Pony Club tests

Clodagh

Playing chess with pigeons
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Can’t think of a better heading!
A friend at the pub (she’s worked with horses) has just started taking their daughter for riding lessons. They don’t have a lot of money. Is there any way they can access PC training stuff for the tests?
The daughter is home educated so any sort of material that can be accessed online maybe?
I wonder if the BHS might help? I’ve never been a member but have they given up on grass roots stuff?
She’s only 7 so very basic things like identifying different grooming stuff and so on would be a start.
 
PC are all so rich and stuck up.
(Disclaimer unless things have changed enormously since I went and when I took Smallest).
She will never have a pony, let alone a vastly expensive one. I think, she is slightly autistic , it would be awful for her.
She does do ballet and tap and some group stuff.
 
Our ony club did free badges for everyone not just members. So on club nights there would be badge training and you'd get your badge at the end. Nobody was stuck up
Editing to say, might be worth looking to see if the local pony club does the same?
 
BHS offer this for younger children https://www.bhs.org.uk/go-riding-and-learn/recreational-awards/pony-stars/ or the Challenge Awards which I think are aimed at 12 plus. Is the riding school the kid goes to in any way affiliated to either the BHS or PC?

Nothing stopping the mum downloading the PC test info and teaching it herself, just wouldn’t formally get the badge.
Apparently the riding school might be, she remembers seeing something. So will ask them. But stuff at home is always good too and I’ll send her that link. Thank you.
 
The last thing our local PC branch members are is rich and stuck up! PC Centre branches are for those without their own ponies and are attached to riding schools. Alternately, BHS approved riding schools may offer Pony Stars awards which would be ideal for her level. All these things will come at a cost though. Depending on how her autism affects her it could also be worth investigating RDA, our local group has riders who are neurodiverse and some are high functioning and not obviously ND although I do understand some people are put off by the word Disabled.
 
Think you might have to be riding at a certain standard at riding schools to join their pony club. But one near me had one. The kids where always helping at the riding school and would spend their days there. Just like we use to.
 
Think you might have to be riding at a certain standard at riding schools to join their pony club. But one near me had one. The kids where always helping at the riding school and would spend their days there. Just like we use to.
You shouldn’t, they should take all levels, and if your child wants the PC experience without having access to their own pony then branch is the way to go.

PC branches vary so some may be more more cliquey than others but you don’t have to “own” a pony to join, you can join as non riding member or if you have access to a pony that you can travel to events then you can join as a riding member.

We have children in our branch with a variety of impairments and as long as the DC is aware and you communicate a plan on how to best support your child then it should be okay
 
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