This summer, I worked at a riding camp for girls aged 6-16 in Canada. I hadn’t even considered going away for the summer, I just happened to be reading the advert while waiting for a tutorial at uni and decided to apply ‘just to see’ if I’d be successful. Turns out I was, and I had the best summer of my life! There were a group of 7 instructors, 4 from the UK. We become known collectively as ‘The Brits’ and had an amazing time together.
The camp I worked at was unique as they own over 150 horses that live out together as a herd, whereas the majority of other camps loan horses for the season and never get to know each animal as an individual. Saddlewood camp is in Ontario, Canada and is set in hundreds of acres of land that has trail rides and cross country fences throughout it. The girls that ride at the camp are all given a horse for the two weeks that they attend, and they ride for an hour in the morning, and an hour in the evening. The girls have a mixture of flat lessons, jumping sessions and cross country riding and trails also.
My job for the summer was to instruct the campers in groups of up to 8. We taught for two hours in the morning, had four hours off during the hottest part of the day to relax, nap, sunbathe or do sightseeing. We then taught an hour’s stable management at 4pm to a group of up to 20. After stable management it was dinner, and then evening rides.
The riding levels varied greatly and I taught a range from girls that had only walked on a horse before to girls that compete regularly throughout the year. The real novice rides were extremely rewarding to teach as over the two weeks spent with each camper a huge improvement could be seen! Coaching someone through their first canter or jump is one of the best feelings, and very addictive!!
Obviously the teaching was the main aim of the trip, but the social and travelling aspect made it one of my favourite experiences ever. All of the staff and trainee staff at the camp were genuinely lovely people and I made some wonderful friends that I hope to stay in touch with/go back and visit!
We were given spending whilst we were away by the camp owners, and fed and housed for the length of our stay, which made the trip nice and cheap overall with flights being the only thing that had to be paid for! We were taken on trips out around the area, spent a weekend in Toronto, and went to see Niagara Falls which was absolutely stunning. We also got taken to a local rodeo, a dance, Canada’s wonderland and countless shopping trips!!
On return to the UK I missed the routine of teaching, riding and living with a large group of what became close friends. The sunshine and awesome countryside were also greatly missed!
All in all the trip was completely worth the cost of flights. It was an experience of a lifetime and I hope to go back next summer to do it all over again. If anyone is considering going away to teach at a camp then my advice would be to go for it! Have a dig on the internet, check out any facebook groups linked to your chosen camp and get involved!
