Pony Club Association of the Northern Territory


Pony Club Association of the Northern Territory

B Certificate

PRE-REQUISITES:
Minimum Age: Horse Care section 15 years, Riding section 16 years
Pre-Required Certificates: D, C, C*/K Certificate
Presentation: Horse Care section - as for a led class at a show; Riding section - as for a ridden class at a show
Number of Examiners Required: 2 examiners per 4 riders
Exam type:
__Worksheets: workbooks may be purchased for B Certificate and used to ease the pressure on the candidate on the day of the test
__Written exam: 2 hours, may include riding, jumping, lungeing and horse care
__Practical Exam 1: Horse care, lungeing and general knowledge
__Practical Exam 2: Riding and jumping

Exam Syllabus (Printable)
Application Form (This form must be signed by your Chief Instructor and then submitted to PCANT before you may sit your exam)

CERTIFICATE OVERVIEW:
Before the Certificate Exam is undertaken, the candidate must have experience in:
1. Horse care.
2. Flat work
3. Jumping – including showjumping and cross country.
4. Lungeing.
5. Riding a variety of horses and an understanding of their schooling standard.
6. Designing and building showjumping courses under qualified supervision (worksheet required)

The B Certificate may be taken in two sections, with the horsemanship section as the first (this may be undertaken from 15 years of age) followed by the riding, lungeing and jumping section from age 16. A B Certificate candidate should have a good understanding of the influence the rider's seat and coordination of the aids has on a horse's balance and performance. The rider should achieve a basic level of 'feel' so that they are able to some degree to achieve the ability to drive the horse from behind into the bit.
B Certificate also teaches the rider to work and care for a fully stabled horse, maintaining its health and fitness (for approximately a one month period). If the rider were to look after another person's horse, they could be reasonably expected to mintain the horse's standard of stable management, as well as maintaining its fitness through lungeing and riding on the flat.

RESTRICTED JUMPING B CERTIFICATE:
The Candidate may obtain a 'B' standard certificate with restricted jumping, but must jump a horse over a minimum of 0.60 m and a maximum height of 0.85 m and be able to ride across country, including up and down steep terrain. It is necessary for the Candidate to demonstrate proficiency in flat riding.

CERTIFICATE CHECKLIST

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Skill	I can do that!
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HORSE CARE	.[ ]
Paddocking
Understand paddock managment in local area. Identify local poisonous weeds	.[ ].
Feeding, Watering & Conditioning
Know types of feed and assess value and quality	.[ ].
Understand the relationship of feed to the work a horse is doing	.[ ].
Be able to prepare a horse for a strenuous event (eg: one day event)	.[ ].
Care of the horse before, during and after a strenuous event	.[ ].
Grooming, Trimming & Clipping
Groom efficiently and effectively to show ring standard	.[ ].
Care for a clipped horse, and identify types of clips	.[ ].
Care of Feet & Shoeing
Understand the principles of shoeing, and identify a well shod hoof	[ ]
Know the parts of the hoof and their function	[ ]
Stabling
Be able to care for a stabled horse, including	[ ]
__outlining a stable routine	[ ]
__naming different types of bedding and their care	[ ]
__knowledge of stable vices and their causes	[ ]
__recognise signs of ill health	[ ]
Transport of Horses
Explain parts of the float/truck that need regualr maintenance	.[ ].
Demonstrate appropriate rugging and leg protection	.[ ].
Health, Ailments & Injuries
Take temperature, pulse and respiration	.[ ].
Know care of horse's teeth and recognise potential problems	.[ ].
Age a horse by its teeth to eight years	.[ ].
Knowledge of internal and external parasites. Administer a worming paste	.[ ].
Identify symptoms, cause and treatment of the following: __Azoturia, heat stress/dehydration, hoof abscess, stomach ulsers	.[ ].
Be able to administer first aid to a horse, including pressure bandages & figure 8 bandages	.[ ].
Know when to call the vet, and be able to carry out prescripted treatment of wounds, lameness and ailments	.[ ].
Know the Horse
Recognise good and poor confirmation and how it affects the action and soundness of the horse	.[ ].
The candidate must be able to discuss the following unsoundness and blemishes, both hereditary and acquired.
• Bog spavin	.[ ].
• Bone spavin	.[ ].
• Broken wind	[ ]
• Curb	[ ]
• Navicular disease	.[ ].
• Ringbone	.[ ].
• Roaring and whistling	.[ ].
• Sidebone	[ ]
• Splints	[ ]
• Tendon problems	[ ]
• Thoroughpin	.[ ].
• Windgalls	.[ ].
Saddlery & Equipment	.
Bandage for exercise, competition and travel	[ ]
Fit saddlery correctly	[ ]
Know the five groups of bits/bridles and their action: snaffle, pelham, double, gag, bitless.	. .[ ]...
Be familiar with bitting allowed for Pony Club competitions	[ ]
Understand the care, cleaning and storage of equipment	[ ]

