THOMAS TRAINING

This English camp was the first camp held on location at Wildwind Farm.  The camp was supposed to start on Monday the 13th, but after a full day of rain, the camp was postponed to start on Tuesday, and run through Thursday.  It was well attended by local residents, and had visitors from Okanogan and Winthrop!  Attending the camp was Jessica Ackerson, Teayana Dillon, Rebecca Smoak, Nikki Willett, Baily Wallis, Lu Young, Marsha Wilson, Rebekah Eberly, Jae Cremin and Ema Manzo.  The camp was designed to teach riders the basic elements of three-day eventing, or just to improve their skills and become better riders.  The campers also learned how to wrap polo and standing wraps.  Braiding for mane length, and breed for show was also taught.  The camp had something to offer everyone, including splitting the participants into two groups.  The first group had greener horses, or beginning riders, and kept their jumping height to 18".  The second group was a little more advanced and they jumped up to 2'6" in height.  The camp ended with a fun show, combined with all three events.  The campers rode a dressage test, a cross country jumping test, and a stadium jumping test.  After the show, the riders all headed out on a mountain hack with trainer Melinda Thomas, and learned about conditioning and riding different types of terrain, required of three day eventing.  This camp was a great success, and was requested again for next year!