Parent Handbook
Parent Handbook
Table of Contents
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Section II: Pony Club Disciplines |
The Pony Club’s origin dates back to England when, in 1929, a group of dedicated horsemen got together with the goal to encourage young riders and to improve all-round equestrian standards. From their efforts was born The British Horse Society and The Pony Club's "Manual of Horsemanship". The Pony Club quickly expanded to an international level and now forms the starting base for many of the world’s top competitive riders as well as providing countries with knowledgeable and informed horse people.
The Canadian Pony Club traces its roots to the Eglinton Hunt Club of Toronto in 1934. It has since expanded into most provinces. Nationally, Pony Club is divided into eleven regions, Western Ontario Region being one of them. The province of Ontario is further sub-divided into Western, Central, and St. Lawrence/Ottawa Valley Regions, which are made up of local branches. Presently in Western Ontario , there are approximately 14 branches and 275 members in the region. The branches represent the "grass roots" level where the members receive individual and group riding and horsemastership instruction.
Mill Ridge was formed in 1982. A group of riding students and their parents decided to approach Canadian Pony Club to form a new club. Because of the proximity of the Elora Mill, they asked for the name Mill Creek but it was denied. The word Creek was changed to Ridge for the cliffs along the Grand and Irvine Rivers . Some of the members had been members of Guelph Pony Club. The club began with most members at the E and D level. Over the years the club has had as few as 8 members and as many as 54 members. Mill Ridge has and continues to be a club where team spirit runs high and its members have always been a credit to horsemastership.
Aims and Objectives of Pony Club
The goals of the Pony Club are:
The Pony Club organization has different levels. There is a National Board of Directors, a Regional Executive and a Branch Executive.
The executive meets once a month to plan activities. Executive meetings are open to all parents, however only members of the executive may vote on motions that are brought forward. Minutes of each executive meeting will be available by email or posted on the website. As well, important information from executive meetings will be published in newsletters.
The District Commissioner
At the Branch level the District Commissioner (D.C.) is the club president. She/he is nominated and elected at the beginning of the Pony Club year for a 2 year term of office by the local committee. The D.C.’s duties include the overseeing and control of the local Pony Club Branch, making all pony club related material and information available to all members, delegating responsibility, respecting confidences, accepting suggestions and questions amicably, being visible at activities, being decisive, dealing with parents and the problems presented by them and the children in the club and a liaison to both parents and children.
The Assistant District Commissioner
The Assistant District Commissioner (A.D.C) is also an elected position, working in conjunction with the D.C. and is often in training for the D.C.’s job.
Other Positions
The executive also requires a Treasurer, Secretary, and Discipline Chairs. Most often people volunteer to do the work of these positions. The responsibilities of the discipline chairs include attending the meeting at regional level to obtain entry forms, fees, dates, and other details. They are to look after practice sessions, application forms and fees, arranging coaches, equipment, teams, plus attending and chaperoning the members on the day of the competition.
If you are a member of the executive or in charge of an activity do not be afraid to delegate and to ask for help; leave yourself reasonably free to supervise the activities. People are more likely to help when all the details are clear and concise.
The organizing committees from Branch level to National level are composed entirely of volunteer parents, senior Pony Club Alumni members and interested adults. By its very nature, Pony Club can only succeed if there is strong parental support throughout the year. Everyone can be involved doing something: painting jumps, taking photographs, manning the food tent, phoning, chaperoning at camps, running a projector, driving to swim practices, etc. Most of the organizing and preparation of Pony Club events requires no expertise with horses.
Communication between the Club & Parents
It is important to be informed about everything that is going on in Pony Club that is relevant to your child. These are some of the ways that you can stay informed:
Mill Ridge organizes monthly or bi-monthly education meetings for our members during the winter months. At these “Horsemanship” meetings, the members learn about stable management, equine anatomy/physiology, farrier, tack/saddlery, feeds/feeding, care/grooming, training/equitation etc. through lectures, games, demonstrations and practice. Members are usually divided into groups according to age and Pony Club level.
Members must attend at least 60% of scheduled meetings. This requirement ensures that all members are knowledgeable and well-prepared to participate actively and safely in the rest of the Pony Club disciplines. Some meetings are held in various barns, using a hands-on approach, while others are held at people's homes.
In the spring, a number of riding lessons will be arranged for our members. The focus shifts to the conditioning of the mounts and we begin to fine-tune some of the practical riding skills. There are often practices held in the spring and the summer for some the mounted disciplines of Pony Club: PPG, Dressage, Show Jumping and Rally. It is recommended that pony clubbers receive instruction on a regular basis (e.g. Weekly or bi-weekly) in addition to the club lessons.
