Efficiency / Progressive Tests & Achievement Badges

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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

• To start to learn about riding ponies
• Begin handling ponies and start to become confident around them

Bronze Award 2 Objectives

• Learn to have control when riding off the lead rein
• Start to understand how to care for ponies

Bronze Award 1 Objectives

• Make controlled transitions
• Ride independently from the rest of the ride
• Start to be actively involved in the care of ponies

Silver Award

Silver Award 3 Objectives

• Have a basic understanding of ponies
• Achieve confidence in handling and riding a pony
• To improve and enjoy learning about ponies

Silver Award 2 Objectives

• Start to develop a balanced seat
• Become more involved in looking after ponies

Silver Award 1 Objectives

• To be working towards developing a balanced seat independent of the reins
• Understand elementary aids and be able to apply them

Gold Award

Gold Award 3 Objectives

• Work towards an effective and balanced seat on the flat and over jumps
• Know how to behave when riding on the roads and in the countryside
• Understand the requirements of a pony at grass

Gold Award 2 Objectives

• Improve position on the flat and over jumps
• Understand the combined system of keeping ponies
• Understand the requirements of a stabled pony
• Be courteous to other road users

Gold Award 1 Objectives

• Be in control of the pony in all paces and over jumps
• Have control over a pony on the roads and in the countryside
• Know how to look after a grass kept pony, or a pony on a combined system
• Know the country lore

Platinum Award

Platinum Award 3 Objectives

• To work towards becoming an educated and practical horseman
• To be able to look after ponies kept at grass and have experience and knowledge of looking after stabled horses
• To be able to ride at all paces over fences and varying terrain
• To be able to ride a well mannered horse or pony out hunting and be able to prepare him before the day and care for him afterwards
• To have a knowledge of pace, distance and discipline to ride intelligently and safely in a group or alone
• Ride with due regard for others in the country and on the roads
• To be able to ride safely on the public highway

Platinum Award 2 Objectives

• To work towards becoming an educated and practical horseman
• To be able to look after ponies kept at grass and have experience and knowledge of looking after stabled horses
• To be able to ride at all paces over fences and varying terrain
• To be able to ride a well mannered horse or pony out hunting and be able to prepare him before the day and care for him afterwards
• To have a knowledge of pace, distance and discipline to ride intelligently and safely in a group or alone
• Ride with due regard for others in the country and on the roads
• To be able to ride safely on the public highway

Platinum Award 1 Objectives

• To work towards becoming an educated and practical horseman
• To be able to look after ponies kept at grass and have experience and knowledge of looking after stabled horses
• To be able to ride at all paces over fences and varying terrain
• To be able to ride a well mannered horse or pony out hunting and be able to prepare him before the day and care for him afterwards
• To have a knowledge of pace, distance and discipline to ride intelligently and safely in a group or alone
• Ride with due regard for others in the country and on the roads
• To be able to ride safely on the public highway

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.