Severnvale offer a range of activities for children, including clubs, fun days at half term, and birthday parties In particular, it’s Clubs provide a great way to learn to look after and ride a pony as these group sessions provide fully supervised instruction, including riding, grooming, care of tack, and mounted games; as well as Pony Club approved tests. They are run by the Centre’s instructors who have a wide range of qualifications, expertise and experience and can cope with children of all ages and experience.

Things to do: • Bookings • Pre-school ponies • After school club • Saturday club • Sunday club • At home club • Pony club • Own-a-pony day • Have-a-go afternoon • Pony fun day • Jumping clinic • XC clinic • Mini SJ comp’tn • Summer Camps • Christmas show • Birthday parties

Contact:

Severnvale Equestrian Centre, Tidenham, Chepstow Monmouthshire NP16 7LL

To book a place please use the online system, speak to Debbie or Annabel or just telephone the office @ 01291 623412.

While their children are busy, parents can take a

‘quite minute out’ and make themselves some

tea or coffee in the Gallery Café if they wish to

wait - and just put something in the honesty

box.

Booking activities All you need to do is to use the link above or go to the ‘Children’s events’ schedule and select the activity you want to book for your child/children from the schedule; then ‘click’ directly on to it. This will then open up to show you all the details that you need to know, and provide the ability to book the item/s; as well as pay for the activity/activities if you wish; or you can arrange to pay for the activity when you turn up at the Centre. Nevertheless, these arrangements are flexible; so you can contact the Centre directly if you would like to book a specific activity with a particular instructor; which can be done by telephone, email or messaging the Centre via social media. Pre-school ponies  The benefits of children sharing creative activities with their parent are well documented For this reason, Severnvale are running these hour long sessions to help to develop their confidence, coordination and social skills; whilst also giving them an opportunity to express themselves. It’s also a chance for you and your child to socialise with other parents and children in the local area. These sessions are a great introduction to the world of riding for young people and their parents, who may not be used to being around ponies. What’s more, they are social, educational and great fun for both of you! Each session requires parental involvement, and aims to help both you and your child to become familiar around ponies; including learning to ride, riding practice and hands-on grooming. They are run by Janina Adami, who is Preliminary Teaching Test (PTT) qualified. Look at the to the ‘Children’s events’ schedule to see when this group meets. After school club  1½ hours of activities each Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday during the school term. This Club is a great chance for beginners to learn all of the basic skills, both about riding and looking after their pony; and for more experienced riders to improve their walking, trotting, cantering and jumping skills 4 till 5.30 pm each day - split between 45 minutes riding and 45 minutes of pony care. Make sure you book the lesson that suits your needs best - • Tuesday - Walk & Trot Group • Wednesday - Beginners Group • Thursday - Walk, Trot & Canter Group • Friday - Walk & Trot & Beginners Groups Look at the to the ‘Children’s events’ schedule to see when this Club meets. Debbie’s Teens  An hour’s fun session - for teenagers who have already mastered walking, trotting, and cantering skills; so that they can concentrate on these and improve them - younger-teens Wednesday afternoon - older-teens every Saturday morning Saturday & Sunday Clubs  A chance to have fun while learning to look after and ride a pony correctly; with fully supervised instruction, including as appropriate, riding, grooming, care of tack, and mounted games; as well as BHS Approved Tests. Lessons are are run in the following groups - including during school holidays - just choose the group that is best for you. Saturday Club  Have fun with Debbie while you learn to look after and ride a pony correctly - including during school holidays - just choose the group that is best for you • Beginners Groups: 12.00 - 1.00 pm & 4.00 - 5.00 pm - basic riding skills and looking after your pony - 30 minutes riding & 30 minutes stable management • Novice Group: 12.45 - 2.00 pm - covering walk, trot & learning to steer - 45 minutes riding & 30 minutes stable management • Intermediate Groups: 10.45 - 12.00, 2.00 - 3.15 pm & 2.45 - 4.00 pm covering walk, trot, cantering and jumping up to 60 cm - 45 minutes riding & 30 minutes stable management • Older Teens Group: 10.00 - 11.00am - covering walk, trot, cantering,& jumping up to 75 cm - 60 minutes riding Go to the ‘Children’s events’ schedule to see the times for these groups Sunday Club  Great fun with Taylor while you are learning to ride and how to look after a pony - including during school holidays - just choose the group that is best for you • Breginners Groups: 2.00 - 3.00 pm & 4.00 - 5.00 pm a special group for new riders who are learning to use a lead rein including mounting, riding, dismounting and pony care. • Lead Rein Groups: 12.00 - 1.00 pm & 4.00 - 5.00 pm a special group for new riders who are still on a lead rein - 30 minutes riding & 30 minutesstable management • Young Riders Group: 12.00 - 1.00 pm a special group for young riders just coming off the lead rein; who can walk and trot - 45 minutes of riding & 30 minutes of stable management. • Intermediate Riders Groups: 10.45 am - 12.00 pm & 1.45 - 3.00 pm a Walk & Trot group aimed at more experienced riders who can canter; so that they can improve their riding skills - 45 minutes riding & 30 minutes stable management. Go to the ‘Children’s events’ schedule to see the times for these groups Children’s at home Club  If you are stuck at home with nothing to do, or just you want to keep up to date with your riding knowledge, we have included some challenges in this special section so that you can do just that. Here you will find some special worksheets, which will count towards your Pony Club Awards, Badges and Tests; also some simpler challenges to test your horse and pony knowledge, as well as some puzzles and pictures to colour. Click here to go to the ‘Children’s at home Club’ Pony Club  This club is for clients under 25 years of age, and is open to both none pony owners as well as those lucky enough to own a pony. The Severnvale Pony Club is specifically for those who do not own a pony, but would like to take