Tetrathlon provides pony club members with a challenging competition requiring sound, practical horsemanship, general athletic ability and sportsmanship opportunities. It is based on the Olympic sport of Modern Pentathlon which has been included in the Olympics since 1912. Tetrathlon, as the name suggests, involves four disciplines:

• Cross-country riding - follows rally rules with penalty points deducted for refusals, falls and time penalties. Optimum results is 1500 points for the competition
• Cross-country running - points are scored for time taken to complete a Cross-Coutry running course. Optimum results is 1000 points
• Swimming - points are scored on the time taken to complete a set distance. Optimum results is 1000 points
• Air pistol shooting - using a one-shot air pistol, points are scored on the total of 20 shots (X7 for Novices and X6 for Juniors and Seniors) A perfect shooting score is 1200 points.

Points are awarded for performance in each of the events and the winner is the one who amasses the greatest number of points after the completion of the four disciplines.

Boys and girls compete in separate levels: 

• Novice: 11 years and under
• Junior: 12 - 14 years inclusive 
• Senior: 15 - 21 years inclusive

Age is determined as of January 1st in the year the competition takes place.

The Provincial Championships are a two day event held in the Lower Mainland usually in June. Top competitors of Junior and Senior division have the opportunity of being selected to represent BCLM Region at the National Championships. Seniors are eligible to be selected to represent Canada at the International Competition held every two years with the location alternating between UK and North America (Canada and USA).

There is an Official CPC Tetrathlon Rulebook that every participant should know. JAAP (Junior Achievement Awards Program) competitions are held the last Saturday of the months October, November, January, Febrary, March and April consisting of the three disciplines of shoot, run and swim. To participate in the Provincial Tetrathlon Championships, a tetrathlete must have attended one JAAP competition. Juniors and Seniors that wish to qualify for a chance on the Regional team going to Nationals, must participate in three of the Meets.

The wonderful aspect of Tetrathlon is that you do not have to excel in all four disciplines. It is your total of these four disciplines that determines your final score.

The BCLM Regional Chairperson is: Bill MacDonald and you can contact him at:  macdonaldfarm@shaw.ca