LUNGEING
Know principles, benefits and potential dangers of lungeing	[ ]
Know required equipment for horse and handler	[ ]
Understand safe practices to be adopted when lungeing. Demonstrate control of horse at walk, trot, canter and show a few lengthened strides of trot.	[ ]
.	.
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE
Knowledge of racing	[ ]
Famous horses and horse people	[ ]
Our Olympic Equestrian record and teams in an Olympic year	[ ]
Topical and local horse events	[ ]
Pony Club structure, state and national	[ ]

RIDING ON THE FLAT
Position at all paces becoming well-established and showing some depth, enabling the rider to apply aids smoothly and accurately.	[ ]
Understand the importance of warming up and demonstrate same.	[ ]
Assess what is and what is not being achieved with the horse.	[ ]
Improved knowledge of the horses footfalls.	[ ]
Recognise and understand the horses movement including faults.	[ ]
Explain the following:— Rhythm and tempo, 'Accepting the bit' and 'being on the bit', Straightness, Impulsion	[ ]
Ride the following movements and explain the aids for (to be ridden in a 20 x 60 m arena:
__Medium walk, and free walk on a long rein.	[ ]
__Working trot and canter.	[ ]
__Lengthened strides at trot and canter including across the diagonal and on a circle.	[ ]
__Halt.	[ ]
__Circles to 10 m. at walk and trot and 15 m. at canter.	[ ]
__Serpentines at trot.	[ ]
__Walk-canter transition	.[ ].
__Counter canter – 2 m loop off the long side.	.[ ].
__Change the canter lead through trot and walk	.[ ].
__Ride and explain the turn on the forehand including the horses outline and correct placement of the feet.	.[ ].
_ _Ride and explain the leg yield including the horses outline and correct placement of the feet – to be shown on a _ __ _circle and from the quarter line to the long side.	.[ ].
Knowledge of P.C.A., E.F.A. and F.E.I, dressage rules.	.[ ].
Traffic rules in the arena and general etiquette.	.[ ].

JUMPING
Show a balanced jumping position with steady lower leg and independent hands.	.[ ].
Jump a variety of fences and combinations, demonstrating balance, tempo, line and rhythm in showjumping and cross country. (Maximum height 1m)	.[ ].
Understand and show use of poles and/or caveletti and grids including trot and canter exercises to improve the horse's jumping.	.[ ].
Land on the correct lead after jumping a fence. Candidate should recognise when they need to rebalance and correct canter lead.	.[ ].
Candidate to show an ability to retain a balanced position over fences on varied terrain including drop fences, banks and ditches.	.[ ].
Demonstrate a sense of striding and know approximate length of own horse's stride.	.[ ].
Show lengthening and shortening of the canter stride and understand the application of this when riding related lines.	[ ]
Know how to deal with disobedient horses (i.e. those that stop, run-out, rush etc.), including correct use of the whip, and show understanding of the reasons for the disobedience.	[ ]
Demonstrate knowledge of pace, riding at 350, 400 and 450 metres per minute.	.[ ].
Be able to build simple schooling fences and combinations.	.[ ].
Plan a simple showjumping course.	.[ ].
Walk and discuss a jumping course, both showjumping and cross country.	.[ ].
Know P.C.A., E.F.A. and F.E.I, Showjumping and Horse Trials rules.	.[ ].

ASSESSEMENT OF DIFFERENT HORSES
Ride and assess different horses and be able to give accurate feedback using correct terminology. The horses provided to be well mannered, known to the examiner and suitable for the task.	.[ ].

PONY CLUB ASSOCIATION
OF THE NORTHERN TERRITORY

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BY SUSAN GLENCROSS

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