Course hosts pony camp

More than 50 riders and their horses attended a Pony Club camp at Southwell Racecourse.

Members of South Notts Pony Club, aged three to 17, spent a week at the course taking part in activities such as dressage, jumping, hacking and horse care.

The older children camped in the jockeys’ quarters.

The South Notts club’s district commander, Mrs Sue Hollingwood, said the camp provided riders with an opportunity to learn new skills.

She said: “They spend time with their friends and their horses and they are doing something outdoors.”

Mrs Hollingwood said the racecourse was the ideal place.

She said: “It is fabulous, especially since it has been refurbished because we have got all the facilities we need here and there are enough stables for all the ponies.”

Evening activities included ten-pin bowling in Newark, and talks on massaging horses and caring for their teeth.

Millie Bowes-Hall (11) of Church Walk, Upton, attended the camp with her pony, Puzzle.

Millie said she enjoyed the showjumping.

She said: “It’s good because I’ve got all my friends here and all the riding instructors are really nice.”