End of year Trophies
At the end of each season at our prize-giving, a number of trophies, certificates and other achievement awards are handed out. The following outlines what the trophies are for and the criteria used to award them. Apart from the Outside Competitor Trophy, these trophies are awarded at all levels in the club – junior, intermediate and senior.
Certificate Cards
Your coaches have the responsibility to fill in your certificate cards throughout the season. They will hold onto at the club until they are needed during a certificate test. These must be filled out completely before a member can be eligible for any certificate examination.
Below we have given you a break -down of what you might be expected to do. Please note these may change slightly between examiners and circumstances.
D Certificate
Aim: to give the rider confidence in riding and handling their pony.
Riding Section: As a suggested programme, each rider could show dismount, mount. Then, working as a ride, halt one at a time from rear of ride, walk on. Change rein by turning across in single file. Trot front to rear on the other rein. Each person will answer on simple aids and ‘Do’s and don’ts’ on the Road. Finished with some position and activity exercises.
Horse Management Section: Each candidate to show, with their own horse, tying up, brushing over, giving a titbit, leading in hand. Name simple points of the horse and parts of saddle and bridle.
D+ Certificate
Aim: to start to prepare the rider towards C Certificate requirements.
Riding Section: Work in an enclosed area (arena) or in the open on large circles on both reins at walk and trot to work the horse in. Work in the arena, e.g turns across the arena, 20m circles at walk & trot at A or C, begin canter transitions on a circle or in a corner, work without
stirrups at walk, walk on a long rein, exercises to improve games skills, use of the whip. Discussion on diagonals, natural & artificial aids, paces & rhythm.
Jumping. Check girth, alter stirrups if necessary. Ride over poles on the ground at walk and trot, jump a simple jumping course, simple exercises to improve jumping position. Questions on the road code & riding on farmland.
Horse Management: Paddocking & feeding, Handling, Grooming, Saddlery & equipment, and General knowledge.
C Certificate
Aim: to attain a firm seat, independent of reins, on the flat and over small fences up to 65cms. To have knowledge of the daily care and working of the pony, to be able to control the pony at all times, on and off Pony Club grounds.
Riding Section:
Phase 1. Explanation and inspection. Work in the open on large circle, position, diagonals, paces, including canter. Phase 2. Work in the school, e.g. turns as a ride, 20m circles at A or C, canter front to rear. questions on aids, diagonals, etc. Phase 3. Alter stirrups, check girths,
ride up and down hill, open and/or shut gate. Trotting poles, jumping, simple exercise, course, cross country fences. Questions on Road Code, Pony Club etc.
Horse Management Section:
Phase 4. Paddocking and feeding. Phase 5. Handling, grooming and shoeing. Phase 6. Saddlery and equipment. Phase 7. Health and general knowledge (colours, markings).
C+, O, B, H,& A Certificate information can be found on the NZPCA web page.
PLEASE NOTE: Anyone wishing to sit certificates needs to let their Head Instructor know at least two months in advance so
that examiners can be arranged. C+ and above certificates names go to the District Head Instructor well in advance, as a
mock sit has to be done six weeks before.
At the end of each season at our prize-giving, a number of trophies, certificates and other achievement awards are handed out. The following outlines what the trophies are for and the criteria used to award them. Apart from the Outside Competitor Trophy, these trophies are awarded at all levels in the club – junior, intermediate and senior.
- Best Trophy. This trophy takes into account your attendance throughout the season, your general attitude and behavior, care and kindness to your horse or pony, your turnout and participation in all pony club activities.
- Most Improved Trophy. This trophy is awarded to the most improved rider over the season.
- Attitude and Effort Trophy. This trophy is given to the rider who is willing to try and ‘give it a go’, is helpful and happy to be there, and has good club spirit.
- Dressage Trophy. There are two internal dressage days per season (these days will be marked on your rally schedule). Your dressage points from both days are added together to find the dressage trophy winner.
- Show Jumping Trophy. This competition is run in the same way as the dressage trophy, over two days with the points from both added together to find the overall winner.
- ODE Trophy. The winner of this trophy is the best individual rider on the day, who competes at the Neville Cup.
- Outside Competitor Trophy. This trophy is given to the one Dairy Flat Pony Club member who represents our club the best overall in outside competition. It is up to the rider to submit a letter to the committee at the end of the season outlining their successes, this can include anything with your horse/pony. The Dairy Flat Pony Club Life Member then selects the winner.
Certificate Cards
Your coaches have the responsibility to fill in your certificate cards throughout the season. They will hold onto at the club until they are needed during a certificate test. These must be filled out completely before a member can be eligible for any certificate examination.
Below we have given you a break -down of what you might be expected to do. Please note these may change slightly between examiners and circumstances.
D Certificate
Aim: to give the rider confidence in riding and handling their pony.
Riding Section: As a suggested programme, each rider could show dismount, mount. Then, working as a ride, halt one at a time from rear of ride, walk on. Change rein by turning across in single file. Trot front to rear on the other rein. Each person will answer on simple aids and ‘Do’s and don’ts’ on the Road. Finished with some position and activity exercises.
Horse Management Section: Each candidate to show, with their own horse, tying up, brushing over, giving a titbit, leading in hand. Name simple points of the horse and parts of saddle and bridle.
D+ Certificate
Aim: to start to prepare the rider towards C Certificate requirements.
Riding Section: Work in an enclosed area (arena) or in the open on large circles on both reins at walk and trot to work the horse in. Work in the arena, e.g turns across the arena, 20m circles at walk & trot at A or C, begin canter transitions on a circle or in a corner, work without
stirrups at walk, walk on a long rein, exercises to improve games skills, use of the whip. Discussion on diagonals, natural & artificial aids, paces & rhythm.
Jumping. Check girth, alter stirrups if necessary. Ride over poles on the ground at walk and trot, jump a simple jumping course, simple exercises to improve jumping position. Questions on the road code & riding on farmland.
Horse Management: Paddocking & feeding, Handling, Grooming, Saddlery & equipment, and General knowledge.
C Certificate
Aim: to attain a firm seat, independent of reins, on the flat and over small fences up to 65cms. To have knowledge of the daily care and working of the pony, to be able to control the pony at all times, on and off Pony Club grounds.
Riding Section:
Phase 1. Explanation and inspection. Work in the open on large circle, position, diagonals, paces, including canter. Phase 2. Work in the school, e.g. turns as a ride, 20m circles at A or C, canter front to rear. questions on aids, diagonals, etc. Phase 3. Alter stirrups, check girths,
ride up and down hill, open and/or shut gate. Trotting poles, jumping, simple exercise, course, cross country fences. Questions on Road Code, Pony Club etc.
Horse Management Section:
Phase 4. Paddocking and feeding. Phase 5. Handling, grooming and shoeing. Phase 6. Saddlery and equipment. Phase 7. Health and general knowledge (colours, markings).
C+, O, B, H,& A Certificate information can be found on the NZPCA web page.
PLEASE NOTE: Anyone wishing to sit certificates needs to let their Head Instructor know at least two months in advance so
that examiners can be arranged. C+ and above certificates names go to the District Head Instructor well in advance, as a
mock sit has to be done six weeks before.
