C+ Test

Minimum Age: 13

Standards of Efficiency Test Sheet 2010

General

The efficiency tests provide a staircase of knowledge and progression when taken in sequence.

Before taking the ‘C+’ test, candidates must have passed the ‘C’ test, including the Road Rider achievement badge. Riders may be required to change horses or ponies for some flat work.

Objective

• To become an educated and practical rider.
• To ride over fences at all paces.
• To gain practical experience and knowledge of the care of a stabled pony and of a pony at grass.
• To be capable of riding a well-mannered pony out hunting and in all pony club activities.
• To ride intelligently and with due regard for others on the roads and in the country, and with a knowledge of pace, distance and discipline when riding alone and in groups.

Riding

• Working towards a supple, balanced position on the flat and over fences.
• Comment on the suppleness of your own horse.
• Discuss horses’ response to the aids and any loss of balance.
• Apply aids correctly for increase and decrease of pace, turns and circles.
• Turns on the forehand from the halt.
• Stand still. Salute.
• Free walk on a long rein or with a loose rein.
• Change of leg at canter through trot and talk about balance of the horse.
• Know the aids for and show leg yielding at walk.
• Ride with reins in one hand.
• Ride up and down steep hills and banks.
• Jump a variety of fences show jumping and cross country.
• Jump up and down hill.
• Identify which fence was jumped the best and why.
• Jump doubles.

What you need to know: (this is likely to relate to the horse or pony you are riding)

• Understand the reasons for the equipment the horse or pony is wearing.
• Discuss the advantages of a correct position.
• Name the scales of training.
• Discuss whether the horse or pony is working forwards in a suitable rhythm and tempo.
• Understand the meaning of suppleness in a horse or pony.
• Know the sequence of legs at all paces.

Horse & Pony Care

• Practical care and working of a pony off grass.
• Knowledge of the care, feed and work of a stabled pony.
• Know principles of watering and feeding.
• Have knowledge of the different items of forage.
• Understand the importance of roughage.
• Recognise when to feed hay or haylage.
• Know the articles of grooming kit and be able to use them effectively.
• Know the structure of the horse’s foot as shown in the manual.
• Know the names of the farrier’s tools.
• Be able to name external parts of the foot.
• Describe a hunter shoe.
• Be able to fit a saddle and bridle.
• Bits and their uses; snaffle, double jointed snaffles and the action of gags.
• Prepare a horse for travel.
• Load and unload safely.
• Put on a stable bandage.
• Know when a horse is lame.
• Identify signs of illness.
• Know the symptoms and reason for poor condition.
• Know when to call the vet.
• Be able to care for a wound until vet arrives.
• Be able to put a poultice on a leg.

Read

• The Manual of Horsemanship
• Keeping a Pony at Grass
• The Country Code - The Countryside Commission
• Pony Guide File
• Achievement Badge Buddies: Lorinery, Cleaning Tack
• Equipment Safety Achievement Badge Syllabus

View

• DVDS
• Stable Management Series (Handling and Leading, Health and Condition)
• Road Rider

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