Rider Confidence Camps

Rider Confidence Camps

Our Rider Confidence Camps are geared towards riders who want to:


  • Increase their confidence
  • Ride to their ability
  • Enjoy riding more
  • Achieve more by addressing negative or self-limiting beliefs and behaviours


We have levels to suit all riders from non-jumping or X-pole classes to those out eventing or bringing on a young or green horse. All abilities and goals will be supported: whether you want to improve your performance when competing, overcome post-accident fears, return to jumping after a long gap, introduce yourself or your horse to XC obstacles like water, ditches etc., start to jump, ride confidently in open spaces or just enjoy your riding more.

What does an Aspire Equestrian Confidence Camp involve?

There are four ridden sessions included in your place at camp - Dressage, Poles OR Grids, Showjumping and Cross Country. Ridden sessions are taken in small groups, and you’ll be with people riding at a similar level to you and working towards the same goals.


There are three un-mounted demo sessions included in your camp experience. These include rider resilience and confidence talks.

Your camp experience also includes these benefits:

  • Welcome drinks
  • Full catering with plentiful, quality meals
  • Plenty of cake and snacks
  • On-site camping
  • Lorry parking
  • Stable for your horse
  • Shavings and haylage for your horse

Our camps also some offer some optional extras available at an additional cost. These include:

  • 1:1 confidence coaching with a Consultant Clinical/Sport Psychologist
  • Rider massage
  • Horse sports massage
  • Stable clearing service
  • A professional photography service.

Prices

Places on an Aspire Equestrian Confidence Camp are available at £345 each.

Upcoming Camps

Head over to our Camp Dates page to find out when and where our upcoming camps are being held. You can also secure your place on an Aspire Equestrian Camp using our Online Booking System.

View Upcoming Camps

The Delivery Team

Krissie, Katie and Lindsay are your friendly camp delivery team. They work hard behind the scenes to ensure your riding camp experience is the best it can possibly be!

Dr Krissie Ivings

Krissie is the director of Aspire Therapy Services Ltd. and Aspire Equestrian. She is a Consultant Chartered Clinical Psychologist and amateur eventer. She was a nervous rider following some serious falls, and has overcome her own fears to be able to event confidently. She is passionate about helping people re-discover the love! She is available for 1:1 sessions during camp.

Katie Blundell

Katie is responsible for Krissie starting eventing. And going to camps. And running camps. So basically she has a lot to answer for! Katie has been riding all her life and has a horse collecting habit that the team shamelessly encourages.

Lindsay Johnson

Lindsay is another Katie-convert to eventing. And camps. She has a gorgeous gelding who she shares with (has nicked off) her daughter. She says she is nervous but then jumps BE novice fences and says ‘I don’t know where that came from!’.


As a former events organizer, Lindsay is super organised and efficient. So she is your go-to person for timetabling, lesson queries and any other camp logistics. 

The Coaches

We have chosen people we use ourselves. Our lovely instructors are the kind of people who text you 3 days after a lesson saying “I’ve been thinking….”. They care and they really want you to do well. AND they are highly skilled and are brilliant at judging what you and your horse are ready for.


While we can’t guarantee availability, Maddy, Vicky, Evie and Mary are our regular expert instructors.

Maddy Moffett

Cross Country Coach

Maddy is a UKCC Level 3 coach, She has evented at CCI****L level and has competed dressage at Advanced Medium. Her main job and passion however is coaching. She trains all levels from the serious competitor to those taking their first tentative steps towards jumping. She finds helping riders achieve their goals hugely rewarding, whatever those goals are.


Favourite phrase: “where were you looking?!”

Vicky Bentley

Polework and Showjumping Coach

Vicky is a UKCC Level 2 Coach, BHS Stage 3 Coach, and is on the BHS Register of Instructors. She produces event and showjumping horses and has a particular interest in improving horse and rider symmetry with pole work and gymnastic exercises.


Favourite phrase: "Your horse can do a lot more than you think he can".

Mary Thelwell

Dressage Coach

Mary is a UKCC British Eventing Level 2 Coach. She has competed to CCI 2*. She is trained by Olympic rider, Andrew Heffernan and is aiming to compete her own horse at Advanced BD this year.


Favourite phrase: “Oh have we overrun again”!

Evie Gaskell

Poles/Grids and XC Coach

Evie is 22 years old and currently competing up to 4 star level in Eventing, with her horse Scampy. As well as some impressive competitions results, Evie is also a BHS Stage 4 Eventing coach, runs regular XC clinics, and developed a great passion for teaching while spending 18 months based with Pammy Hutton at The Talland School of Equitation.


Evie wrote: “I completely understand (from my own experience) that training the mind is every bit as important as training your riding! This is the only camp that balances the two and I can’t wait to meet you all (and your horses!).”

Camp locations

We run camps at Somerford Park Farm and Kelsall Equestrian Centre in Cheshire, as well as occasionally at other locations in Derbyshire and Staffordshire.

