Celebrating 80 years of Pony Club NSW in 2026!
The 2026 Pony Club NSW State Camp was an outstanding success, reaching full capacity with 75 riders across five disciplines – Dressage, Showjumping, Eventing, Mounted Games and Formal Gymkhana. The energy, enthusiasm and horsemanship displayed throughout the week reflected the strength and future of our Pony Club community.
We were incredibly fortunate to welcome a line-up of exceptional guest instructors who brought experience, professionalism and inspiration to our riders:
Each coach delivered structured, progressive sessions that challenged riders while building confidence and skill. Across all disciplines, the improvement from Day 1 to the final sessions was remarkable. Riders not only developed technically, but also grew in confidence, independence and horse management.
One of the standout experiences of camp was our visit to REC Equine Vet. Riders were given a rare behind-the-scenes tour of the hospital facilities.
We were privileged to hear from star veterinarian Leanne Begg, who guided riders through the operating and recovery rooms, explained the latest diagnostic technology, and demonstrated how CT scans are performed on horses. The opportunity to see cutting-edge veterinary care in action — and of course adore the beautiful foals in residence — was inspiring for many aspiring equine vets in attendance.
This experience added a powerful educational component to camp, reinforcing Pony Club’s commitment not just to riding, but to complete horsemanship and equine welfare.
In 2026, we introduced a refreshed timetable designed to provide even greater value to our riders. Additional unmounted breakout sessions were incorporated throughout the week, giving riders practical knowledge they can apply at home and at competition.
Sessions included:
These sessions were extremely well received, with overwhelmingly positive feedback from riders. The addition of these educational components strengthened the camp’s learning outcomes and broadened riders’ understanding of the wider equestrian industry.
In addition to rider training, we were proud to once again host our Advanced Instructors School alongside camp.
Thirty of our state’s accredited instructors attended for a dedicated professional development day, gaining the opportunity to learn from our elite guest coaches and observe high-performance training environments firsthand.
This initiative ensures that knowledge filters back to clubs right across NSW. By investing in our instructors, we are strengthening the standard of coaching at grassroots level and ensuring consistency, safety and progression for our members statewide. The feedback from instructors was extremely positive, with many highlighting the value of seeing different coaching approaches and engaging in collaborative learning.
Beyond the arenas and cross-country courses, camp is about connection. Riders formed new friendships across zones, supported one another, and built networks that will continue throughout their Pony Club journeys. They also enjoyed valuable time with their horses — developing partnerships, improving communication, and deepening their understanding of their mounts.
Evening activities of learning to plait reins and making a sports drink with Sian from Kohnkes, team-building exercises, Volly ball comes and games leadership opportunities for senior riders, and the shared camp environment fostered independence, responsibility and resilience, qualities that extend far beyond the sport.
The 2026 State Camp demonstrated what is possible when quality coaching, education, opportunity and community come together. With full numbers, expanded programming and outstanding feedback, this year’s camp has set a new benchmark for the future.
We extend our sincere thanks to our coaches, veterinary hosts, volunteers, organising committee and, most importantly, our riders and their families for making the week such a success. We give a big shout out to our sponsors Rodneys Photography for covering our photos and suppling us with memories we will cherish for ever and Sian Raines from Kohnkes Own for educating our riders with valuable information to keep our horses healthy and shinning from the inside out, and last but not least our Cooks Jude and Grant Coe, we would have but all very hungry without the hospitality that these to bring to our camp. Thankyou for looking after us so well.
The future of Pony Club NSW is bright — and 2026 State Camp was a perfect example of that.
