The Pony Club Training structure encourages members to take tests which enables them to learn progressively about horse and pony care and riding. The tests are taken at recommended ages and are designed with certain objectives in mind - see below for the order in which tests are taken.
Efficiency Tests are booked differently depending on the level being taken:
E, D, D+, Road Rider, C and C+ Tests
These are organised by Branches and Centres - contact your DC, Chief Coach or Centre proprietor if you'd like to book on to one of these
B, B+, Lungeing and AH Tests
These are organised by your club's Area Representative - get in touch with them if you'd like a book a test. Contact details for Area Reps are available on the Committees page.
A Test
These are booked centrally via The Pony Club Office. Visit the A Test Training and Test Days page for more details
Progressive Tests allow Members to work towards Tests in between Efficiency Test levels E and C+. There are four levels of Progressive Tests; Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum.
Bronze Award
Bronze Award 3 Objectives
Bronze Award 2 Objectives
Bronze Award 1 Objectives
Silver Award
Silver Award 3 Objectives
Silver Award 2 Objectives
Silver Award 1 Objectives
Gold Award
Gold Award 3 Objectives
Gold Award 2 Objectives
Gold Award 1 Objectives
Platinum Award
Platinum Award 3 Objectives
Platinum Award 2 Objectives
Platinum Award 1 Objectives
The Pony Club offers members the chance to work towards a range of equine and non-equine achievement badges designed to encourage them to engage with training, horse care and nature.
There are three collections of Pony Club badges for our Members to work through:
Fun and Friendship
Horsemanship
Sport
The current badges are:
Bandages and Rugs
To be able to put on travel bandages, a tail bandage, a stable rug and roller and a turnout rug.
Beach Riding
Be able to help plan for an outing to the beach and choose a beach safe for group riding.
Birds
To be able to identify the following: Robin, Blackbird, Great-tit, Blue-tit, Chaffinch, Magpie, Wood Pigeon, Jay, Mallard, Mute Swan, Wren & Kingfisher.
Blue Cross Equine Welfare
Awarded to Members who have attained 10 welfare-related badges: Bandaging & Rugs, Care of the Horse’s Foot, Feeding, First Aid (Equine), Handling & Grooming, Lorinery, Mucking Out, Perfect Paddock, Saddlery and Shoeing.
British Native Breeds
To be able to identify British breeds of horses and ponies, where they originate and their physical characteristics.
Building Show Jumps
To be able to recognise various types of show jumps. To be able to build various types of show jumps safely. To have an understanding of how to build a simple show jumping course and understand the different lines.
Camping
To know when is a suitable time of year to camp and the countryside code for their area. Know basic first aid, food preparation, fire safety and know what to take camping.
Care and Working of a Pony at Grass
To know how to look after a ridden grass-kept pony.
Care of the Foot
To know something of the structure of the horses foot, the need for daily care and some knowledge of the trimming and shoeing process.
Clipping
The reasons for clipping, different types of clip, and what you need when clipping.
Correctly Fitting Tack
To be able to check that the noseband and throat latch of a snaffle bridle and the numnah are fitted correctly.
Countryside Access
To understand simple countryside access law in your country and be able ride confidently and competently in the countryside.
Dressage Arenas
To be able to place the letters in, and know the dimensions, of both a long and short arena.
Equine Behaviour
To be able to deal with ponies in and around the stable according to their behaviour and understand how and why they behave as they do under certain circumstances.
Equipment Safety
Created in conjunction with BETA (British Equestrian Trade Association). To know what to look for in a correctly fitting Riding Hat & Body Protector and understand the importance of correctly adjusting the jaw and back straps on hats. To know when to replace and how to care for safety equipment. To be able to carry out safety checks on tack.
E-Safety
To understand what E-Safety is and how to be safe online.
Farming
To be able to identify most commonly grown crops, i.e. Wheat, Barley, Oats, Oilseed Rape, Peas, Potatoes and Turnips. To be able to talk about harvesting the same and to have a basic knowledge of making hay/silage. To be able to identify three different breeds of cattle and sheep.
Field Safety
To build knowledge of the appropriate behaviour and methods when handling ponies at grass to ensure safety and welfare of both ponies and other people.
Feeding
To know the basic rules of feeding and to be able to recognise different feedstuffs.
Fire Marshall
To be aware of danger and your own safety. To have knowledge of how a fire is started. To have knowledge of what action is to be taken in the event of a fire. To be aware of fire fighting equipment, and how to use it. To know why some types of fire extinguishers should not be used on certain types of fires. To have some knowledge of ways to prevent fires. To understand the role of a Junior Fire Marshal at Pony Club camp.
First Aid (Equine)
To know how to treat minor wounds and illness. To be able to recognise signs of good/ill health and know about the necessary protection against Tetanus, Flu and Worms.
First Aid (Human)
To be aware of danger and your own safety, understand the importance of getting help quickly and giving the right information. Dealing with minor injuries, recognising more serious injuries and knowing the importance of keeping the injured person still.
