Just For Schools Training Camp supported by The Worshipful Company of Saddlers

The British Showjumping Just For Schools League Winners Training Camp, supported by The Worshipful Company of Saddlers, took place recently with great success.

The event featured 25 combinations aged between 9 and 17, who were divided into six groups. All participants were either Just for Schools league winners or placed riders, showcasing their skill and talent in the sport.

The Worshipful Company of Saddlers awarded British Showjumping with a training grant towards this training camp to support youth development in the sport. The training camp consisted of two ridden sessions per day, each led by experienced coaches. Starting with a polework session, Sara Copley, a British Showjumping Level 3 coach, provided valuable guidance and exercises to improve the riders' technique and precision. Building on this great work, riders moved on to a jumping session, led by Lily Beveridge, another Level 3 coach, allowing the participants to practise their jumping skills under her expert guidance.

Lily expressed her satisfaction with the event: “I thoroughly enjoyed coaching at the ‘Just For Schools’ winners’ camp this weekend. We had a great selection of young riders from the ages of 9 to 17, who had all respectively earned their place at the camp.  And what a fantastic opportunity for them!”

Lily explained further: “On the first day, I set up an exercise to work on rhythm, suppleness and balance.  They jumped the exercise on a circle and progressed into a figure of eight and finally down the distances, working on getting the correct number of strides for their horse/pony.

“On day two, I built a small course which included a double, a distance and a dog leg.  We then put into practice what they had learnt on day one, including perfecting our counting down the distances. I was very impressed with the standard of riding and how positive and keen all the riders were to improve.” 

In addition to the riding sessions, the weekend included various workshops aimed at enhancing the riders' knowledge and skills. Stephanie Jayne Brumpton conducted a strength and conditioning workshop, focusing on three fundamental aspects: mobility, activation, and performance. The riders were able to take away key tips for improving their riding and overall physical fitness. Laura Dempsey led a saddle fitting workshop, providing essential information on how to ensure the safety and comfort of the horse through proper saddle fitting. The interactive session allowed the riders to actively participate and learn practical skills. Hannah Wolverson, an equine physiotherapist, delivered a demonstration on equine massage and shared important insights on identifying potential issues. The attendees were even given the opportunity to practice some massage techniques on their own horses or ponies.

A talk by Sandra Hill from British Equestrian (BEF) focused on equine anti-doping and clean sport. The session covered topics such as the testing procedure and the importance of maintaining a fair and drug-free competition environment. This talk was attended not only by the riders but also by their parents, emphasising the significance of clean sport awareness.

The two-day Training Camp provided a balance of fun and education, creating a positive and supportive atmosphere for all participants. The riders had the opportunity to make new friends while honing their skills and knowledge in showjumping. The National Training Centre provided an exceptional venue for the event, allowing grassroots riders to experience training in a world-class facility, generating indelible memories and new-found knowledge.

Feedback from participants and parents was overwhelmingly positive. One parent expressed their gratitude, saying, "We would just like to say a huge thank you for a brilliant weekend. The coaching and demonstrations were fantastic, and the children had an amazing time. It was great for the grassroots riders to be able to train at such an amazing venue, generating indelible memories and new-found knowledge."

Another parent thanked the organisers, stating, "We would like to say a big thank you for such a lovely weekend. Our child found the lessons and sessions very helpful and interesting."

The British Showjumping Just For Schools Training Camp was a resounding success, providing young riders with an invaluable experience to enhance their showjumping abilities and knowledge. British Showjumping extends its appreciation to The Worshipful Company of Saddlers and NAF for their support in the delivery of the training camps.