Residential Riding Holidays for girls aged 8 to 15 years old
Ever wanted to live in a Stable and Learn to Ride? We have a self contained cottage where you can sleep metres way from 40 horses & ponies.
Arriving on a Monday, leaving on a Saturday you will spend 6 days and 5 nights with us.
The Cottage Matron will be overall responsible for your welfare throughout - she will look after you from 4pm every afternoon through to 10am, ensuring you are happy, entertained and well fed! From 10am to 4 pm every day you will be under the riding supervision of the Cottage Coach, riding twice a day, looking after your assigned pony, and learning the theory and practice of equestrianism – and having lots of fun.
Your schedule, and excellent transport links mean that you can also enjoy everything London has to offer with the Cottage Matron.
The course runs from Monday (4pm arrival & induction) to Saturday (departure by 12pm).
You will stay in a just refurbished fully equipped 3 bedroomed 1920’s Groundsman’s Cottage in the centre of the Riding School.
£1,190 per child BOOK HERE
Full amount is payable on booking. This is non- refundable but can be rescheduled if giving 2 full weeks notice.
A Typical Day
8am: nutritious buffet & cooked breakfast
9am: to the yard to look after your assigned care-share horse
10am-1pm: join Pony Day in Yard, Arenas and Gallivanter Meadow
1pm-2pm: pre-prepared packed lunch in Cottage
2pm-4pm: riding/gymkhana and/or Gallivanter Adventures in the Meadow
4pm–5pm: Cottage Matron’s Tea and Cottage Riding Coach feedback & lecture
5pm-6pm: free time/private time with pony/English lessons if booked
Evening activities (6pm to 9pm)
Monday: welcome, orientation, supper and induction
Tuesday and Thursday: travel into London to visit sights with Matron plus supper out
Wednesday: camp fire, music & food in Gallivanter Meadow
Plus, Friday from 1pm: optional trip to Windsor Castle & Thorpe Park
For more information read our brochure HERE.
Terms & Conditions
Our responsibilities:
* Children in Residential Cottage are under the overall supervision of the Director (whose number you will be given for 24/7 contact). Reporting to her are 2 key (DBS/ Safeguarding) personnel - their Riding Coach, responsible for their progress during the week, and, pastoral, their Cottage Matron(s) who will be with them overnight, responsible for food and all welfare.
* The Children will be involved in group riding/ camps/ Meadow activities and stable work throughout their time, and will be working & playing alongside non-residential children of similar age.
* No Residential child is allowed off site without staff accompaniment. This will typically be on a Tuesday/ Friday to the local supermarket/ cafe (we ask they have approx £50 with them) for preferred treats and, if opted on booking, on Wednesday afternoon/ evening to the Cultural London trip (e.g. musical theatre/ art galleries etc).
* Food is provided - breakfast at 8, lunch at 12.30, High Tea at 4.30 and Supper at 7.30. Bedtime, age dependent, is between 9 and 10 pm. Any allergies, or preference, or medical conditions, should be stated in writing before arrival. The prospective parent should contact us before booking if there is a major issue to ensure we agree this can be handled within the Cottage Camp.
* Mobile phone usage is restricted to 1 hour access pre-breakfast and 1 hour access between Tea and Supper. We ensure children are in touch with parents/ care givers at least once a day. We ask for 3 contact points. Phones and other devices are locked away between these times. We ask that children bring the minimum of luggage; all toiletries/ towels are provided and a washing machine is in daily usage. Jodhpurs/ leggings are ideal alongside casual.
* Horse riding is a risk sport and a New Rider Registration Form must be completed before arrival. On booking, you agree to the Director being responsible for medical care decisions during the stay period, in loco parentis, if no immediate parent access is available.
Your responsibilities:
* Prepare your child well for Camp - discussion, photos, thinking through scenarios. We are happy to come on Zoom/ Teams/ video to talk through with you both before Camp starts. We do not find homesickness to be an issue (horses help!) but we will work with you closely should this arise.
* Drop off (4-6 pm Mondays) is a key meeting point and we ask that this is done by the parent/ care giver, with min 30 mins discussion time, to cover any physical, mental and behavioural issues (major to be flagged before booking!). We ask that children are not dropped off by anyone other than a key care-giver. Pick up (11-12) on Saturdays should be prompt.
* Please notify us if the key parent care giver will be abroad during the Camp stay, or a minimum 2 hours away within the U.K. Should that be the case, we ask for a nominated guardian figure, within 100 miles of West London, to be 1/3 of the key contacts requested.