Young Instructors Advanced Course

The Young Instructors Advanced Course is generously supported by the Worshipful Company of Loriners.

The Young Instructors Advanced Course (YIAC) is a scholarship course with the aim of educating young instructors to teach at all levels within The Pony Club. After a break of several years, the YIAC was reinstated in 2008, and ten current and former Members of The Pony Club who had achieved their ‘A’ Test attended. To have achieved your ‘A’ Test you will have had a long “Pony Club career” progressing from the basic ‘D’ Test through all levels to reach the highest qualification. ‘A’ Test holders are encouraged to go on to train future ‘A’ Test candidates and it is hoped that many will examine the ‘A’ Test in the future.

The YIAC is a rolling two year course, with a new intake every second year. The second year helps to reinforce that Instructors are supported by The Pony Club; they are not on their own! Coming back for a second year allows the students to share their ideas and experiences, give feedback on the previous year’s advice after taking it out into the Branches and answer any questions that have arisen.

The Course is held at Caradoc in Sellack, Herefordshire; home of Major Patrick Darling and the late Lucinda Darling who had been heavily involved with the YIAC and Pony Club Training. The 2011 course ran from Sunday 26th until Thursday 30th June.

As a training organisation, The Pony Club feels that producing high quality instructors is as important as producing quality riders. These students are the people who will teach future Pony Club Members and setting the standard early will help to maintain the high standards within The Pony Club.

Our resident YIAC Coaches are Vicki Macdonald BHSI and William Blane FBHS; both valued Members of The Pony Club Training Committee. Guest speakers included Marie Ryan, who gave a two demonstrations, and Kim Ingleby, a performance and wellbeing coach.

Each student brings their own horse or borrows one so that everyone has the opportunity to put into practice what they are learning and try out new techniques and exercises on each other.

• The 2011 Students
• The Tim Spencer Cox Memorial Trophy Recipients

Charlotte Pearson-Wood - Romney Marsh
Hannah Luck - Old Berkeley Hunt (South)
India Thomson - Waveney Harriers
Jean Smith - Atherstone Hunt
Jennifer Pearson - Cumberland Farmers’ Hunt (South)
Julie Donn - North Argyll
Kate Walters - South Nottinghamshire
Sarah Parkes - Worcestershire Hunt
Sarah Roberts - Tanatside Hunt

The Tim Spencer Cox Memorial Trophy is presented to the student who has performed exceptionally throughout the course, and shown excellent potential as a Pony Club Coach and Examiner.

2008 - Ruth Walker
2009 - Robyn Waterson
2010 - Alice Greenwood
2011 - Sarah Parkes