  • What our campers say


    “Krissie is absolutely amazing. After riding for years in my teens, I totally lost my confidence. I was terrified and never thought t I would sit on a horse again, let alone be cantering and jumping. In my first session I was petrified sat on my daughter’s horse on a lead rein. 3 sessions later I was jumping a metre. Absolutely unbelievable and totally down to Krissie’s sessions”


    Charlotte

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  • What our campers say


    Amazing camp, lovely facilities and caring instructors to build your confidence and have you exceeding your expectations!!!! I literally can’t believe how much I progress at these camps!


    LJ Tanglewood


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  • What our campers say


    All the team are so lovely and helpful. Positive vibes all weekend, great trainers too and gorgeous food! What more do you need?


    I would recommend to anyone, regardless of ability and experience, you will improve so much without even realizing. 


    I cant wait to go again this summer. 


    Jane Butler


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  • What our campers say


    I started writing this for a friend who asked me about the camp in a private message and thought that sounds like a review so here it is. Krissie who runs it was on our yard for ages and is a clinical psychologist - she has not had the easiest of rides in following her dream of being able to event but has stuck with the highs and lows that horses bring and so gets it. The 3 coaches are my go to coaches that I have oodles of faith in and love the fact that they are truly interested in helping to improve all abilities not just elite athletes which I and many are not x


    Sally Madden 

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  • What our campers say


    Brilliant camp, so we'll organised by a lovely friendly team with really fabulous instructors who really work hard to get the best out of you and your horse. Would 100% recommend and will definitely be back. Thank you all for the last 3 days it was great.


    Olivia Johnson

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  • What our campers say


    I cannot recommend Krissie enough. After a couple of nasty falls, my last one at the mounting block it completely shattered my confidence and I was at a point that I'd decided in my own head I could never get on my much loved horse again! Luckily Krissie is at our stables and offered to help. She worked a miracle because after 1 session I was back on ! She is still working with me and today I even ventured out of the arena. She’s fantastic at what she does and I'll always be grateful xxxx


    Sophie Webster


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  • What our campers say


    Just returned from our first ever camp - I can’t recommend it enough! If you’re unsure trust me it’s worth every penny and more. 


    It’s so well organised from start to finish. Nothing is too much trouble, they listen to you, the coaches were amazing and just get the best out of you and your horse. 


    I will definitely be booking again for next year. 


    Thanks for everything.


    Leanne Derbyshire

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  • How much does camp cost?

    Places on an Aspire Equestrian Confidence Camp are available at £345 each. A £100 deposit is required to secure your booking.

  • How many riding lessons are included?

    There are four ridden sessions included in your place at camp. Ridden sessions are taken in small groups, and you’ll be with people riding at a similar level to you and working towards the same goals. 

  • Are there any off-horse activities?

    We offer a varied programme off-horse activities, involving specialist speakers, demos and talks. See Horse Monkey for details of the particular camp you are interested in.

  • What else is included in my camp?

    Your camp experience also includes:

    • Welcome drinks
    • Full catering with plentiful, quality meals
    • Plenty of cake and snacks
    • On-site camping (for Somerford Camps)
    • Lorry parking
    • Stable for your horse
    • Shavings and haylage for your horse

  • What extras are available?

    We offer a variety of additional services, from 1:1 confidence coaching to pilates sessions and massage for both horse and rider. Full details for each camp are available on Horse Monkey.

  • Do I need to muck out?

    Livery is not included in the camps, so you will need to undertake all horse care tasks while you’re here, including mucking out your horse. 


    If you don’t want to clear your stable out at the end of camp, a stable clearing service is available at an additional cost.

  • Can I bring any guests?

    For camps held at Somerford only, non-Riding additional guests (parents/partners/children etc.) are welcome to attend camp. Each additional non-riding guest is charged at £50, which gives them access to all of the talks and demos, plus full catering.

  • Can I bring my dog?

    This depends on which camp location your camp is based at. Most camps are at Somerford Park Farm which has a strict "No Dog" policy.


    If you’d like to enquire about bringing your dog to a specific camp please contact us and we will let you know the rules for your chosen location.

  • Do I have to jump?

    There’s no pressure to jump at any of our Rider Confidence camps. All of our sessions are designed to give you confidence, improve your riding and bring you enjoyment.


    We are able to run all sessions (including SJ & XC) with non-jumping options, so you can still experience the discipline without having to leave the ground!

  • What age riders are the camps for?

    Our riding camps are predominantly aimed at teenagers and adults. However, younger children are very welcome providing they are happy in a largely adult environment. Under 16’s must be supervised by an appropriate adult at all times during the camp.

  • Can I arrive late/leave early?

    We can accommodate late arrivals or early leavers and move sessions around as needed, however there is no discount available if you do not take part in the full camp.

  • Can I bring a second horse?

    You can bring a second horse to a camp. Providing the horse has the same rider that already has a place on camp, a £75 discount is available.

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