A Pony Club camp checklist for you & your pony

About Pony Club Camp

Summer is here, school is done, and it’s time to spend quality time with your pony. Pony Club camp will be the highlight for any pony-loving youngster. Be ready to spend hours with your pony, meet with new and current friends and to learn LOTS about horses and riding. We’re here to help you enjoy your time at camp by making sure you don’t leave anything behind that you may need. So we’ve made this Pony Club camp checklist of everything you need to be ready for all your fun activities at camp. Camps can vary, some allow you to go home overnight if you don’t want to stay away but still want to experience the fun daytime activities. You can get all the information about your specific camp from your Pony Club so be sure to read through all of this.

Before heading off it’s a good idea to have the farrier out so your pony is neatly trimmed and shod as appropriate to try to avoid shoe losses and lameness that could stop you fully enjoying the experience. We also suggest labelling everything you take as there will be lots of children at camp all with similar kit. You could also write a list of everything you take so that you can check it off to make sure you’ve got everything at the end of the camp. You may already own most of the items on this Pony Club camp checklist, if not there will be some things you could borrow when you’re there or you could click on any of the links on this list to shop for those products online.

Pony Club Camp Checklist:

For the day:

• A waterproof coat suitable for riding in.
• Jodhpurs or breeches for the number of days including some white/beige for your competition wear.
• Your Pony Club sweatshirt.
• Your Pony Club polo shirt.
• Show jacket which should be either black/navy or tweed. Don’t forget your Pony Club badge on the left side of your jacket.
• Appropriate shirt for competition wear and pony club tie.
• Long sleeved shirt or cross country top.
• An up to standard body protector. This is compulsory for some activities such as cross country.
• An up to standard riding hat checked & tagged by the pony club. You will need a skull cap for any cross country. You may need a hairnet or scrunchie for long hair.
• Riding Gloves.
• Riding boots. You can wear long boots or short boots. Short boots have to either have jodhpur clips or half chaps.
• Appropriate whips. You may want a schooling whip for dressage
• Yard boots or wellies for your mucking out.
• Hi-Viz clothing and accessories if there’s a chance you may ride out.
• You may want a pen & paper to make notes on some of the new things you learn.
• Medical information, it’s useful to have a medical armband with emergency contact details just in case of any mishaps.

For the night:

If you’re not staying over night, you won’t need everything in this section of the pony club camp checklist.

• You will want some casual clothes to change out of after a day in jods. Think jeans (shorts if it’s hot), t-shirts, sweatshirts etc.
• Some camps will ask you to bring your own cutlery and plates, check with the organisers before hand.
• Plenty of underwear for the whole stay. You may want different socks for the day and evenings.
• Trainers or comfy shoes. These can’t be worn around the ponies for safety.
• Pyjamas, remember it may get cold overnight even in summer.
• Swimwear for use in the showers. Check with your specific Pony Club for washing arrangements.
• You’ll need a towel or two.
• Toiletries including toothbrush & toothpaste and sun cream too if its hot.
• Be sure to take any medication you need and let the organiser know about it.
• A hairbrush for your own mane.
• Sleeping gear, it is a camp after all! You may need a sleeping bag/duvet, a pillow and a camping mat or airbed. Again, you can check sleeping arrangements with the organisers beforehand.
• A torch is always useful.
• Your favourite teddy.

For your pony:

• Headcollar & Leadrope.
• Well fitted saddle with a spare girth too.
• A well fitted bridle with a suitable bit and safe reins. You can take more than one if you normally use different ones for different disciplines e.g. if you use a grackle for jumping & cross country but not for dressage.
• Martingale or breastplate if suitable for your pony.
• A neck strap often comes in handy.
• Take a couple of saddle pads or numnahs. This way you have a spare if needs be.
•  Studs are a good idea for a shod pony. Take your stud kit along and ask if you need help.
• Appropriate rugs. It may be that you only need to take a cooler but you could need a lightweight stable or a lightweight turnout rug too. It’s better to be safe than sorry and take too much.
• Any bandages and boots your pony needs for travelling, dressage, jumping, and in the stable.
• Your full grooming kit. You’ll want your pony to be sparkling! You’ll want shampoo and maybe mane/tail spray and hoof oil for perfect turnout. Don’t forget your sponges too.
• No doubt you’ll need a plaiting kit. You could take plaiting bands or needle and thread if you’re competent using them. You may  want to take both and even some easy plait spray to help.
• Tack cleaning kit. Give your tack a thorough clean before camp but it’ll definitely be needing a touch up while you’re there.
• Fly spray to keep your pony bite free while away at camp.
• You may need your pony’s passport, the organiser should remind you if so but you can always ask them to check if you should bring it along.

For The Stable:

• Hay nets, otherwise you’ll have a grumpy pony.
• Feed and water buckets.
• A good scrubbing brush for your buckets.
• Any extra feed your pony requires and somewhere to store it like a feed bin. You’ll also want a scoop for dishing it out.
• You’ll be needing mucking out equipment such as a wheelbarrow, fork, shovel, brush and anything else you normally use.

We hope you’ve found this Pony Club camp checklist useful. Speed up your packing with our printable Pony Club camp checklist. Here at Naylors we have everything you need for a successful camp. You can shop for any essentials you’re missing online or in-store.