Our club organizes various fundraising events through the year. Money raised is often used to help our members attend National and International competitions. We need you help in making this program a success!
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Section II: Pony Club Disciplines
The Canadian Pony Club has 12 levels of achievement, from E (lowest) to A (highest). The E level is the entry level at which all members enter the Pony Club. Each test has three phases. A written test, stable management test, and riding test.
The D test is the first level which has test requirements. After successful completion of the D level, candidates are given a yellow disc which is worn as a backing for their membership pin at all Pony Club competitions and at all further testings.
C, C1 and C2 levels require serious effort - both in learning the knowledge required as well as acquiring the riding skills. The riding tests now have a three phase approach; the flat work, stadium, and cross country jumping. This plus the oral stable management require a full day to complete.
Starting with the B test, all tests are conducted by a panel of nationally approved examiners. The degree of competence required in both the riding and stable management areas increases rapidly as one progresses through the stages.
The HA level is the highest non-riding certificate awarded by the Canadian Pony Club and the RA is the highest riding award. The successful HA candidate must be extremely competent in stable management and have a high degree of knowledge about equine topics. The RA test is very comprehensive and typically lasts for two days. RA/A Jumps to 3’9” height and spread in stadium only. Cross country jumps 3’7” high and 4’7” top spread at a pace of up to 520 meters/min. The A level is achieved after successfully passing both the HA and RA standards.
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Recommended Reading for Parents & Members:
Recommended Reading for Members:
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Required Reading |
Resource Reading |
E – D1
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Manual of Horsemanship, 11th ed United States Pony Club D Manual |
Happy Horsemanship |
D2 - C1
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All of the above, plus USPC C Manual C/D Testing Procedures |
Horsemasters Notebook, 3rd or 4th ed Know Your Horse, (Codrington), 1992 ed. Saddlery, (Edwards), 1992 ed. Riding & Road Sense Keeping a Pony at Grass (BHS) Training the Young Horse & Pony Are You Ready 1 & 2 (USPC) Discipline Rules (CPC) Threshold Guides Provincial Highway Rules (app. to horses)
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C2 |
All of the above plus USPC Longeing USPC Bandaging Horsemasters Notebook 3rd or 4th ed. Know Your Horse (Codrington), 1992 ed Saddlery (Edwards), 1992 ed
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USPC AB Manual The Lame Horse USPC Conformation & Lameness Maximum Hoof Power Horse Gaits, Balance & Movement |
A/B |
All of the above, plus USPC A/B Manual A/B Testing Procedures Maximum Hoof Power Conditioning the Sport Horse (Clayton) Vet Notes for Horse Owners, (Hayes) 17 th ed Dressage (Crossley) The DeNemethy Method CEF Level 1 Coaching Manual
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USPC Conformation Practical Horseman Equus CEF Manual Level 3 Eventing Thinking Riding 1 Instructors' Handbook (BHS) |
Quiz is a non-riding activity. Quizzes are staged to test a Pony Clubber's theoretical knowledge of horsemastership and of various Pony Club activities. The Regional Quiz competition is usually held in late April or early May.
In Quiz, Pony Club members are tested on their knowledge, not skills. Quiz has two parts: a written test, which each competitor does independently which also includes a visual test where competitors have to identify strange, obscure, unusual objects of a horsy nature by sight; and an oral test which is often completed by team (each team gets to confer before answering).
A word to the wise....Pony Club members who participate in Quiz somehow seem to do very well in testing. Studying for Quiz has that benefit.
Tetrathalon is a demanding competition involving four disciplines: cross country riding and stadium jumping, cross country running, swimming, and air pistol shooting. The competition is held over two days. Points are awarded for performance in each of the events. The winner is determined by the highest number of points from all four disciplines.
There are four levels for each: Novice (11 years and under), Green Junior and Junior (12-14 years inclusive), and Senior (15-21 years inclusive). The age of all competitors shall be taken as on the first day of January of the year in which the competition takes place. Males and females compete in separate divisions.