Fitness
To understand why a pony shouldn’t be too fat/thin. To understand the work/feeding required to keep your pony in good condition and fit for the job he is about to do.
Fundraising
To understand the need for fundraising, be able to name a variety of recognised equine and animal welfare charities and assist with the organisation of and participate in a fundraising event for a recognised charity. This could be your Branch or Centre of The Pony Club.
Grooming
To be able to run up a pony in hand and to tie it up safely. To be able to identify and use all grooming utensils correctly.
How to be Lunged
Members must show the ability to sit straight and in balance while on the lunge in walk and trot, with and without reins and stirrups. They should be able to show some simple suppling exercises on the move and rising trot without stirrups.
Knots
To be able to identify and tie 6 recognised knots from a selection.
Learning Theory
To understand how ponies/horses learn and know what is meant by positive and negative reinforcement.
Loading
To know how to load/unload a pony, with assistance, safely into and out of a trailer/horsebox.
Lorinery
Aimed at a higher level candidate, this badge looks at all aspects of Lorinery from pre-bitting considerations to bit manufacture.
Map Reading
To be able to follow a route on an Ordnance Survey Map and to point out features marked on same i.e. railway, church, bridleway, footpath, quarry etc.
Mucking Out
To be able to name and use stable tools to muck out and to talk about different types of bedding.
Perfect Paddock
To know what your pony needs from his paddock, from topics such grass type, fencing and poisonous plants.
Pet Sense
Be responsible for the daily care of a pet for 3 months and ensure that it is healthy and happy. Produce a diary showing that you have: Provided a suitable diet, provided a safe place for it to live and given regular exercise as appropriate.
Plaiting
To know the principles of plaiting a mane and tail, know occasions when the horse/pony should be plaited and recognise a well plaited mane and tail.
Points of the Horse
To know the points of the horse, colours and markings.
Poisonous Plants
To be able to identify poisonous plants as listed in the Manual of Horsemastership.
Public Speaking
Giving a two-minute talk on any one of the achievement badges. The badge is designed to help aid candidates to speak clearly for Pony Club tests.
RDA Volunteering
For Members aged 12 years and over. To have a basic understanding of the work of the Riding for the Disabled Association and volunteer on four occasions at a local RDA Group.
Rider Fitness
What to do to improve fitness.
Rider Nutrition
To understand the importance of eating a balanced diet in order to be able to maintain health & fitness leading towards more effective riding. To be aware of what foods contribute to providing riders with a healthy balanced diet.
Road Rider
To be able to apply the ‘Green Cross Code’ and Highway Code as a road user.
Saddlery
To be able to name the parts of, and put on a saddle and a snaffle bridle, know about the care and cleaning of same. Be able to identify common bits, i.e. Eggbut/Loose-ring Snaffle, Pelham etc.
Security Awareness
To be aware of the security issues related to keeping horses and relevant crime prevention methods.
Shoeing
To know the indications that a pony needs the farrier, what to look for in a newly shod foot, and to know the blacksmith’s tools.
Showing
To understand which types of ponies are shown and how to present them to a judge.
Spurs
To be able to fit spurs correctly and understand how to ride with correct use of spurs.
Tack Cleaning
To know the equipment needed, the importance of a clean bit and be able to undertake a daily and weekly clean.
Trees
To be able to identify the following: Oak, Ash, Beech, Sycamore, Lime, Holly, Yew, Horse Chestnut, Sweet Chestnut, Birch, Hazel and Larch.
Trimming
How to stay safe whilst trimming and how to trim the legs, the jaw and how to bang/shorten a tail.
Turnout of Pony and Rider
To be able to turnout rider and pony to The Pony Club standard. To understand why it is necessary to be clean and tidy.
Wellbeing
To know what is meant by wellbeing.
Wildlife
To be able to identify the following: Badger, Fox, Hare, Mole, Otter, Rabbit, Stoat, Weasel, Red/Grey Squirrel, Red/Fallow/Roe Deer.
Working Dogs
To be able to identify any twelve breeds of working dogs and describe in which sphere they are traditionally used.
Worm Control
To understand the main worms affecting horses, how we aim to manage worm burdens in horses and ponies and the most effective and sustainable ways of achieving this.
Yard Safety
To build knowledge of the appropriate behaviour & awareness required when on a yard with a number of ponies to ensure safety and welfare of both ponies and other people. This is an ideal pre-camp badge.
Members have had lots of success at Area competitions securing places at both the Pony Club Championships and the Regional Championships in dressage, show-jumping and eventing!.
The Senior Mounted Games team & Burton Pairs are off to zones hoping to secure themselves a place at the Championships too!
The Horse and Pony Care team are practicing hard for the Champs so it’s going to be a busy summer of competition.
Pony Club summer camp is fast approaching and we are looking forward to lots of activities and fun!
Photo - Lilly & Honey in the XC – securing a hat trick of qualifications to the Champs.