part in all of the Pony Club activities. Members benefit from activities organised by Severnvale, such as rallies, camps, competitions, tests and trips. The SVEC Saturday and Sunday Clubs, as well as Juliet’s Camps all work towards the Pony Club tests and badges. The Pony Club rallies are combined with the ‘Own a Pony Days’ Members also receive magazines and other information to help them enjoy their riding, as well as the chance to achieve: • Mini Achievement Badges • Equine Achievement Badges • Progressive Tests & • Efficiency Tests Look at the to the ‘Children’s events’ schedule to see when this Club meets. Own-a-Pony Day  These great days are run on a Tuesday and Wednesday during most school holidays and provide a child the chance to enjoy a pony for a day of activities and learning, with flat and jumping lessons, as well as stable management. • Previous riding experience required • Suitable for children aged 8 years plus or who can canter confidently • Includes a Pony Club Rally and activities • Most activities will be undercover - however, suitable clothing must be worn to match the weather on the day - wellington boots or long riding boots are recommended • 9.00 am to 5.00 pm - please bring a packed lunch • Booking required Look at the to the ‘Children’s events’ schedule to see when these days are due to take place. Have-a-go Afternoon  Ever wanted to try riding? - then come and ‘have-a-go’. Meet the ponies, groom them, and have a 15 minute group ride - then enjoy a fun quiz - all in an afternoon! Suitable for complete beginners of all ages • drop in between 2.00 to 4.00 pm • try riding and grooming • we'll lend you a riding hat to use on the day • we have lots of suitable ponies and horses • there's a competition to win a free lesson Special offer only £10.00 per person Look at the to the ‘Children’s events’ schedule to see when these days are due to take place. Pony fun event  Enjoy a session of fun and games - including pony craft, grooming, tack cleaning, mucking out and team gymkhana games - morning session 10 am to 12.30 - afternoon session 1.30 pm to 4 pm • No previous riding experience required • Suitable for children aged 5 to 11 years - however, younger children may attend providing that a parent / carer remains with them • Activities will be undercover - but suitable clothing must be worn to match the weather on the day - wellington boots or long riding boots are recommended • Booking required Look at the to the ‘Children’s events’ schedule to see when these days are due to take place. Jumping clinic  A great opportunity to improve jumping skills by taking part in this training session. It will teach you how to prepare your horse and yourself, about course design, and even about designing your own course to jump later! • Suitable for children aged 12 years plus • Participants must be able to walk, trot, and canter; as well as be able to jump at the appropriate height and prepare their pony / horse independently for riding • Includes a jumping lesson at an appropriate height, some theory on distance, and how to ride your line • Most activities will be undercover - however, suitable clothing must be worn to match the weather on the day - wellington boots or long riding boots are recommended • Booking required These clinic sessions are run in the following Groups • 10.00 am to 12.00 jumping up to 60cm • 12.00 to 2.00 pm jumping up to 75cm • 2.00 to 4.00 pm jumping 75cm and over These sessions take place in most school holidays Please see the SVEC Facebook page or look at the to the ‘Children’s events’ schedule to see when these jumping days happen. Cross country clinic  This ‘hands-on’ training session is organised and run by Debbie Wilding and designed to teach you how to approach and jump a course of Cross Country Jumps, so as to improve confidence, trust and technique. • Suitable for children aged 12 years plus • Participants must be able to walk, trot, and canter; as well as be able to jump a 2' 6" (0.75M) course and prepare their pony / horse independently for riding • Includes cross-country lesson, pony prep time and stable management • Some activities will be undercover and some outdoors - so, suitable clothing must be worn to match the weather on the day - wellington boots or long riding boots are recommended • Participants must bring their own body protector • Booking required • These sessions take place in most school holidays between 10.00 am & 1.00 pm and 2.00 & 5.00 pm Please see the SVEC Facebook page or look at the to the ‘Children’s events’ schedule to see when these days happen. Mini showjumping competition  Starting at 1pm - this will include a number of classes that range in height from 30 to 60 cm. • No previous jumping experience required • Suitable for children aged 5 to 11 years - however, younger children may attend providing that a parent / carer remains with them • Activities will be undercover - but suitable clothing must be worn to match the weather on the day - wellington boots or long riding boots are recommended • Please bring a packed lunch • Entries on the day or pre-book at the office Please see the SVEC Facebook page or look at the to the ‘Children’s events’ schedule to see when these days happen. Great Christmas Show  9th December 2023 A great festive event that is not to be missed - all welcome - hire our ponies or bring your own Join us for our annual Christmas Show, which usually includes, amongst other things: • Long reining • Gymkhana games, and • Show jumping starting at 1" 0" The tinsel will be out! - the ponies will be polished and ready! - so see you at 10 am All welcome - but please book or put your names on the list in the office as no entries will be accepted on the day For more information, please check the ‘Children’s events’ schedule, speak to Debbie, or telephone the office @ 01291 623412 Birthday parties 

Let us have the

mess - and you have

the enjoyment

Book a birthday party for a minimum of 4 people and SVEC will do the rest You will groom your ponies, get them ready for gymkhana games and then have plenty of fun when playing the games. You’ll go back home tired and with a smile. You are very welcome to use the Gallery Café area for any food you wish to bring. Cost £25.00 per person - and a special Happy Birthday rosette for the birthday child

Quite a lot of events take place during the school holidays, so look at the ‘Children’s events’ schedule for dates, details of the cost, and to book an activity; or check on SVEC’s Facebook page, to see when they take place. To ensure everyone's safety when they are at the Centre, parents must ensure that they and their children comply with the obligations set out in the "Help to keep Severnvale safe" section of this website.