Holiday Watching - How to Trim A Horse's Hooves

In my quest to make learning to ride as easy and enjoyable as I can for you, I’ve recently come to realise I can only do it when our horses’ hooves are balanced correctly.

After years of taking it for granted, the last few years have been a bit tricky making that happen…

Thank you, Pip, for telling me about the brilliant Farrier Course you did with David Farmilo a few years ago, and sending me his website - www.horsefarrier.com.au!

It’s been an ABSOLUTE WEALTH of information, and the videos are shot, quick and full of great usable advice.

I couldn’t wait to share it with you!  

Hopefully you have some time through the holidays to watch his quick videos on www.horsefarrier.com.au.

And if you’re joining us for a ride or a camp at Saddle Camp, I can’t wait to hear your opinion on our horse’s confirmation and movement!  

It’s a great way to develop your eye on how a horse is supposed to move.  Really important if you’d like to buy one, and especially if you’d like to compete.

I’ve always heard No Hoof, No Horse, and I really believe it now :)

Have fun watching, and I hope you have an Absolutely, Fantastic Autumn Holiday!

From Helen, Destiny, Axl, Cadie and Champ xoxox

Would you like to Ride a Horse on an Easter Egg Hunt?

Then join in the

Easter Eggcitement at Saddle Camp!

You can ride in a Mini Adventure Ride on Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday, where we stop and hunt for Easter Eggs on the trail.

Stay for a Horsemanship Day (which includes an Easter Egg Hunt Ride) on the Saturday.

Ride in a Picnic Trail Ride, where we stop and hunt for Easter Eggs on the trail, on Easter Sunday.

Ride in our Show Day on Easter Sunday, with Easter Eggs awarded - as well as a trophy or rosette.

Ride in our Gymkhana on Easter Monday, winning Easter Eggs as well as a trophy or rosette.

Or join in an awesome River Ride with an Easter Picnic and an Easter Egg Hunt, on Easter Monday afternoon.

If you have any questions at all, reply to this email or call/text Helen on 0417 456 093.

We hope you have an EGGSTREMELY awesome Easter break :)

From Helen, Rob, Blake, Dexter, Carson, Destiny, Axl, Cadie & Champ xoxox

P.S.  Click the links for each of the activities to see all the details and to book your ride, or see www.saddlecamp.com.au.

Ride Horses this Canberra Day Long Weekend!

This weekend coming (9, 10 & 11 March) celebrates the day Canberra was officially named in 1903.

It was originally named Canberry (which means Meeting Place) by a local Ngunnawal clan.

And you can celebrate by meeting your old friends or meeting new friends,

riding horses at Saddle Camp!

There’s just a few places left for our:

Show Day

Gymkhana

River Ride

See all the Details Here

You could even stay for a Sunday Night Camp that would include our Show Day, Gymkhana and (optionally) our River Ride.  

It’s not on the booking system as it’s a little “customisable”, but you can hit reply to this email to ask questions and/or book in.

The Cafe is open for your parents to chill at, or to take a picnic out and relax in a hammock.  

Tell your brother to bring his bike or skateboard for the new Skateboard Park in town :)  

The swimming holes nearby are divine to cool off, and the weather is perfect for being outdoors.  

Check out www.saddlecamp.com.au and www.braidwoodfarmstay.com.au to plan your awesome long weekend!

And call Helen on 0417 456 093 if you have any questions!

Wishing you a Very Happy “Meeting Place” Weekend,

from Helen, Rob, Blake, Dexter & Carson xoxox

Braidwood & Villages Events Calendar Link

From Skateboarding Lessons to the Braidwood Show just this weekend…

Save this link for your parents and brothers - for your next visit for horse riding…

Events Calendar Link

Holy smokes!  Apart from Horse Riding at Saddle Camp, I had no idea there was so much fun events happening in the rest of Braidwood!

Our local Chamber of Commerce has put up an online Events Calendar for all of us local businesses to let everyone know what’s going on.  So we can join in too :)

I couldn’t believe that this weekend has skateboarding lessons on Sunday AND there’s a Car Show joining in with our Braidwood Show on Saturday.

Save this link for when you’re next visiting for horse riding.  

Your parents and brothers will have a brilliant time too, doing something they love.

I’ll save this link on our Braidwood Farm Stay “Play” page too.

Looking forward to seeing you for loads of fun soon!

From Helen, Rob, Blake, Dexter and Carson xoxox

P.S.  Just click the tab for “What’s On in Braidwood and Villages” and it will take you straight down the page to it.  

When you click on any event you like, it comes up with ALL the details.

Saddle Camp’s Champion’s Challenge is back for 2024!

