PC B Test - Riding

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jozzie789

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Well Ive already done my B test care.. and am down to do the riding section this August.

So was just wondering if anyone could answer some questions!! what do I need to be practising? likely questions they ask? what they tend to pick up on? Also height of fences?

Any advice would be great, thankyou
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Hi

The fences are normally about 2'9/3ft. They aren't huge so don't worry. You need to get a test card as it might have changed a bit since I did mine and coached a few people through the test. You should practice on your jumping position a lot, maybe over smaller fences first to get really confident before your test.

Your jumping rounds need to be smooth but determined. I would suggest that you ride without stirrups a lot between now and the test to help develop your seat. Make sure that you know the sequence of legs at all paces (C test stuff but they might ask you). Develop some simple suppling exercises which you can demonstrate and explain.

Watch the training videos on www.horsehero.com. They show you exercises on the flat and also over fences. You should try to go through these with your horse quite a lot (on a surface) between now and your test. Also, when you are out hacking practice having a good canter/gallop with your horse in a workmanlike outline and bouncy which you can show off when you do your xc on the day.


What they will be looking for is someone who rides nicely, is able to improve a horse and understands the reasons for what they are doing and why.

I did my A test in 2002
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Good Luck! Pracitce makes perfect!

Diana
 
as Dutch said really - also if you can get in lots of practice riding other people's horses so when you have to swap you don't get an attack of nerves and go all tense!

try to find as many different types, sizes and ages of horse/pony as you can. I have 16.3hh IDx who hunts and events, and got put on a 14.2hh show pony.... they want to see that you can ride anything and be effective - not that you ride perfectly but don't effect the horse's way of going.

good luck! hope it goes well.
 
Another point - try to be confident, and speak up when asked a question, or when there is a general question thrown to all of you!

When my daughter took her B test there was one poor chap who failed because he was shy, and lacked the confidence to make an intelligent, sensible reply to any of the questions! They couldn't pass him because he hardly spoke!!

Even if you don't know the text book answer, they want to see that you can use your common sense and experience to assess the situation and and give an intelligent reply such as " I'm sorry, I don't know what the official answer on this, but if it was my horse, I would............... ".

Good luck
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- it IS mostly common sense, and getting as much experience as you can - although reading books such as the Instructors Handbook will also help a lot with things like aids and how to describe them.
 
I agree with all the above. Try to ride lots of different horses and think about how you would explain how they went for you to someone and what you could do to improve it. They won't expect you to ride strange horses perfectly but just be effective. Just be confident in your answers and make the examiners believe that your way is the right way!

Good luck!!
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Ride as many horses as possible, even those that havent got a great dressage! Make sure you know all the aids to everything aswell. If they ask you a question keep going on, don't just give a few worded answered
Good luck.
 
Make sure you speak up and are honest! I rode a horse that I said was 'X,Y,Z' and they then asked me to not be so polite (its owners were there!) and so then I gace it chapter and verse in its limitations (alot!) - I still passed!

JB x
 
Practice things like using two pairs of reins and turn on the forehand which they always include.
Jumping: for the show jumping, when my son took his a couple of years ago, they made the candidates make up their own course, so be prepared for that. Of course everyone copied the first person, but.....
Cross country: they will fail you if you are not SEEN to be in control.
Good luck.
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