Equestrian Camps South West

Equestrian Camps South West HQ of the amazing Equestrian Camps across the UK None judgemental, fun and a fantastic way to bond w Some long-standing friendships have been made. No pressure.

The ethos and purpose of our camps which come in this order

First and foremost- No judgment! We are all equal, the only difference being that we are on different parts of our journey than each other. Whatever someone needs to learn, every single other member of the group will have been there or will get to that point during their riding lifetime. Second - Inclusion everyone has equal right to be

there, and although I try endlessly to match the groups correctly our instructors will do their best to accommodate the different levels of riding that they may be challenged with and the job of the rest of the people in that group is to support, encourage and help that person along the way

Thirdly - Learning. It's our job to find those missing pieces of the jigsaw that will bring the dressage scores up, will keep those poles in those jump cups or just to help you and your horse bond better and so that you can have a better relationship and progress in whatever way suits you in whatever discipline/activity you wish to. I hate competing, but that doesn't mean to say that I don't want to do the best by my horses whilst enjoying fun rides, XC courses, beach rides and hacking. Fourth - Fun and friendship
I want all to have fun, make friends, feel at ease, and connect with like-minded people who put their horses' welfare, well-being and training before the sport. We've been doing this for eight years now and it's worked very well with the occasional spanner in the works that has been fished out and rectified. I've seen people go on to compete, I've seen horses grow up and turn into brilliant all-rounders for their owners. I've seen success, after success and for that I can only thank you all for trusting us, for keep coming back and for trying your very hardest to keep our camps the way they are. Without you we have no purpose 🙂 ❤ xx


Equestrian training camps to help you with your Show Jumping/Dressage/X-Country jumping both indoor and out for 10 months of the year. Bringing you top instructors to excellent venues at affordable prices and making it all that bit more fun! Spend hours in the arena perfecting your craft whilst spend quality uninterrupted time with your lovely horses and other like minded people. Improve at your own pace with support. Up to 6 hours instruction, all meals catered for, all haylage, bedding and facilities included for less than the cost of the instruction alone! And if there are other kinds of camps you would like us to put on, let us know! We will try our best to give you the experiences you are looking to have with your horses. We're going to take horse camps to new heights and you to new levels - don't miss out!

21/04/2025

**UPDATE** A MUM HAS BEEN FOUND!

This little ginger girl, born last night, is looking for a new mum!
Please contact Rainbow Equine Hospital if you have a suitable mare who may be able to be a foster mum.
#01653695743

11/04/2025

It's been pointed out to me on several occasions that whilst Equestrian Camps South West was my life, for you guys attending it was just a nice weekend away.

But I also think of how much that weekend changed the relationship between a horse and rider, gave them quality time to really bond and understand each other better.

Four lessons over two days isn't something you get to do very often, usually there's a week and a million distractions in between and you forget things.

But those four lessons with the same instructor help you build on the one before. It helps you step into the shoes of a pro rider for just a second and experience what they do to get to the top.

And then there are the life long friendships made at camp. And heaven knows we're lacking ways to connect with others these days! The horse world can be particularly challenging due to the many different methods we use to reach many different goals. But camp made connecting with new like minded people easy, over and over again.

I still strive to create a space where we can run camps that give us everything we need, but I'm not sure that there is the call for it these days. Money is tight, bills are ridiculously expensive, people are selling their horses because they can't afford to keep them.

I hope our attempt at bringing them back is successful enough to make me run others both at Goonbell and other venues. But if it's not, at least I can let go of the dream. Maybe I can run a catering van called 'There's Always Lasagne!' and you guys will come and visit for a taste of nostalgia ❤️ x

(Maybe I'll do that anyway!)

I'm incredibly excited about doing this camp, even if it does get to be a one off, because it's true, camp is my life and just creating this one has made me happier than I've been for almost two years and I'm hugely grateful to everyone who is making it happen. You are the best ❤️🐎❤️🐎 xx

01/04/2025

Some barriers that have stopped people joining camp that this new opportunity Julia at Goonbell has given us will solve and a few other benefits!