Every year from 2007 to 2018, we’d invite our Trophy Winners from that year’s Riding Camps to come back to compete in a Riding Challenge for:

HUGE trophies (up to 3rd place),

a Saddle Camp Champion Rider shirt,

and an awesome weekend of Sleeping under the Stars

at our Saddle Camp Sleep Out.

In 2019, the drought brought our Tradition to a screeching halt.

But we’re FINALLY ready to celebrate again!

If you win a trophy at Saddle Camp this year, you’ll be invited to compete in our Champions Challenge on Saturday 21 December.  

It’s a timed Obstacle Course bending through poles, moving Santa’s Sack, riding a Keyhole and jumping a Spread.

There’ll be HUGE Trophies awarded up to 3rd place, and the Winner will be gifted a Saddle Camp Champion Rider ‘24 polo shirt.

And EVERYONE will have the opportunity to book in for our Saddle Camp Sleep Out that night, with loads of action on the Saturday and Sunday - 21 & 22 December.

Our 2024 goal is to have a roof over the arena ready for our Sleep Out.

And over the weekend of 21 & 22 December, we’ll have many other riding and non-riding challenges, games and excitement.  

Wishing you an ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC year ahead, and we really can’t wait to see you at the 2024 Champion’s Challenge!

From Helen, Rob, Blake, Dexter, Carson and all our Team xoxox

For the Parents - Gin Making School in Braidwood!

While the children are Riding Horses,

you can go on your own Spirited Adventure!

At the Braidwood Gin School, you’ll:

Learn about the World of Gin;

Taste Gins in a curated Gin Tasting Session;

Craft your own Gin Masterpiece with a Symphony of Botanicals;

Do the Distillation Dance - weighing, selecting and adding their chosen botanicals;

Perfect your Proof;

Label and Cherish your creation.

Click here for all the details!

The Braidwood Gin School is brought to you by Holdfast Distillery and is located at the Braidwood Hotel in town.  

10 minutes away from Braidwood Farm Stay :)

See www.holdfastdistillery.com.au for more details.

The Spa has Arrived!

We’ve set it up under the verandah of the Clubhouse, next to the arena, with a pool safety fence around it.

You’re going to love it on those hot days!

When you get too hot riding in the arena, you’ll be able to quickly jump in the spa to cool down.

Then at the end of our big day of riding, we’ll put the bubbles, lights and music on to relax those muscles - and have fun!

If you ride your bike or horse out for a treat at the cafe, you can cool off quickly in the spa.

And if you’re staying overnight in a Tiny House or our Clubhouse, you’ll be able to relax in the warm bubbles and enjoy watching the stars and the visiting possums.  

But Saddle Camp Riders get first priority!

Farm Fresh Eggs for sale at our Farm Shop

This is our favourite recipe to cook with our chicken’s eggs.

Join our Exciting Weekend in Braidwood! 4 - 5 November

Explore the Open Gardens around Braidwood, and meet Jackie French at Mona Farm.

Watch the Mounted Games “Friendly Match” at the Showgrounds.

And pop into Saddle Camp for a ride, and to try some Lavender Shortbread.

We’ll have samples of Lavender Shortbread (made with lavender picked from our garden, with bees gently removed), and Wattle Seed Shortbread for you to try.

We’d LOVE to hear which is your favourite! Then we’ll add it to our Menu.

Looking forward to a magical weekend, and hope to see you then,

from Helen

P.S.  We’ll be open Saturday & Sunday, from 9 am to 7 pm.  

But book ahead for horse riding.  

And if you have any questions, call Helen on 0417 456 093.

Would you like to be a “Mystery Shopper” for Tiny Away?

I just received this letter from Tiny Away, and thought you might be interested…  

Tiny Away is looking for a Brand Ambassador, where you'll play a pivotal role in promoting our extraordinary tiny homes, nurturing meaningful connections with our customers, and sharing the joy of minimalist living.

Our Brand Ambassador must:
* Enjoy traveling
* Like a short getaway
* Have a great memory to recall the details of your stay
* Be no stranger to feedback forms and reviews.

Prepare for an unforgettable one night stay at one of our charming Tiny Houses in the state that interests you.

You might even be among the FIRST to experience a Soon-to-Launch tiny house.

You can bring along a plus one to share in the joy.  Good things are even better when enjoyed together!

Click here to Apply - Become a Tiny Away Brand Ambassador in Australia & New Zealand (google.com)

Hopefully they choose you, and you choose to stay at Braidwood Farm Stay!

Go Medieval at the Queanbeyan Medieval Fair 23-24 September

This sounds so exciting.  ESPECIALLY when I heard my awesome neighbour, Shell Ridley, was invited to ride her Clydesdale in the Horseback Archery demonstration!  

And another friend, Darryl Bossley, will be riding his Friesian in the Jousting bouts!!!  

