Horse Back Riding Camp

The Horse Riding Centre is short 15 a 30-minute drive from Queen Ethelburga's College, superbly located in the rich farmland quite close to the spa town of Harrogate. This is one of the foremost areas in England for horse riding and equestrian events and the Harrogate Riding Centre is one of the TOP riding centres in the UK, in great demand by local and international competitors. The lessons take place during the mornings from 09.00 to 12.00 from Monday to Friday in Week 1 and from Monday to Thursday in Week 2. from 09.00 to 12.00.

 

The long-established Centre has been operating in the same family ownership and in the same location for well over 30 years and enjoys an excellent reputation based on an exceptional team of instructors and a great selection of horses suitable for all abilities from the beginner right up to top international competitors. As numbers are limited, early booking will be essential.

The Harrogate Riding School is well known for its very successful riding and competition school. It features high quality and patient instructors, horses of every size to suit riders of all abilities and outstanding indoor and outdoor facilities.

 

The Riding School is led by Jennifer Birtwhistle BHSI (Chief Instructor) and her son, Drew Birtwhistle. Jennifer is a highly respected and well-known instructor who rained at the internationally renowned ‘Cadre Noir’ in Saumur, France. Jennifer has been a Chief Examiner for the British Horse Society and Chef d’Equipe of International Show Jumping Pony and Horse teams. Jennifer is currently a BSJA judge and was formerly a Course Builder. In her riding career, Jennifer competed at National and International level in both Dressage and eventing. Following in the family tradition, Drew has competed at National and International level and represented his country in eventing teams as a junior.

 

The same expertise and enthusiasm has helped Jennifer and Drew build up a superb teaching team over many years. The beginners quickly move on to intermediate level. with the instructors concentrating on giving confidence to the inexperienced riders so that they have a sound basis to make rapid progress, soon walking, trotting, cantering and beginning to jump logs and eventually small fences. Then there is the fun of easy competition and pony games! In addition to specialising with beginners and intermediates, the Centre enjoys a first-class reputation for training top class competition riders too. This includes high calibre riders at local and national levels in show jumping, cross country and 3-day events, with an acknowledged expertise in the demanding skills of the dressage discipline.

 

Jennifer, Drew and the team operate a disciplined regime, with the emphasis on safety, yet finding the right mix between encouraging hard work on the one hand making an interesting and fun experience on the other. There are fun games and competitions that keep all the riders interested!

 

The stable block and facilities are set in beautiful open and wooded countryside, making safe hacking for both developing beginners right through to top riders who have a chance to let off steam and gallop in a safe environment.

 

In addition to the riding instruction, campers must also learn about the care of horses, bandaging for the protection of the horse, plating, tacking up, brushing and washing the horses after work, cleaning the tack and the important tasks of stable husbandry, all important elements of this comprehensive course.

 

The instruction takes place in a variety of exceptional locations, depending on the ability level and the particular discipline under instructions. These include:
- a superb indoor arena, with a large viewing area
- an outdoor Showjumping arena with water obstacles, banks and ditches
- an extensive cross-country course
- an outdoor menage with café
- acres of open fields with access to magnificent forestry. In addition there is a tuck shop, a relaxing area and a classroom for the study of Stable Management

 

One of the highlights of the Camp is the jumping and dressage competitions for the different ability ranges on the last morning with a Rosette Presentation Ceremony!

The camping site, Queen Ethelburga's College, provides an exceptional standard of state-of-the-art accommodation. The Camp has an impressive range of leisure and sporting facilities, all in the glorious 'parkland' setting in the green Yorkshire countryside. Other highlights are the full day excursion to Manchester, with fun activities and the half day visit to the historic, walled city of York. In the afternoons and evenings, campers enjoy an exciting range of activities. Highlights are the fun team competitions on BIG Day, International Night and the Talent Show night.