Bianca Top Citizen at Tumbarumba

Tumbarumba Wirlinga Pony Club had its first winner of the Young Outstanding Citizen award since 2005 at the Tumbarumba camp last month. Award winner, BIANCA LORENZO, describes her final camp.

On the 8th of January 2012, my last Tumbarumba Camp began. Day one consisted of placing our horses in specific yards that were allocated to us. These formed groups for those of all ages to be mentored by team leaders. My group consisted of Sharna, Miranda, Hollee, Jaymie and Chelsea. The day then continued with a gear check and signing-in to the dormitories. Little did we know that the best dorm mum out would have no trouble at all with all us girls!

We then found out the excitement of what troop we were all in. After lunch all troops ended the day with a flat riding/troop drill lesson and this determined if all riders were placed in the appropriate troop for the week (some minor changes were made). When all riding had finished for the day dinner was served and, for the first time in years, there was not one bit of food thrown across the table. Even though this was our very first day of Tumba Camp, we were all that little bit tired and went off to sleep without a fuss.

Throughout the rest of the week our days consisted of:
•           6am-“Good morning Tumbarumber”
•           6:15am-clean yards/feed horses/un-rug horses/check horses’ water (team leaders to check groups yards)
•           7am-breakfast
•           8am-saddle horses for the first activity/check horses’ water
•           12:30pm-feed horses/sponge horses/check horses’ water/lunch
•           1.30pm-saddle horses for second activity/check horses’ water
•           4pm-feed horses/sponge horses/check horses’ water/free time
•           6.30pm-dinner
•           7.30pm-feed horses/rug horses/check horses’ water (team leaders to check group’s yards)

Throughout the camp each troop would have at least a lesson of each activity. These included dressage/flat work, cross country, show jumping, team penning, tent pegging, polocrosse, mounted games surprise, horsemanship and troop drill. All activities were educational for both horse and rider even though some were more enjoyable than others.

The activities I personally enjoyed the most were showjumping and cross country. This was mainly because I love jumping and I am a one-day event rider.
As my horse is inexperienced, I feel it was extremely beneficial for him. Each activity gave him the new challenge he is always looking for.
Tumba Camp is what this is all about – giving you a chance to experience new activities that you may not get the opportunity to participate in often.
On the last day of camp every rider rode their horse in a parade that was led by a Scottish marching band down the main street of Tumbarumba. This is a tradition that the camp holds every year to conclude the week. After the parade, a thank-you to all those who helped put this camp together was given and awards for state riders are presented. There is also an award donated by Rita and Keith Ferry. This award is for a young outstanding citizen and is nominated by the zone 20 Tumbarumba Camp instructors. I was honoured to accept this award as it has not been won by a Wirlinga member since 2005, which was my first year.
I have had a wonderful childhood growing up around horses and participating in the zone 20 Tumbarumba Camp. It is a hard and tiring week but I would encourage every young rider at Wirlinga pony club to ride in it every year. I will try my hardest to return to the camp as an instructor so I can see our young riders grow and learn.
Thank-you to all those people that have made this possible for me for so many years, especially my mum Kayleen and my aunty Debbie!!!