FOR RIDERS
Pony Club Efficiency certificates are a great way of demonstrating your horsemanship skills, including riding, stable management and safety aspects of working with your own and other people's horses. Your Pony Club certificates are also a good measure of how ready you are to represent your own pony club, or even your state -- to be part of state teams in all disciplines you must have your C Certificate, and if you want to be part of the Trans-Tasman competitions, you must hold a B Certificate.
But even if you aren't planning on going to the Olympics, certificates are important. You certificate badges can tell anyone what level of knowledge you have, allowing visiting instructors to judge what you already know, and what you may still need to learn. They also tell people with lower certificate levels than you, that it is worth asking you for advice.
And Efficiency certificates are an excellent way of keeping Pony Club fun and useful throughout your riding career.
TO CONSIDER BEFORE TAKING YOUR TEST
Before you take you certificate examination, it is important that you are properly prepared. Not only should you be absolutely sure that you can do everything that is asked of you in the practical section, and that you can answer all aspects of the written exam (if there is one), but you should also be sure that you have everything you need for the exam day. For instance, for C certificate and above you will probably need to bring your own first aid kit and rugs among other things. D - C Certificate candidates must bring their own grooming kits to exams.
Another aspect of what-to-bring that should be checked out is your horse. You must be able to prove that you can do all of the things on the certificate requirement list, so if you have to do jumping, make sure you bring a horse that can jump at that level. The same thing goes for a flatwork horse or a lungeing horse. Remember, you do not have to use your own horse for all of the areas of your exam, so if you know your horse cannot jump 85cm, find another horse for your C* certificate. (And of course, if you do borrow a horse, make sure you know it well enough before your exam day!)
There is usually a list of equipment you will need on the certificate syllabus outline (see under each seperate certificate in the list on the left menu).
FOR PARENTS
Taking certificate examination encourages your children to be knowledgable, safe and competent with a range of horsemanship skills from feeding to rugging, shoeing, health and plenty more! Experience in an examination situation is also valuable experience to any rider.
Where to start
D/D* Certificates are the first examinations that any rider may take -- they include basic safety and competence with everyday activities such as grooming, tacking up (may be assisted), parts of the horse, basic riding skills. Check out the certificate criteria under D or D* on the menu left.
Helping your child take their first exam
Pony Club Australia has released D and D* Syllabus handbooks for rider to read and learn from. They provide a comprehensive outline of all knowledge required to take the first examination. Revision of these skills is invaluable in the lead up to the test, and is a great way to work at home.
Is there a certificate for Parents and Non-Riders?
There is! The H Certificate was formaulated to provide opportunities for parents and non-riding pony club members to gain knowledge of the horse. It includes horse health, conformation and anatomy and pleanty more -- see the H Certificate on the left menu above!
FOR COACHES
Value of certificates in teaching
Certificates are intended to be an integral part of all Pony Club Syllabi, encorporating ability-appropriate skills and knowledge into fun and applicable lessons. Pony Club is intended as a platform upon which riders may build their horsemanship skills and knowledge, and so it is of great importance that coaches are able to provide correct information that will be safe for both rider and horse.
Certificate requirments are varied and often fun for children, catering to a rider's riding ability level rather than their age. Certificates also emphasise the use of group riding commands, which are nationally recognised and highly useful when working with larger classes of any ability, so that you may focus on teaching rather than stage directing.
Organising a testing day
If your Pony Club would like to hold a testing day, be sure to contact the PCANT examination coordinator, Carol Brown who will find you the relevant examiners. The approapriate rider application forms must also be completed by the candidate and signed by the club's Chief Instructor, before being submitted to PCANT prior to the examination day.
