Linwood was home to some furry tourists this week during the Western Ontario Region Pony Club’s annual Regional D Camp.
Some 23 pony clubbers, ages 7 to 24, from all across western Ontario came to the village with their ponies to take part in the sleepover camp. During the week, campers had twice-daily riding lessons, learned about the fundamentals of horse care and participated in EDSS-led sword fighting, juggling lessons and swimming in Elmira.
Previously held at the Paris Fairgrounds, the event moved to the Robinson Farm in Linwood for the first time.
Lori Robinson said the weeklong event was all about facilitating learning among the campers.
“We are learning about riding, we are learning about horse care. All of the riders are from all different levels – from beginner all the way up to advanced kids who are riding cross-country,” she explained.
The WOR Pony Club is part of the Canadian Pony Club, a member-based association managed by volunteers to serve the needs of Canadian youth who are interested in riding, learning about and caring for horses and ponies. The not-for-profit organization has the vision to provide a positive experience with horses through education, responsibility, sportsmanship and good citizenship for enjoyment or competitive success with horses.
The WOR Pony Club encompasses 300 members spread out between Blue Mountain, Headwaters, High Country, Willow Creek, Albion, Caledon, Grand River, Mill Ridge, Lake Huron, Westover, Guelph, Boomer Creek, Mount Nemo, Bright Water and Oxford clubs.
Although the club is split into different experience levels, the camp this week was held for lower level pony clubbers.
Unlike other sleepover camps, members must wake up and take care of their companions.
“They have to get up and feed their pony, make sure they have water before they eat and then they can go after to look after their stall. So they are learning a lot about ponies as well,” said Gillian Ross Erasmi of the Westover club.
This horse care is referred to as stable management by the Pony Club leaders, which is very important to learn when caring for an animal such as a horse.
Although on a short timeline, over the course of the week pony clubbers are learning about this stable management depending on their experience level. Younger participants learn about the different parts of the horse, how to act around the animals and the different part of tack to use when riding. More advanced youth are learning about horses’ confirmation and more about information pertaining to veterinary care – when to call a vet, how to deal with injuries and how to take a horse’s temperature, pulse and respiration.
“They learn about the saddle, the bridle. Then the basics of control of leading and working around the horse safely and then it is always progressive on building from there,” said Ross Erasmi.
She says that the best thing about pony club events such as this, is that it provides young girls and boys the opportunity to make friends over a common interest in an encouraging and supportive way.
“Our motto is loyalty, character, and sportsmanship – they are all just about hanging out and making good friends. It is kind of like Scouts or Brownies for horses, so the biggest thing is them bonding over their love for horses and then learning care and responsibility. Horses whether it is pony club or any other way they have so much to teach us,” she said. “For this camp it is just friends and learning, it is a great social experience.”
