What Pip had to say…

Pip’s personal blog about camp.

So our first training camp of 2025 is done and dusted. I’ve been doing these camps since they started, Buddy (my ISH) is a pro at them too. This is the first time I’ve been away with two kids, Buddy and Bert (my 7 month old Sprocker). My god, they need a lot!

Last year, I didn’t take enough layers. It chucked it down and was freezing. This year, it was like someone had left the oven on! That was the only ‘downside’ Talk about from the sublime to the ridiculous. Very draining, but we coped with a heady mix of fluids and electrolytes.

I decided to travel Sunday afternoon and stay an extra night. That gave us all a chance to settle in nicely before the lesson started the next day. Coming to Forest Edge is such a happy place for me. I know Buddy loves it here. And it seems Bert might too after zoomies in the forest. Buddy, on the other hand, had a leisurely walk round the forest.

As well as the six lessons at camp, I’d bought a ‘Soft Tissue Release and Trigger Point Work, with optional kinesiology taping’ session. I wasn’t sure what to expect but it was great. Kelly Moore assessed my position in the saddle. Took lots of videos. Spoke to the instructor, Jo Winfield. They both agreed that I should lengthen my stirrups in my flat work lesson.

In my jumping lesson in the afternoon, Kelly commented on the difference in my position when jumping compared to flat. In the lesson, were created a competition situation by riding a full course of jumps. Then debriefed and made improvements afterwards.

When we finished our second lesson, Kelly released my tight areas and put tape on my shoulders to help put me in a better position.

In our flat work lesson on Day Two, I felt so much straighter in my body after the treatment and taping. It’s really puts you in the right position that’s for sure. I noticed a change in Buddy too. He had to work differently to adjust for my new posture. I could really feel the difference. He was much straighter too.

After our lesson, I popped him onto the Spillers weight bridge. I had 630kg in my head. He was 631kg! And a perfect body score. The nutritionist said he had really good muscle tone too. We got a rosette for being perfect! What a lovely touch.

After taking Bert in the forest for a run. And some lunch for me. It was time for our second lesson - jumping related distances. We built on the quality of canter lessons we’d had yesterday.

My new position massively helped as did my softer hands (another learning from yesterday). So happy with him!

The final day came and another two brilliant lessons. In our flat work lesson, we worked on preparation. I have a tendency to ambush Buddy, so Jo got me to say what I was going to do well in advance of each mov. That way I had to ‘think, prepare, do’.

We took the same principles into our final jumping lesson. Jo set up an exercise where we had to make the choice about the next jump we headed for. Really helped me to think ahead.

Then the sad bit came. Heading home after another epic training camp. Epic in so many ways. Bert’s first camp and to be honest, he totally aced it! He waited patiently while I went for my lessons. He made himself comfortable in the Buddy mobile. He slept through every night. He had zoomies in the forest and played nicely with the other dogs.

Buddy aced camp too. Six lessons, massive lightbulbs and huge leaps forward in our training. He feels stronger, straighter and much more rideable.

I love going to these camps. I mean what’s not to love!? Time away with your horse, like-minded people and learning. I’ve made many friends through these camps. I can highly recommend them.