riding camp: what to pack

[Jeannne92]

DD12 is going to England for a riding camp this summer (we live in Europe) for 12 days including travel so more like 10 days of actual camp. There will be riding, plus some English lessons, and a couple of excursions. I can't find in the literature how many hours of riding there are; it's on my list of things to check with the camp (so we know how many sets of clothes she'll need).

We have a list of all the equipment she will need and she has taken riding lessons for 8 years now and been to lots of holiday day camps, but I was wondering if there are any hot tips of other things she shouldn't forget to pack, please ?

A lot of wet weather gear if the weather so far this year is anything to go by . Whereabouts in England is it ?

Layers.
Rather than big jumpers/a big coat, lots of lighter sweaters, t shirts, long sleeve tops, a warm jacket, a light jacket, a rain jacket. The weather turns on a sixpence.

Thank you both. It's in Buckinghamshire. She has plenty of wet weather riding gear, luckily!

Waterproofs, layers, socks … usually they do two ridden sessions a day so enough riding tights/base layers and comfy clothes to hang around in during the evening

Waterproof fleece lined long chaps
3 x as many socks as you think she will need
Sliders
Wellies
Waterproof jacket that can be ridden in
Swim stuff (at pony club camp they always take the kids swimming as its the only time they shower in a week 🤣)
Snacks + bottled water
Check if they do a competition/show on the last day as she may need a show outfit
Long sleeves tops
Fleece tops without hoods
A few pairs of riding gloves as these always get lost

blister plasters are brilliant.

I have just bought some! Thank you for the tip.

Noted for socks, thank you. Pretty sure there is no competition or show but will check again.

For outdoor ed camps, I always sent dc with antihistamine for unexplained itching, their own antiseptic and mossie bite creams.

At age 12, I would also send a supply if period knickers and pads because you just never know. Plus washing powder. My line to dd was to never underestimate your body’s capacity to piss you off.

Thanks, DD has asthma and allergies (like 'hayfever') so takes medication which she will have. Have also got period knickers and pads.

Will there be mosquitoes in England ?

No idea. I’m not there. But a cream with a little anaesthetic is useful for all sorts of things so I just sent the end of a tube on each camp.

She will need something to deter horse flies if it is early summer. Also lots of pair of jodhpurs if she is riding all day for 10 days. Ideally one per day but definitely changing every two days with spares for wet weather.
Suncream and wet weather gear!

Worth checking if they do laundry otherwise as many pairs of jodhpurs as you have. DD came back from a week with everything utterly filthy although everyone there was the same.

Eye mask and earplugs as probably sharing a room.

End of their life trainers or spare croc type shoes.

Lots of bags to stuff dirty stuff in.

Leave your nicest riding gear at home as it may go astray especially if there's a laundry service.

Take second best brushes, hoof pick etc. for the same reason.

Sweets, snacks and water. They will get very hungry and may not like the food!

Make sure if she has a phone that the SIM is good for international calls!

Thanks so much. Hadn't thought of most of this but agree it's all really sensible. We have asked about laundry but no reply yet and she definitely has end of life trainers that will be going! Luckily she eats everything and has had some exposure to English food before. DH is looking into her roaming etc. We were hoping that phones/screens might be banned like in most camps for this age group, but no such luck.

show her how to measure herself for stirrups using the under arm method which means that her leg will fall into the natural riding position and secure her seat.