last day campers put on a demonstration to parents to show some of the elements they have learnt over the week. But it is not all riding and stable duties, we have various demonstrations put on which in the past have included a visit from the jockey school, pilates classes, and visiting vets have dissected various parts of horses!
After the evening meal there are activities such as “It’s a knockout”, a land rover pull, treasure hunt and of course the last night disco, to make sure the campers sleep well.
All the riding, yard and evening activities earn points for the campers in their yard groups and go towards many awards that are presented on the last day of camp after the demonstration to parents.
Camp is fun, camp is hard work, but above all camp is where friendships and memories are made.
We will be running an evening for first time senior campers where you can come and see a presentation of a typical day at camp and also an opportunity to ask any questions or concerns you may have – date TBA.
In order to attend camp, it is racecourse regulations that all horses have a passport and up to date vaccination record – there can be no exceptions to this rule.
Members will need to have attended a minimum of 3 working rallies, 2 of which must be in the current year – this is so they can assessed and put in the correct riding group for their ability.
Once you have paid the deposit, to secure your place, you will receive forms to be completed asking for details of both you and your horse, medical information, photographic permission etc., as well as a list of equipment that you will need to bring.
If you would like further information or advice on attending senior camp, please contact our camp secretary, Candy Robbins at: candyrobbins06@gmail.com or 0781 658 0322
Camp staff for 2022:
Mike Robbins – Camp Commandant