1. No transport. No horse. Lame horse.
Just book an assessment, and Julia will find your new best friend for two days! Like having a new horse without buying one and most of us would have more horses given the chance!

2. I hate camping
B&B, drive home, return the next day? Hotel if you really want to treat yourself!

3. I've lost my confidence
Come and ride a horse who can help bring that back.

4. My horse can't be stabled
He can sleep and play outside (and potentially you get to sleep right next to his pen if there's room)

5. I can't leave my companion horse alone overnight.
Take your horse home and bring him back the next day - or hire one from Julia. It's been suggested many a time that we run two days training sessions and camps this way, now that's possible.

6. I don't want to go on the cross country course!
There isn't one so you can't be expected to ride on it 😍

7. Hiring a horse makes it expensive.
Agreed it raises the cost but your own transport is costing you a minimum of £2.00 a mile once you factor in MOT, tax, insurance, maintenance, cost to purchase.

Plus you don't have to worry about loading issues, traffic, bringing loads of kit, coralling, mucking out first thing (the horses are stabled but go out at night) you'll just have to skip out.

You're not having to pay for tack, shoes (or worry about them losing a shoe the day of camp!) feed, fitness levels, injuries that mean you lose your deposit because you can't come! When I can ride again I'll be hiring a horse to ride.

Other benefits

Riding a different horse with a different instructor will highlight and improve things that have become habits because you've ridden the same horse for years.

It will remind you that you can ride and dispell any doubts that riding a nappy, unschooled youngster has created!

You get to be a part of an amazing community of like minded people who will become friends. If you've ever tried buying a horse from an area where you don't know anyone, you'll know how hard this is! Being part of this community will show you a side to the horsey world that you rarely see or hear of because we're all just low key happy hackers who don't go anywhere public 😂😂😂😂 x

By coming to camp you're supporting a small business that will teach our future generations of riders. Remember where you started? Imagine a life without horses? We've lost so many venues in Cornwall the only way we'll keep the ones we have will be by bringing cash to their business. I feel very privileged to be invited to use anyone's facilities for a very minimal cost in comparison to the purchase and maintenance costs.

Anyone else got any benefits to share?

31/03/2025

Hey folks, just a reminder that if we want a future for camps, we need to make them happen and without the numbers we can't. I've had loads of messages saying 'I'll see how this one goes and book the next one.' But there won't be a next one if we can't fill this one 😢 For those who don't know me, I understand that might be a bit scary. For those who do, you KNOW I will make it work. If you have concerns message me, let's talk it through. So many people said they wanted this to happen that we shouldn't struggle to fill it. But I guess I'm used to.our camps selling out and I've just had a lot of messages saying 'next time'
We have different venues lined up too. Some with stabling, some with XC courses - but if the support/ requirement isn't there, I'll hold my hands up and walk away xx

30/03/2025

We still have places left folks and remember if you don't have a horse you can hire one from Julia at Goonbell, which is a first for us!

29/03/2025

Less than an hour to go!!!

28/03/2025

Are we getting excited yet folks??? 11 am tomorrow and you can book your place!

No horse? No excuse! Julia will hire you one of her lovely horses ❤️🐎 x

Let's do this people!! I can't wait to bring all of the loveliest horsey people ever back together xx

25/03/2025

Camp Info & FAQs

Dates
Weds 21st - Fri 23rd May 2025

Goes live for booking 11am Saturday 29th March 2025

Venue
Goonbell Riding Centre Goonbell, St Agnes TR5 0PN

Cost Usual Price £265.00 However, for this camp ONLY

£245.00

as a thank you for supporting us, standing by us and being brave enough to come to the first one with a new format!!

This includes haylage and grazing for the horses. Dinner for you Weds and Thurs, breakfast and lunch Thurs and Fri
4 hours instuction in groups of four over the two days. Plus evening entertainment.

FAQs

Q. Which field will the horses be in?
A. We've had a change of plan from the original one. Horses will now be corralled in the field next to the car park and we will use the school and the other field to ride in.

