Pony Club C test

Having a daughter confidence crisis - Am I being unreasonable expecting my 12 year old daughter to take her pony club test on a 12.2 pony that has great flatwork but will only jump a maximum of 2ft3" (and that depends which way the wind is blowing!!) She tried it at camp last year but there was a bit of a cock up with the groups and she found herself taking it with a load of 14 - 16 yr olds on 15.2+ consequently she failed because in her opinion the cross country jump that they expected her to jump was too much for the pony and the showjumping phase was over new shiney plastic jumps which her ride hadn't had the pleaure of practising over. Since then we have improved the jumping but I also have a very green 14.2hh 4 year old which with a bit of work we could have ready - Do I go for the devil that we know or the devil that we don't????
 
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Whisky

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This was about 10-12 years ago, but I took C and C+ on a 13.1hh Fell pony. But he was a great jumper and happily took on 3 foot plus jumps. As far as I can remember you are expected to jump around 2'9 for C. But I would have thought there should be some consideration for the size of the pony - the tests are meant to test riding, not what a great mount you have. Can you discuss with your branch's chief instructor who would be more up to date than me on what's required?
 
Doesn't sound unreasonable to me. I did my C test on a 21-year-old 11.3hh Welsh Section A who bucked constantly and didn't really do flatwork (or jumping). We muddled our way though it somehow. I must have been about 11?

It's about rider ability, not pony.
 
I agree with you on the rider ability and in the two other groups that did it at the same time comment was made that our examiner was a bit harsh - a couple failed. In one group of 11 - 13 Year olds a few did badly on the jumping but as long as they had dealt with refusals/runouts competently even if they couldn't get the pony over the jumps the examiner asked them if they would like to try on a pony that would jump and they all passed (this was the group Em should have been in but it was full). Em wasn't particularly bothered to have failed as she felt that at least she knew what she had to do to pass next time but I don't want her to fail again. She has had lessons with the chief instructor at camp and she was happy for Em to do it. We have got a couple of lessons before the test and one of these is with her so I think I will take your advice and ask her opinion. Thanks
 
Does your daughter have a preference about which pony she rides? Has your daughter jumped the bigger pony?
I took my C test (about 12 years ago admitedly) on a very green 14.3hh, who had only been jumping about 6 months. It was that or my 13hh who was arthritic and whilst he would jump it didn't make my riding look good.

IME the assessor wants to see a person ride well on a green pony rather than a rider being shown up by a pony having a tantrum.

If she was to take the test on the green pony, she could make an assessment of the jumps and if they were too big explain to the assessor that she is happy to jump the pony but that he is green and she felt that for his benefit the jumps should be a little smaller.
A clear, reasoned explanation would be better than an out right refusal, and would show the assessor that she is thinking about the pony's well being and not just frightened of jumping.

i think the jumps on the C test are supposed to be 2'6" to 2'9".
 
I only had to jump 2ft3-2ft6 for my C test every time I did it (I failed it twice
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), and didn't have to do any cross country. It really depends on the examiner because it varies, I'd advise for her to ride the horse she feels most confident on.
 
It sounds like she was treated very harshly! Will she be in a group more suitable to her age this time? My pony was a disaster but I think I must have passed by showing willing. I remember endless refusals in my test as I was mortified with embarrassment!

Good luck to her! I wish I'd stayed in PC and got further through the tests (I only got as far as C+! )
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I examine for Pony Club tests, and it is about the rider's capability, not the horse or pony (although obviously when you get to B and A then you do need a horse of a certain standard).

The only thing I would say is that I appreciate it if the DC lets me know if there is an issue with a particular pony before the exam, and some ponies are so badly behaved (strong maybe, or naughty) that the child simply cannot ride it to the best of their ability, and then unfortunately there is nothing you can do but fail them (I failed my boss's daughter in her C test last summer
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).

So I would choose the pony your child is most comfortable with, and as long as she rides it to the required standard, she will pass
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I also examine for C test and like to know about potential problems beforehand. I always ask the children if they are happy with the jumps I have selected. I do get the occassional child who would like the jumps a bit lower or maybe miss a particular cross county fence out. If I consider the reasons to be valid I will be very flexible. My job is to find out what they do know and not scare them too much.
 
Would go for the pony she is happiest on - which sounds like the 12.2. As said above, just make sure the instructor knows the pony has a height limit. It says in the blurb on the sheet that they need to "ride over small fences and ditches" and 2'3 is a decent enough size for a 12.2 I'd say.
 
Thank you for all your comments I did my c test an awful long time ago but on a 14.2. I am going to have a word with the chief instructor after her lesson just to check re height of jumping. We have a mission now to pass with the 12.2hh! I would agree with Llewelyn that 2'3 is a decent height for a 12.2hh (but I would say that i want her to pass!) and I have had the list now of candidates and three out of the six have been on the same preparation lessons over the winter and they have all been jumping up to 2'3 so finger's crossed.
 
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