PLEASE NOTE: The Test Cards produced on this page are protected by Copyright by the Pony Club all rights reserved. No parts of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of The Pony Club.

Outside Riding

During this phase, candidates have the opportunity of riding three or four different horses.

Having been allocated their first horse, they are allowed 5 - 10 minutes to try it out, on the flat and over a few small fences. While doing this, they are expected to assess the horse - its good and weak points, to be thinking for what work it is most suited and how it could be schooled to give a better performance and ride.

Candidates are then asked to ride the horse in front of the examiners at all paces, jump a few selected obstacles and talk to the examiners about the horse and the way it goes. The discussion usually lasts for about 5 minutes, and the examiners hope to hear practical, common-sense answers, which would give them confidence that the candidate has the knowledge and capability of improving that particular horse or any other that he/she might be given to ride.

Candidates then change onto at least two more horses, and, depending on the facilities available, jump a short cross-country or show jumping course on each horse.

Inside Riding

Candidates will continue the examination in the afternoon by riding two or three schooled horses in the Indoor School.

They will be given the opportunity of trying out these horses before being asked to carry out specific movements.

One horse will be in a double bridle.

On the 2nd and 3rd horses candidates will be asked to prepare for and show movements, whilst knowing the aids to carry them out

Depending on the standard of the horse, candidates may be asked to: Ride in Medium Walk, Working and Medium Trot, and show some shortening of stride, working towards collection.

• Show transitions and halts.
• They will be required to do some school movements such as:Circles, loops and serpentines of specific size.
• Changes of rein.
• Change of leg through trot or walk.
• Counter canter loops.
• Turn on the forehand.
• Leg yielding.
• Shoulder in.
• Half Pirouette at walk.
• Candidates will be expected to have knowledge of school riding and discipline.

The Examiners will probably ask the candidates to comment on the way the horses are going and performing the required movements.

The Examiners will be looking at: Whether the Candidates are applying the aids correctly; if they can ‘feel' when the horse is going correctly; do they know the reasons when problems occur; does the horse go better for them at the end than it did in the beginning?

Training The Young Horse

This phase takes the form of a discussion with one or two examiners and practical lungeing of a horse.

Candidates are expected to know the principles of lungeing for improvement, training and education (poles will be available) to include backing and preliminary training of a young horse using the equipment and methods recommended by The Pony Club and explained in ‘Backing Breeding and Bringing on Young Horses'.

 A Test Time Tables (31.21 kB)

• Hints, Tips and Recommended Reading
• Suggested Programme of Training
• Working for the A Test