Q. How big will the pens be?
A. 10 meters x 10meters (approx 1 human stride to a meter) with a 3 meter gap all the way around it. No horses near the hedges. If you need more grass you can move your pen for more grass but don't make it bigger.

Q. How will we know whose horse is whose if they get out or something is wrong?

A. Each horse must have a head collar with a name tag and your phone number on it at all times. Each pen must have an A4 label either laminated or in a plastic pocket with your name, phone number and your horses name on it. Zip ties and field halters are advisable.

We will mark out the corners of each pen for you and allocate them so that you are near other members of your group.

Q. Can we park next to our horses in their corrals?

A. No, there isn't enough flat ground or space for everyone to have sufficient grazing and a vehicle next to it. We don't want to cut the field up. Please bring wheelbarrows for carrying water and hay up to the horses and tools for poo picking your pens. The muck heap is on the yard.

Q. Will there be Haylage available?
A. There will. Please use big trug buckets to collect it, contain it and feed it from. Where the Haylage will be stored is tbc.

Q. I don't have a horse right now
A. If you can walk, trot and canter independently and in open spaces, you can hire a horse off Julia at Goonbell for £60 a day (Absolute bargain!) but you will need to book an assessment lesson prior to camp which is £30.00

If you do hire a horse it will live out with Julia's other horses as normal and you will have use of a stable for grooming and tacking up.

Q. What do we need to bring?
A. I will write a complete kit list for you that you should read as it will have new things in addition to the old ones. I'll put that up before the bookings go live.

Q. Will the info be on the website?
A. We no longer have a website all of the info will be in the page or attached to the application form.

Q. Will we book the way we used to?
A. Booking will be via a link to a form on the event page in Facebook. That needs to be filled in and then payment needs to be made to accompany the form. No booking is valid without both of those things in place.

The bank account details have changed too and the new account number will be on the form. The new email address is [email protected]

Q. Do I have to jump?
A. No, but you at still be in a group with people who do. Don't panic, your instructor will not make you do anything you don't want to.

Q. Will there be a photographer?
A. Hopefully, if we get enough bookings to be able pay her.

Q. Do we still bring cake?
A. Please bring something sweet to share, doesn't have to be cake and it's not going to be judged. We won't have refrigerator room for anything I'm afraid and everything needs to be in a sealable container as cakes etc will be in the gallery in the school alongside tea, coffee,milk, juice and water.

I'm sure there will be other questions. Please ask away if there are and I will answer them on the page so check the comments to see if there are answers there already.

BIG CHANGE!!I am listening folks...and as a result Julia has very kindly agreed to let us use the field on the car park ...
24/03/2025

BIG CHANGE!!
I am listening folks...and as a result Julia has very kindly agreed to let us use the field on the car park to coral the horses providing they are nowhere near the hedge and the Riding Centre's horses. (Thank you to Della Ashman too for the suggestion that made this happen!)

So you can park on the car park and coral your horses in the fields. There's not enough flat land on that field for everyone to park on it. Lead them to your trailers to tack up and meet your instructors in the school for your lesson or on the car park if your lesson is in the field.

Pen size 10 meters x 10 meters, there's about 1 human stride to a meter and I suggest you use two strands of electric fencing minimum and a post every stride.
Leave a minimum of three meters around each pen so the horses can't touch each other or reach the hedge.

The FAQS will be posted tomorrow by which time I hope to have all of the answers!

23/03/2025

The FAQS list is taking longer to compile than I thought it might so in the mean time has anyone got any suggestions for evening activities that require team work other than a quiz x

20/03/2025

GOING LIVE 29TH MARCH !!

Over the weekend I'm going to put answers up to some of the questions we've had and hopefully you will have enough information after that to feel confident enough to book. But because there will be a bit of preparation needed on my part and yours I'm going to make bookings live on SATURDAY 29th March, the day before Mother's day so it's easy to remember!
Also watch out for something special I'm going to give to anyone who books onto this camp!