You’ve probably already met Zoe, Shell’s daughter, working here, and this is Shell and Stoic pictured here, in training :)

This is the lowdown:

Welcome to the Queanbeyan Medieval Fair! This new, fun and family-friendly fair is coming to Queanbeyan Showground, beckoning patrons from the ACT, NSW and all around. Grab your tickets for an action-packed weekend of medieval combat, merchants, crafts, re-enactors and a whole lot more.

This year’s event will also feature a great range of foodies with something for everyone along with their Medieval Tavern serving up ales and beverages fit for a king or queen.

Overlook all the action from the 200+ seat grandstand and cheer on your favourite knight as they show off in jousting & horseback skill-at-arms.

HAZZAH!

And when you’ve had enough cheering on other people riding gorgeous horses, come out to Saddle Camp/Braidwood Farm Stay & Cafe and try it yourself!  

We’re busy getting our swords, bows and arrows together for some awesome photo opportunities for you that weekend.

To book your ride, see www.saddlecamp.com.au, call Helen on 0417 456 093 or email thesaddlecamp@gmail.com

The Perfect Addition to a Mum & Daughter Weekend Away.

I was blown away last week when Corinne Lawson, from Skin & Sage Creative gave me her Treatments List for Facials and Massages she can provide to our guests staying in our Tiny Homes!

If you’re looking for a super relaxing weekend, where your daughter (or son!) can spend all their time riding with us, and you can:

• Have your meals served to you;

• Swing in a hammock for hours; AND

• Have a Hydrating & Soothing Facial, or a Body Polish and Massage;

  Then choose your dates and we can make it happen!

All the details are on www.braidwoodfarmstay.com.au/play, or

call Helen on 0417 456 093.

You’ve got to be Kidding!

Baby Goats to Cuddle?

Our little babies are due in the first week of January…

If you’d like to cuddle the babies too, book your Riding Camp, Tiny House Farm Stay Adventure or Shepherds Breakfast Working Farm Tour from 9 January onwards!

You can see the Wedding Video here - Aslean the Mini Angora buck meeting Passionfruit and Mango, our beautiful Saanen does.

And this is the happy family today…

I didn’t want the Winter Holidays to end…

See a collage of our Magnificent Winter Riders here.

Savour Ciders at Braidwood Farm Stay Cafe

The amazing Sully family has kindly let me pair their vibrant ciders with our Ploughmans Lunches for our guests here at Braidwood Farm Stay & Cafe/Saddle Camp. You don’t need to pair it to enjoy it though!

I can’t think of a better way to spend a sunny afternoon than swinging in a hammock, snacking on cheeses and sipping cider!

The ciders are made at the Old Cheese Factory in Reidsdale with apples collected from local farms.

In the 1800's Reidsdale was known as Irish Corner. Many Irish immigrants settled here after having success on the goldfields. It has rich alluvial soil, moistened daily by the Monga Mist that moves in each afternoon, making it an ideal place for cottage farms. These farms fed the 30,000 gold fossickers who moved through the area in the 20 year gold rush.

It was also beautiful land for dairying, and the local rural co-op built a state of the art cheese making facility in 1912. But after World War II the cheap fuel prices made it easier for cheaper/inferior quality cheese to flood the market, and the Cheese Factory closed in 1957.

Nearly 50 years later, the Sully Family immigrated from Wales to ACT to work on the New Parliament House. They fell in love with the Braidwood District and opened the Deli in town. Then they received a Grant from the National Trust to restore the Old Cheese Factory. It’s now used again as a community commercial kitchen, where local growers bring their produce for bottling, pickling, baking, etc.

Gary Sully was blown away by the wide variety of heritage apples coming in through the doors from the old local orchards. Gary says “Cider making lore says to make a good cider, put a rainbow in your barrel. Red uns, green uns and yellow uns.” In his Sparkling Cider - the Perky Pecker - there are 8 different types of apples.

We have his Mad Hare Still Cider, Frisky Fox Still Cider, Perky Pecker Sparkling Cider and non-alcoholic Rhubarb & Ginger Beer available for sale in our Farm Shop.

Chilled and ready to drink :)

You can visit us all all weekend - from 9.30 am to 7 pm!

This is Dexter sampling the gorgeous Rhubarb & Ginger Beer https://youtube.com/shorts/wfJvAFSWMAk?feature=share.

Thank you for our Eco Fridge!

A HUGE Thank You to the State Government for providing The Saddle Camp and Braidwood Farm Stay & Cafe with a FREE eco friendly display fridge!

And I’m so sorry that I thought it was a scam when you called the night before with the offer .

This has just fleshed out our Farm Shop beautifully!!! Can’t wait to fill it with our fresh produce from the gardens .

