Boggabri gears up for Pony Camp

Members, family members and riders have been working very hard over the past few weeks getting ready for camp.

Whitehaven Coal have made a $8000 donation towards the cost of running the 2025 camp which starts next week.

There are many costs involved including – kitchen equipment (updated and/or replaced), cost of hiring venue, electricity, showers, toilets, food costs, trophies and ribbons.

All these things make an enjoyable experience for the children attending camp.

The kitchen is pivotal in keeping everyone happy and it’s a mighty big job to feeding 50 plus people three meals a day plus morning and afternoon tea.

A portion of the donation was used in purchasing new equipment for the kitchen as shown in the photo.

Last Saturday was the final rally day prior to camp and despite the weather, they had 10 riders brave the wind and rain.

During the morning, they measured out the dressage arena letters as a team bonding exercise, completed a dressage test in pairs prior to finishing off with bareback exercise.

While the riders were going through the final paces the parents and family members cleaned arenas, stalls, sourced hay, whipper snipped grounds, fixed fences, cleaned dorms, grounds and sheds, as well as cleaned, organised and stocked the kitchen.

Boggabri was one of the first pony clubs to be established in New South Wales.

The first camp was held in 1951 and the traditions established then are continued today.

The camp is modelled on the light horse camps of the First World War with Reveille and flag raising each morning and the Last Post and lowering the flag each evening at sunset.