19/03/2025

Info video for you! Please forgive the amateur quality and heavy breathing! But I've done my best. It's just to reassure you and let you know where we're going! This might be the most viral video ever just because it's so bad 😂😂😂 Sorry😏 x

Della wrote this for you all to tell you about their experience of corralling their pony at camp - because she's an ange...
18/03/2025

Della wrote this for you all to tell you about their experience of corralling their pony at camp - because she's an angel! Thank you xx

Been thinking about the old camps and the fun and laughs we had and how everyone looked out for each other and never judged and just supported each other. My grandaughter loved hearing my stories and so wanted to come with me but her pony Bob the Cob had allergies to straw hay etc so stabling would off been a nightmare for him. So I discussed this with Lorraine and she so wanted my grandaughter and Bob to attend a camp as this is our children's future and good memories to be made as too much pressure on children at times, so Lorraine came up with a fab idea so they could both attend. We made up a pen in a secure field for Bob to get away from the dust etc that's in the stables. I was a bit sceptical at first as worried about rain and him escaping but used a portable fencer unit and it worked a treat and it did rain .... surprise surprise 😮 we put a light weight rug on him mainly to keep him dry to tack up It was absolutely fab and he loved it and so did my grandaughter as she sat chatting with him out in the fresh air he loved watching all the horses passing by. We tacked him up tied to the trailer or sometimes just in his enclosure as easy both ways. This did work for Bob and I'm sure it would for many others but we all know our horses capability in situations. How wonderful would it be to have our camps back 😍😍😍😍

I think we should all follow Della Ashman's lead and post our favourite Equestrian Camps South West photo! I have thousa...
18/03/2025

I think we should all follow Della Ashman's lead and post our favourite Equestrian Camps South West photo! I have thousands from the last 9 years! I'll start with this one of Sally-ann Taylor and JJ x

16/03/2025

Ok folks, here is some information and as much as I can give you right now. It takes time to put a camp together so bear with me! But here goes...

Put the date in your diary!!..21st - 23rd May 2025. Arriving Weds pm to set up, riding Thursday and Friday.

Venue is by very kind permission of Julia Dalley and her family - Goonbell Riding Centre. Goonbell, St Agnes TR5 0PN

With the exception of lessons in the indoor school we will be away from the main yard. It will be groups of 4 for an hour x2 a day which means you will get more individual attention but I hope this won't stop you from connecting with each other like you always do! I know group bonds become very strong at camp 😍

Instructors will be Becky Kennen and Jane Lavington.

Approx £265.00 per person, won't be more, maybe less. Including dinner on Wednesday and Thursday Breakfast and Lunch on Thursday & Friday. Hay and Grazing.

You will need to provide your own electric fencing for your pen, including energizer and battery. You can get mini solar ones and also small batteries ( or you can just be big strong and capable like we horsey people are and bring a car battery! ) You will need to poo pick and bring wheel barrows/skips for that. Pens to be no more than 12 x 12 for ponies 14 x 14 for horses because we don't want them getting into gallop mode!

For those without horses Julia is happy to hire a horse to you but you will need to book a lesson or hack with her prior so that I know you're going to be safe.

Bookings will go live as soon as I've finalised everything.

Maximum spaces 24 and we may only get this one chance. If we get it right and show Julia how amazing, kind, considerate and wonderful we can be, we may get a second chance ❤️ x

Please read previous posts for answers to questions you may have, if you still can't find your answer then ask. I make no promises at this stage but I will try to answer them x

If you've got this far like and share with your friends for me please so I know who's serious about coming?

CANNOT WAIT TO SEE YOU ALL AGAIN!! 💞

Address

44 Cadogan Road
Camborne
TR147RY

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Our Story

People keep asking me about camps, so I thought I would tell you a little story...

Busy as ever and stacked out, one of my liveries suggested that I came to camp with her. ‘It will be fun!’ she said.

Little did I know how much fun and that it was going to change my life in several ways.

I took my Vanner cob, Wilfy, because I wanted to get to know this little man better. The trouble with owning lots of horses is it’s difficult to have the intimacy that you have with just owning one. You’d never accuse Wilfy of being an affectionate horse, he was always quite aloof in some ways. But I had a deep trust for this horse and loved jumping him as much as he loved to jump, so we left the riding school in safe hands and went!