Saddle Camp’s Champion’s Challenge is back for 2024!

Every year from 2007 to 2018, we’d invite our Trophy Winners from that year’s Riding Camps to come back to compete in a Riding Challenge for:

HUGE trophies (up to 3rd place),

a Saddle Camp Champion Rider shirt,

and an awesome weekend of Sleeping under the Stars

at our Saddle Camp Sleep Out.

In 2019, the drought brought our Tradition to a screeching halt.

But we’re FINALLY ready to celebrate again!

If you win a trophy at Saddle Camp this year, you’ll be invited to compete in our Champions Challenge on Saturday 21 December.  

It’s a timed Obstacle Course bending through poles, moving Santa’s Sack, riding a Keyhole and jumping a Spread.

There’ll be HUGE Trophies awarded up to 3rd place, and the Winner will be gifted a Saddle Camp Champion Rider ‘24 polo shirt.

And EVERYONE will have the opportunity to book in for our Saddle Camp Sleep Out that night, with loads of action on the Saturday and Sunday - 21 & 22 December.

Our 2024 goal is to have a roof over the arena ready for our Sleep Out.

And over the weekend of 21 & 22 December, we’ll have many other riding and non-riding challenges, games and excitement.  

Wishing you an ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC year ahead, and we really can’t wait to see you at the 2024 Champion’s Challenge!

From Helen, Rob, Blake, Dexter, Carson and all our Team xoxox

Braidwood Times Article on our 2016 Champion’s Challenge and Saddle Camp Sleep Out.

Weather Report for Saddle Camp

I’m predicting a bit of everything…

And just in case you’re worried extreme weather might interrupt your camp, I wanted to share our plan…

First off, if you’re very worried re the forecast leading up to your camp, I can easily refund your payment or postpone to another date.

I’ve kept our camps to small numbers of riders so we can be more flexible - with our daily plan and with postponing your camp.

If it’s hot, the spa is under cover right next to the arena, so we can jump in to cool off anytime.  

If there’s a bush-fire, children are our priority, and I’ll take everyone into the Evacuation Point in Braidwood.

If there’s a power blackout, the power boards have been set up so we can plug the generators straight in.  

So our air-conditioning, wifi, water pumps and fridges will keep working :)

If there’s days of heavy rain, and the Bombay bridge gets to 10 cms over and is still rising, and there are children that need to get home (and parents that have driven a long way to collect them), I’ll bring the girls to my Mother-in-law’s house on the Braidwood side of Bombay Bridge.

If a thunderstorm comes over, we can quickly get the horses under cover at their tie-up area.

To be more specific, we need to stop riding at 37 degrees C, and in 30 km plus winds.  

Heavy rain doesn’t stop our trail rides, we just put rain coats on :)

And this year, we’ll be getting a roof over the arena!  

Taking a lot of the unpredictability away.

If anyone has covid, we’ll follow the NSW Health Service Guidelines and contact everyone involved to let them know.  

And if you come down with covid before the start of the camp, I’ll refund or postpone your camp.

No matter what excitement the weather brings us these school holidays, I know we’re going to have an absolutely, fantastic time Riding Horses.

I can’t wait to see you then, from Helen, Cadie, Destiny, Champ and Axl xoxox

Her Own Horse for as Long As She Stays...

If your daughter’s wishing for a Horse for Christmas,

then a Gift Certificate for her Horse Riding Camp under the tree is a neat way of making it happen.

This is the last week to get her Gift Certificate in the mail to you though!

You can choose from Huge 4 day/3 night Camps to

little Mini Adventure Rides.

Simply follow the links to book, and in the Notes section write your daughter’s name and how you’d like it signed off.   Eg Mum & Dad.

’ll print it on quality Pink Paper, and package it up with our Riders Log Book and lots of Sparkles.

And pop it in the mail.  

But Sunday 7 pm is our deadline for making the Australia Post deadline!

If you have any questions at all, text or call Helen on 0417 456 093,.

The Spa has arrived! Perfect for our Saddle Camp Riders to cool down.

We’ve set it up under the verandah of the Clubhouse, next to the arena, with a pool safety fence around it.

You’re going to love it on those hot days!

When you get too hot riding in the arena, you’ll be able to quickly jump in the spa to cool down.

Then at the end of our big day of riding, we’ll put the bubbles, lights and music on to relax those muscles - and have fun!

 Your parents will be able to watch you riding in the arena, while they relax in the bubbles with a long cool drink… Your brothers will love it too!

If you ride your bike or horse out for a treat at the cafe, you can cool off quickly in the spa.

And if you’re staying overnight in a Tiny House, you’ll be able to relax in the warm bubbles and enjoy watching the stars and the visiting possums.  

But Saddle Camp Riders get first priority!

Can’t wait to see you in there soon, 

from Helen, Rob, Blake, Dexter and Carson xoxox

First Aid for Horse Riders Course now available in our 4 Day/3 Night Camp Program

A great friend, who’s studying Nursing and has 2 daughters of her own, called last week - and asked if we already include teaching First Aid in our camps.  

It had never crossed my mind before - but I was instantly on board!

I’ve worked it into our 4 Day/3 Night Camp Program on the Thursday afternoon, after our Gymkhana and Western riding class (also new!).  

I run these camps through the school holidays.

There’ll be lots of role playing and drama as we practice dealing with snake bites, cuts, sprains, broken bones, bandages, slings, recovery position and DRABC.  

It ties in beautifully with our Falling Off class on the Friday morning.

It will also be fantastic practice for our team, so when anything does go wrong, we can all spring into action.  Quickly, confidently and carefully.

I’ll also be attending my First Aid Renewal course (as per every 3 years) next week, and I’ll run my planned program past the Trainer.

Re the Western Pleasure Class - I heard Ava and Abi (at our camp in October) talking about wanting to try Western Riding one day.

So I gave them a quick lesson on Axl - jogging, loping and a sliding stop.  

We took some cool videos of the girls loping (that’s a really slow canter) swinging a lasso.  

It was loads of fun, and we all agreed we should make it an official part of our camp.

You can see our 4 Day/3 Night Camp program here.

And this is our Formal Riding Lesson Program that we work through in the private lessons each morning of the camp.

And if you’d like to book in, click here.  

You can see dates and places available there too.

The Camps are Best Loved by Girls aged between 8 and 13 years.

If you have any questions at all, call Helen on 0417 456 093 or email thesaddlecamp@gmail.com

Join our Exciting Weekend in Braidwood! 4 & 5 November.

Explore the Open Gardens around Braidwood, and meet Jackie French at Mona Farm.

Watch the Pony Club Mounted Games “Friendly Match” at the Showgrounds.

And pop into Saddle Camp for a ride, and to try some Lavender Shortbread.

We’ll have samples of Lavender Shortbread (made with lavender picked from our garden, with bees gently removed), and Wattle Seed Shortbread.

We’d LOVE to hear which is your favourite!

Looking forward to a magical weekend, and hope to see you then,

from Helen

P.S. We’ll be open Saturday & Sunday, from 9 am to 7 pm.

But book ahead for horse riding.

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Our Brand Ambassador must:
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Hopefully they choose you, and you choose to stay at Saddle Camp!