Dear Parents,
If you've had to field the question 'can I have a pony' you've already thought about the financial and logistical responsibility that goes along with saying yes!
Despite the expense and commitment, horse-riding is a fantastic way to build a child's self-esteem and often leads to lasting friendships both human and equine.
What if there was a compromise - a happy medium where your child could experience all the joy of owning and caring for a pony without the need to buy one straight away or at all?
This is where The Saddle Camp has become the perfect solution (or delaying tactic) for the parents of horse-loving children across NSW (and beyond!).
Your daughter will have the opportunity to try all those things she dreams about - jumping, riding bareback, cantering, riding out for picnics, plaiting up for shows or anything else she can think of we'll be happy to make happen.
Not only will we make it happen - but we'll keep her safe doing it too. We have 5 horses who we know well (their strengths and weaknesses, and what they can and can't do). They are a part of our own family, and we feel a strong responsibility for their welfare and happiness just as much as we do to your daughter.
The Saddle Camp offers a safe, fun-filled, exciting adventure for your daughter where she will be with a small group of girls with plenty in common, riding quiet horses and welcomed as part of our family.
We’re on a 168 acre scenic property in the Southern Tablelands just 10 minutes’ drive from the historic town of Braidwood – 1 hour from Canberra, 40 minutes from Batemans Bay and 3 hours from Sydney. There is full mobile phone reception, and in the rare event it is needed - the hospital is just 10 minutes away and on-site First Aid trained staff and equipment is constantly on hand.
Drop off your daughter on your way for a holiday at the Coast (or stay in your own private accomodation on site), and rest assured she’ll be as safe, well-fed and having as much fun as you are (if not more!).
Make it a Family Weekend
While your children are riding horses, playing in the Clubhouse, or exploring The Saddle Camp with their cameras, you’ll be immersed in the experience too.
Enjoy the peace and quiet, optional meals from the Farm Stay Cafe, town nearby, bush-walking and swimming at the nearby swimming holes.
Tiny House Farm Stay Accommodation
Braidwood Farm Stay's Tiny Houses are the perfect home-away-from-home! Fully self contained, including kitchen and bathroom.
Tiny on the outside, but with huge ceilings and windows, it’s really lovely and generous on the inside. There’s a queen-size loft bed overlooking the rolling paddocks, and a spacious sitting area (that coverts to 2 single beds). There’s also reverse cycle air conditioning, and electric blankets - perfect for when you don’t have to rush out of bed in the morning.
Check out our local Queanbeyan-Palerang Treasure Trail website to plan your own amazing weekend away.
Be sure to add these food stops to your adventure too!
Stay in the cosy Tiny Cottage, with a view of the stars, while listening to the wallabies and horses wandering in the paddocks….
Assurance to Parents/Carers
When your children ride at Saddle Camp you can be assured they are riding a safe, reliable, healthy horse. Their gear has been fitted by a professional saddle fitter and is regularly maintained. They are being instructed by a professional instructor, and they are fully covered by public liability insurance.
Our programs have been developed over many years. Natural Horsemanship concepts are woven in too, so you can be sure our horses are relaxed and happy in their work.
When your child stays at The Saddle Camp you can be assured that they will sleep in secure, comfortable and clean accommodation. There is full supervision in the room just next door. And their nutritious, but fun, meals will be thoughtfully prepared (with most vegetables freshly harvested from our own kitchen garden, and other local farmers). Your child will be welcomed as part of our family.
We’re on a 168 acre scenic property just 10 minutes drive from the historic town of Braidwood – 1 hour from Canberra, 40 minutes from Batemans Bay, 3 hours from Sydney, and 4 hours from the snowfields. There is full mobile phone reception and free wifi at the Club House so you can keep in touch 24/7. And should the worst happen, we have First Aid trained staff and equipment on-site, and our wonderful local hospital is just a 10 minute drive away.
There will be a constant supply of food for whenever your child is hungry, but we have regular refreshment and meal breaks to make sure no-one misses a meal! Just let us know in advance if your daughter has any special dietary requirements, so we can make sure she’s well looked after.
We have free wi-fi available, and if your daughter doesn’t have her own device she’s welcome to use my phone to call or facetime you at any time (even through the night). So if she’s not having a good time, or is feeling unsafe, you’ll know straight away – and we will all do our utmost to fix it.
I’m sure you’ll have loads of questions about food, supervision, accommodation, etc. so please ask anything! We want to make sure your daughter has just as an amazing experience as you do - and between us, we can match her with other girls her own age and personality, and a horse that your daughter will LOVE. We’ll send you an information pack on booking but if you’d like to know the full program (or anything else you might have on your mind) you’ll find our email address and phone number HERE.
“My time at The Saddle Camp was magical. Thank you so much Helen and everyone else who made my time at The Saddle Camp so amazing!!
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“I just wanted to say thank you for the weekend. My daughter has not stopped talking about her first horse riding experience. It really was a lifetime memory for her and I think the job you guys do is nothing short of extraordinary. Thank you for your patience with her, your attention to detail and the care you gave her and all the girls. Very much appreciated!”
“You have an amazing heart for girls and horses and it really shows - you do a great job at making sure everyone is having a great time.”
“We stayed for three nights in one of the Tiny Houses. An amazing experience to stay in one of these. Helen, the owner, is 10/10 and very very hospitable; there is nothing Helen will not do to assist her guests. The horse riding was the highlight for our 5yr old and she loved it so much that she rode two days in a row. Saddle Camp is also an easy drive just outside the main town and the roads are very good to drive between. I highly recommend Saddle Camp for a young family for a few nights stay in the Tiny House or if your daughter loves horses for the holiday riding camp.”
