Heavy Horse Camp

Friday 1st May to Sunday 3rd May 2026

BOOKING NOW!

Thursday 30th April - Arrival after 4pm

Friday 1st May - Training Sessions

Saturday 2nd May - Training Sessions

Sunday 3rd May - Show Day

Heavy Horse Camp, although Hosted by The Shire Horse Society, welcomes all purebreeds of heavy horse and is aimed at owners of all levels, from grassroots and novice to those more advanced.

It’s a great learning environment and we all take something away with us.

Each Camper can individually tailor the sessions that they would like to participate in during the two days of training sessions.

Day three is a show day, where you can put into practice all the new skills that you have learned (with a little help if needed)

Prior to camp you will be able to choose the sessions and topics that you would like to learn and participate in.

The Venue

Pickering Grange Equestrian

Ellistown Terrace Road

Ellistown

Leicestershire

LE67 1EZ

We are very excited to invite you all to join us at Pickering Grange, located just off Junction 22 of the M1 motorway in the heart of Leicestershire. A professionally run, friendly and modern equine facility set in the heart of The National Forest.  The site offers two indoor arenas and two all weather outdoor arenas (100m x 80m and 60m x 30m) with a free schooling/lunge arena and miles of off road hacking adjacent to the centre. Dedicated warm water wash-out areas.

On site catering and all meals included, toilet and showering facilities, large areas of hard standing for campers in horseboxes, trailers, campervans or caravans with optional hook up (extra charge and pre booking essential)
Tents will be on grass pitches. Wi-Fi, classroom and Bar.

Your horse will be stabled and a field will be provided for hand grazing of horses, as the owners would prefer that the grass verges around the site are maintained by their ground crew and not horses.
Dogs are welcome, but they must remain on a lead at all times, and please pick up and bin appropriately.

Ahead of camp we are on hand to help you get organised, we'll confirm your session choices, your meal choices, any clothing, bedding or hook up requirements. 
You'll also receive a campers checklist and helpful feeding advice for before and during camp to help you to prepare for your stay.

You are encouraged to join us between 4pm and 6pm on Thursday 30th April 2026 (No earlier please)

We'll be waiting to meet you, direct you to your parking area, and help you find your stable.

The welcome meeting is very important, it’s a great opportunity for us to meet you and for you to get to know all of our presenters and directing staff. We'll help you to understand the layout of the venue and allay any of your fears/worries.

Stallions/colts are welcome. They must be handled with a bit/bridle when out of stables and have a stallion bridle marker on. Please let us know in advance if you are planning to bring a colt so that appropriate facilities/stables can be provided for them.

If you have a horse who is difficult to load, please let us know in advance. We'll make sure we have experienced people on hand to assist you at home time.

We've listened to your feedback...

    As many of you will know, after our previous camps, we undertook an online survey and feedback exercise.  Our goal was to ask you what you would like to see and experience at camp.

We’ve studied your responses and we've made adjustments to reflect these atcamp 2026

2026 SESSIONS

• In-Hand showing - Learn how to handle your chosen breed in the show ring. What the judge is looking for, the format a showing class takes. 
  
  
• ManePlaiting - Learn how to plait your chosen breed's mane.
  
  
• Tails - Learn how to prepare and plait a tail for the show ring, for your chosen breed.
  
  
• Harnessing Up - Learn about different types of harness, how to fit, what you need for your chosen job. 
  
  
• Ridden Tack Fitting  - Presented by Carolyn Truss, a Master Saddler and Harness Maker. Learn how tack will best fit your horse, to aid you and make your horse comfortable.
  
  
• Harness Cleaning and Maintenance  - Learn about leather care and maintenance. 
  
  
• Rein Handling and Long Reining - Change for 2026. You'll have an allocated slot within the session to long rein your horse with instruction. You are encouraged to observe your fellow campers in their slots during the session as a learning opportunity.
  
  
• Ask the Panel - ask our experts all your burning questions! A range of experts will be available to answer your questions in this classroom session.
  
  
• Show Preparation - Learn how to wash out your horse's legs, how to safely use woodflour, how to prepare gleaming white feather for the show ring.
  
  
• Nutrition classroom session
  
  
• Driving Demonstration - Our experts will demonstrate harnessing up, putting the horse to a vehicle and driving safely.
  
  
• Driving and/or agricultural implements - Campers will be required to provide video/photographic evidence of their horses working in either shafts or chains prior to attending camp. ** PLEASE NOTE. We are unable to offer a breaking service at camp**
  
  
• Ridden Lessons - Novice and Open. Change for 2026. You'll have an allocated slot within the session to ride your horse in a smaller group with instruction. You are encouraged to observe your fellow campers in their slots during the session as a learning opportunity.
  
  
• Ridden Ring Craft - Learn how to compete in a ridden showing class, the common formats of a novice or open ridden class.,show ring etiquette, riding with others as you would in a showing class.