RIDING: The riding phase is a combination of stadium jumping and cross country jumping. It is scored similar to the cross country and stadium jumping phases of rally, with penalty points deducted for refusals, falls and time penalties. An optimum riding performance results in 1500 points for the competitor. The stadium courses will involve about 12 jumps for Seniors, 10 for Juniors, and 8 for Novices. The cross country course may include up to 20 jumps for the Seniors and Juniors and 12 for Novices. The courses can be up to 2200 meters long for Juniors and Seniors and 1200 meters for Novices. The maximum dimensions of both cross country and stadium jumps is 3’3” high with a 4’0 top spread and 5’0” bottom spread for seniors, 2’9” high, 2’6” top spread and 4’0” bottom spread for Juniors, and 2’0” high with a top spread of 2’0” and a bottom spread of 3”3” for Novice. Jumps without height can be up to 6’6” for seniors, 5’0” for Juniors, and 4’0” for novice.
RUNNING: In the running phase, points are scored for the time taken to complete a 2 KM cross country course. (Novices run 1KM). The faster you run, the more points you score. An optimum running performance results in 1000 points for the competitor.
SWIMMING: In the swimming phase, points are scored based on the time taken to swim 200 metres. (Novices swim 100 metres). An optimum swimming performance results in 1000 points for the competitor.
SHOOTING: The shooting phase is conducted in an appropriate location designed for shooting (usually a gun club). Competitors fire 20 shots each from an air or CO2 pistol. In the shooting phase, points are scored for the total number of air pistol shots, 10 for Novice, and 20 for Junior/Senior, on the target that corresponds to the ring number. A perfect shooting score is 1200 points.
Prince Philip Games are a team competition played by Pony Clubs around the world. The original Prince Philip Cup was donated to the British Pony Club by His Royal Highness, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinborough.
The Prince Philip Games are played by teams of five riders and five ponies. Riders under the age of 15 play A, B, or C Division Prince Philip Games and riders over the age of 15 are eligible for the Masters Division. Masters may ride ponies or horses.
All of the games are variations on the relay race. Many require the riders and ponies to run a slalom course in and out around a series of upright poles from one end of the playing field to the other where they hand-off a prop to the next rider on the team. Some races require riders to vault off and onto their ponies. Others require riders to drop objects such as socks and vegetables into buckets (and pray they don't bounce out again!). There is an egg-and-spoon race, and others which ask the rider to pick up objects with another object ("Sword" and "Litter"). Riders develop remarkable skills in the areas of timing; sense of space, speed and direction; co-ordination; agility and horsemanship. They also laugh a good deal - the only way to deal with mistakes when everyone makes some!
Prince Philip Cup Games are one of the few riding competitions in which the members of the team must work as a team, perfecting their hand-offs, rotating through the races (only four out of five riders in each race) and sharing the limelight.
Dressage means conditioning of the horse's mind, timing his responses giving the impression that horse and rider are a pair working as one. It is the foundation from which all of the riding disciplines within Pony Club evolve. Dressage builds flexibility, obedience and gymnastic ability in the horse, which is also very important for jumping as well as for Dressage competition
Dressage is a system for training horse and rider. The rider learns proper use of the natural aids - hands, legs, and seat to guide and control the horse. The horse learns balance, straightness, rhythm, impulsion, extension and collection. Early levels emphasize walk, trot, and canter on a straight line and in circles
A very popular feature of Dressage competitions is the Kur. In the Kur, horse and rider perform the required movements to music, in a pattern choreographed to fit both the horse's best features and the music. The horses often seem to enjoy performing Kurs, coming to life and really sparkling as if they were dancing.
At the early levels, riders can ask someone to read the test to them as they perform. As they go up the ladder of difficulty, they are expected to memorize the tests.
Dressage competitions are held in rings of regulation sizes: 20x40 metres for the lowest classes, rising to 20x60 metres for the higher classes. The outside limits of the ring are marked, and letters are placed at standard positions on the outside.
Show jumping tests a rider's ability to combine speed with accuracy over a stadium course comprised of knockdown jumps. The objective is for riders to complete the "obstacle" course with the least amount of penalties being accumulated and without having exceeded the time allowed. Penalties are assessed for knockdowns and refusals. In the event of a tie, or with more than one rider having gone clear, then a timed jump-off is held with the rider having gone the fastest with the least penalties being the winner.
Canadian Pony Club Show Jumping competitions are governed by current C.E.F. (Equine Canada) rules. Western Ontario Region provides seven divisions of competition beginning with the height of 2’3” and increasing by 3 inches to a maximum of 3’9”. Each Division consists of two Table "A" rounds and one Table "C" round so each rider may jump 3 rounds plus any jump-off rounds for which they qualify.
