Side Saddle Camp

The first weekend of April saw me making the 11 hour journey up to Side Saddle Association Area 1 Camp, held at the beautifully located Ardmeddon Equestrian Centre in Aberdeenshire. This turned out to be a fantastic weekend, which was organised by Area 1 Chairman, Fiona Mackinnon. Jane Pryor and myself were the two instructors for the weekend.

We had 15 enthusiastic riders ranging from seasoned side saddle aficionados to those who were sitting aside for the very first time, the atmosphere was full of excitement, learning, and plenty of side saddle camaraderie. No matter the starting point for each rider, every participant made impressive progress—whether mastering balance, improving style, or simply building confidence in this elegant discipline.

Throughout the camp, riders enjoyed a variety of demonstrations, including, the cleaning of a side saddle, turnout tips for competitions and an explanation of different types of side saddle.

These sessions offered invaluable knowledge and sparked lots of discussion (and polishing!).

Not even Storm David could dampen spirits, the fun carried on regardless. Despite the wild weather, the smiles stayed bright, the enthusiasm stayed strong, and the horses approved of the adventure.

Camp was rounded off with the Area 1 Show, where there were qualifying classes for the SSA Nationals for the more experienced riders and a Novice class for the newer riders, where riders were rewarded with beautiful rosettes and sashes to celebrate their achievements over the weekend. It was a memorable end to a brilliant camp. I certainly felt very proud of the progress made by all the riders over the intensive weekend of training.

Plans are already underway for a camp in October, and excitement is building once again. If this camp was anything to go by, the next one promises to be another unforgettable experience for Area 1 riders!