Perky Jo Coffee Beans at Braidwood Farm Stay :)

Thank you so much for being interested in all the action at the farm!

It would be wonderful if you were able to make it out here, have a cuppa and a good look around. I’d love to hear your ideas, and to run mine past you too!

And if you choose to have a cup of coffee here, can I tell you more about the roasted beans that your coffee will be made from?

 A few months ago, we had a lovely couple arrive for a stay in our Tiny House. They asked if they could join in our Working Farm Tour, and headed out with Rob and the boys while I prepared their meal.

 Ash (the husband) and Rob got talking about the landscape, the wildlife and the enjoyment of working with your children in a family business.

It turned out that Ash and Shiroma have a Coffee Roasting company that their children are also involved in.

I heard snippets of the conversation and was intrigued. I’d LOVE to have my children happy to work with me and making their own careers alongside mine.

Ash was kind enough to spend a few hours talking to me about how they work, and he had some AMAZING ideas for our Farm Shop that Rob and I are dying to implement. We’re working on it!

But in the meantime, I sampled some of his coffee beans. And Oh My Goodness, I fell in love with Perky Jo, with toffee, caramel, hazelnut and pineapple notes in the aroma and flavour. It’s a blend of 2 roasts – with beans from Cerrado (a vast ecoregion of tropical savanna in eastern Brazil) and from New Guinea’s Highlands Area. Perky Jo won Bronze at the Australian International Coffee Awards in 2014.

 As I was sipping away, I got to hear more of Ash’s story. I loved the way he told it. Just a gentle, flowing tale of growing up on his grandfather’s coffee plantation in Gampola, Sri Lanka. Picking the coffee cherries with his cousins, eating the cherries and handing the beans (seeds) to his aunt, who roasted them in a pan over a fire. And he fell in love with cooking and hospitality.

 Coffee’s in his blood, but he knew from the age of 9 that he wanted to be a chef, and after finishing his training he travelled the world working in high-end restaurants and hotels. He settled with his wife in Melbourne. He explained to me that the water in Melbourne is the very best in the world. I think it’s to do with the hardness level. Ash said that even in Italy – renowned for making coffee so famous – they have to import bottled water to make their coffee taste good.

He was happy I was using filtered rain water to make our coffees 

He opened his own café in Melbourne with his wife, Shiroma, and his children worked with him as they went through uni. He opened a Coffee Roasting house next door to the Café, and in the covid lockdown he was able to close down the Café, and immerse himself in roasting coffee.

Ash has moved up here to work with the Space Kitchen in ACT, and his wife, Shiroma, is enjoying the change of pace here to write her third book.

If you’d like to pop in for a cup of “Perky Jo”, we’d love to see you. Order ahead so we can make sure you have a great experience 😊. 

 Go to www.braidwoodfarmstay.com.au/cafe and order your treats, picnic or meal, and then send a quick message to me on 0417 456 093 to let me know where you’d like it served - in your Tiny House, in a Picnic Hamper (with a rug, hammock and treasure map to a secret location), or at the Clubhouse (in the Playground, inside the Dining Room or under the verandah).

Or you might like to take a supply of Perky Jo beans back to enjoy in your own piece of heaven.  250g bags are $15.50.

If you have any questions at all you can email braidwoodfarmstay@gmail.com or call

Helen on 0417 456 093

Destination NSW

Hi Helen,

Our PR team has been working with Destination NSW on some content for their media centre. Destination NSW is the tourism board for NSW and their media centre has a readership of over 4,000 journalists who utilise the platform for story ideas and inspiration:
https://media.destinationnsw.com.au/tiny-house-stay-you
We're happy to see that they have chosen The Saddle Camp as the cover photo. Thank you again for all the efforts you put in and for making this tiny house a success!

Have a good day ahead!

Cheers,

Angela @ Tiny Away

Our Grazing Blog

This time last year I took a photo of a cow in Martin Royds' paddock at Jillamatong. The cow was standing in grass up to its neck, and you could just make out its head and topline. I put the photo on Saddle Camp's page, and marked it as "My Goal".

I can't believe we did it! Thank you rain! And another lovely season - and #alansavory for his books and courses on Holistic Management!!! And the Grazing Mastery course, Gabe Brown, Joel Salatin, etc :)

I heard a Guest on "Working Cows" last week say that he was using his Instagram Account to hold his monitoring photos, because it's easy to access them and see them in date order. And I think its a great idea. So please don't feel compelled to "like" the photos that are going up! There'll definitely be days when I'll be giving myself the Thumbs Down when I misjudge that day's grazing area and I go too heavy. But fingers crossed the photos show more groundcover, healthy happy horses, and lots of plant and wildlife diversity.
#horses #grazing #jillamatong

We did it!