Home

Tiverton Pony Club

Tests (E–A & Road Safety)
Last updated 16th March 2017

These do not require formal training, and are usually taken during camp in the summer.

E Test (pale yellow felt) min age 4+

D Test (yellow felt) min age 8

D+ Test (white felt) min age 10

C+

These require some formal training, and both riding and stable management rallies are held.

C Test (green felt) min age 11

C+ Test (pink felt) min age 13

You must pass the Road Safety test before you can take your C or C+ test certificate – see below.

Horse & Pony care

B

Riding

A

Horse & Pony care; and Riding

The standard required for these is very high, and a considerable amount of study and practical experience is required to take them.

For the B test:

• You must be 15 or over.
• You must have passed either the Pony Club or the BHS Road Safety Test

For the A test:

• You must be 17 or over
• You must have passed both parts of the B test
• You must pass the Horse & Pony Care section before attempting the Riding one

Generally training is organised at the area level: please contact the DC if you are interested.

"The aim of the Riding and Road Safety Test is to promote safety on the road by recognizing riders who can show that they ride with courtesy and responsibility, are aware of, and obey the law, the Highway Code and The Pony Club or British Horse Society Riding and Road Safety Manual."

Click here for the formal requirements of this test as given on the UK Pony Club website.

Realistically you need to be at least 12 years old to take this test, which is made up of three parts:

• Theory: You have to have a good knowledge of the Highway Code, recognise road signs and markings. You must also demonstrate that you have a firm grasp of the safety issues involved with riding a horse on the public road. This is tested formally by a written paper, and you will not be able to proceed to the practical phases unless you score a good mark.

• Practical #1 (in a field). Tack inspection. Then negotiating a simulated road course in a field to a standard that convinces the examiner that you are safe to proceed to the second practical phase on the real road. This means demonstrating some of the techniques such as mounted on the "wrong" side, junctions, negotiating parked cars, that you will need to have mastered; and also coping with simulated hazards such as road works. Fail this and you cannot proceed to the second practical phase.

• Practical #2 (on the road). You will have to demonstrate that you can ride correctly on the public highway.

These tests are taken exceedingly seriously, and examined to a high standard: generally a pass requires a score of 80% or better in all three phases.

There is no way you will pass this test unless you have attended the formal training sessions. Contact DC for full details.

These are a range of badges that are intended to be a fun way of acquiring a greater knowledge of Horsemanship and general countryside matters. They are taught and awarded at specific rallies, and a selection of the badges, which are designed to be sewn onto sweatshirts or bags, is given below.

Click here for the Pony Club website page listing all the badges.

	Bandaging and rugs
	Feeding
	Mucking out
	Handling & Grooming
	Points of the Horse
	Saddlery & Tack