There is no restriction regarding what Pony Club level riders must have achieved in order to enter any Division, however the Club Show Jumping Representative and District Commissioner must sign each entry form to say they believe that the rider can safely negotiate a course at the maximum height for the Division they entered.
This is an athletic event involving 3 phases; Dressage, Cross Country and Stadium Jumping. For many members, this will be their first competition involving such a variety of skills. At the D Rally there are three levels: D, D1, and D2 so that riders only compete against others with the same Pony Club level.
The dressage test is conducted in an area with only a small barrier about 1 foot high. There might not be any enclosure outside that barrier. The D test involves halt, walk, and trot only. The D1 and D2 tests also require the canter.
The cross country test is based on foxhunting and for the D1 and D2 levels is held in the open field with no enclosures. The course usually includes hills, paths through wooded areas, and open fields. At the D level, the cross country test is set up in an enclosed field; however it will be a large field, usually with hills and hollows and possibly with some bush area. At all levels, the obstacles are very solid (rock fences, fallen trees, ditches) and are not at all similar to the easily knocked down arena fences most young riders start with. None of the D level achievement tests challenge the riders in a similar way and all competitors should get specific instruction in handling their mount over solid open field jumps before attempting a Rally at any level .
The stadium jumping phase uses knockdown jumps similar to those used by most instructors; however the size of jumps and complexity of the course will be more challenging. D riders will be expected to jump a total of about 18 obstacles (about 10 in a large field) at heights of up to 2 feet high with a top spread of 2 feet and a bottom spread of 2’6” at a speed of 300 meters/min. Although cantering is not required, most mounts will go into a canter when on a jumping course and the rider should be able to handle that situation. D1’s will be asked to jump about 20 (about 12 in the open) obstacles up to 2’6” in height with a top spread of 2’6” and a bottom spread of 3’0” at a speed of 350 meters/min. D2’s will be expected to handle about 24 Jumps (14 in the open) at up to 2’9” high with a top spread of 2’9” and a bottom spread of 3’9” at a speed of 375 meters/min.
All riders are expected to handle their own horse or pony with a little adult help, however they can get help from other Pony Club members from their own or other branches.
This is a knowledge and athletic event lasting up to 3 1/2 days. For the duration of the Rally, the competitors (riders, grooms, and captains) remain at the site of the rally and are expected to look after all of their mount’s requirements during the Rally, feeding, cleaning, grooming, and first aid are included. C Rally consists of a 3 phase event Dressage, Endurance, and Stadium Jumping and the competitors are also scored on their Stable Management which involves many aspects of the care of their horses. The form of the riding parts of the event is similar to the D rally described above, but the courses are much more challenging, longer, and involve more variety of jumps including water. The courses require a full effort from both the rider and mount. Both should be physically WELL CONDITIONED as athletes to avoid injury.
Rallies are run on a team basis, with individual awards being presented as well. Teams are usually made up of 2 or 3 riders and their horses with 1 or 2 unmounted team members who may be called Captains or Helpers.
Western Ontario Region offers 3 divisions in the Rally, “Pre-Training”, “Training” and “Preliminary”. Although entry is primarily based on the capabilities of the horses, A and B riders are normally expected to enter the Preliminary division, first time C riders the Pre-Training division, and experienced C riders, C1’s and C2’s the Training division.
The Pre-Training division involves cross-country and stadium jumping totaling up to 34 jumps at a height of 3’0”, spreads of 3’0” top and 4’0” bottom, and a speed of up to 400 meters/minute. Drop Jumps of up to 3’7” may be used.
The Training division involves cross-country and stadium jumping totaling up to 36 jumps at a height of 3’3”, spreads of 3’7” top and 5’3” bottom, and a speed of up to 450 meters/minute. Drop Jumps of up to 4’7” and jumps with no height of up to 5’11” may be used.
The Preliminary division involves up to 40 jumps at 3’7” height, 4’7” top spread, and 6’7” bottom spread at 520 meters/min. Drop Jumps can be up to 5’3” and jumps with no height can be up to 9’10” wide. There will be several combination jumps in each course.
The maximum length of the cross country course is 3500 meters for Preliminary, 3000 meters for Training, and 2000 meters for Pre-Training. In addition, a Roads and Trails course of up to 3300 meters is also required for all levels as part of the endurance test.
DO NOT underestimate the difficulty of this competition!
Competition, however, is only a part of a Rally. Rallies also include some planned and some unplanned entertainment and plenty of opportunity for members from different Branches or Regions to get together and renew old friendships or make new ones.
