2026 Southern Hopefuls Camp
Huntingfield PC Grounds, 152 Howden Rd, Howden
Huntingfield Pony and Riding Club is delighted to again be hosting Southern Hopefuls for 25/26 eventing season. Southern Hopefuls 2026 (SH26) will run from:
Thursday 29th to Saturday 31st January 2026.
IMPRORTANT CHANGES FOR 2026:
SH26 will run as a day camp. There will be no overnight supervision for riders under 18 years of age. Those wanting to camp that are under 18 years are required to have an adult stay with them. Riders over 18 can camp at the grounds. Any non-riders staying overnight will need to hold working with Vulnerable Persons card, a copy of which needs to be forward to camp organisers prior to the commencement of camp.
There is no breakfast or dinner included in camp fees.
Those that choose to camp will not be permitted to ride on the grounds outside of lessons. It is advised horses are in their yards at dark. Horses may be hand walked in and around the arena areas.
SH26 will have the usual 24 rider slots, preference will be given to riders that are or are working towards qualifying for Trials 2026, Grade 1 to 3 combinations including Adult Pony Club riders qualified or working towards qualifying for Trials 2026. In the case that extra spots are available there may be a Grade 4 group allocated.
Riders need to have been attending pony club rallies and qualifying events and have a good level of fitness for both horse and rider, as it is an intensive 3 day camp.
Southern Hopefuls Camp 2025 have again been able to secure the ever popular Yona Lloyd, 4 star event coach from Victoria, who was born and grew up in Tasmania. Yona grew up in the Huon valley attending Huon Pony Club and evented to a high level in Tasmania before moving to the mainland to pursue his dream of working with horses and competing at the highest level.
We also have our very own amazing Andrew Gibson for Show Jumping & Fiona Fehlberg for Dressage! How lucky are we?
All coaches are highly qulaified coaches who also coach regularly at pony clubs.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to cater for riders who can only attend one day.
As the programme for SH26 is a high workload, it is expected all riders take part in all allocated lessons. We understand things happen and there will be times when you may need to miss a class, in this case please talk to the instructor of the class you need to miss and please be present where possible unmounted to learn and help with the class. There may also be theory sessions presented during the camp and riders are also expected to be in attendance for these sessions.
Cost is $375 - Lunch, T-Shirt and 3 full days of instruction are included
Southern Hopefuls Camp may be used as ONE qualifying rally for Trials.
Any queries to Meagan Sommerville - 0409 239 872 / [email protected]
ABOUT YONA LLOYD
Yona was a local Tasmanian rider who grew up in the Huon Valley. He was a member of the Huon Pony Club for many years and competed to the highest level he could in Tasmania. Once he realised his dream was to compete at the highest level and wanted to persue a life with horses he moved to Melbourne when he was 18! He had to work hard 7 days a week to gain experience and money to ride and compete his horses.
Yona now runs a very successful business just out of Ballaratt where he coachs, trains his own horses, clients horses, OTT and breaks in horses. He is a very busy man!
He also now has a lovely family who are also madly into their horses. His wife Nina also competed to a high level and more recently in dressage. She now has a very successful bit fitting business, teaches at the local TAFE, coaches and still rides when she has time and looks after her family. They have one daughter Asha who also attends Ballarat Pony Club and started her evening career on her ponies.
Both Nina and Yona devote a lot of time to both Pony Club and EA evening in Victoria. Both are instrumental on the running of Ballarat Pony Club.
A bit more about Yona and his horses..........Yona has produced 5 Star horse Sergeant Crisp, and multiiple horses to 4 Star level including Rivendell Heritage, Roadshark & Spenser Street.