I - COACH
NZPCA Coaching Magazine
October 2016
So, you have been asked to
Coach at Pony Club!!
Well you have come to the right place.
Since the last edition came out the Education and Development Committee have developed a New Coach Induction Pack. The idea
behind this is to offer one place where new Pony Club Coaches can go to get information and assistance. One place where they can
go to find out what is required from them and how NZPCA can help. Every Pony Club Coach should have access to a copy. You can
access your Copy here
In this issue:
Page 2 Kay Hogan writes ‘Qualities of a Good Examiner’
Pages 3/4 Coaching Clinic and Examiner clinic Dates and Venues
Page 5/6 Louise Ilton writes ‘ Fun Fun Fun’ at Pony Club
Page 7/8 NZPCA Badges
Page 9 Rebecca Dearden’s Bio and Riders without Horses Review
Page 10 Jennifer Howard writes ‘Something for Coaches’
NEWS!! We say farewell to Dudley Brown as Chair of Education and Development (E and D), Dudley will be staying on at Pony Club
in various roles including being chair of the newly formed National Coaches Advisory Panel (NCAP). However its not all bad news,
we welcome Rebecca Dearden who has taken over the role as Chair
Our wonderful volunteers are the backbone of the Pony Club and are highly valued. We encourage their development and recognise
their dedication to helping us make the NZPCA the success it is. NZPCA encourage all coaches to upskill either by joining the ECTP
programme or by taking part in the opportunites being planned by Pony Club Areas around the country. If you want your area to run a
coaches Clinic contact your local Area coach co-ordinator
NZPCA have a proven coaching system (ECTP) which allows for a progressive pathway for those who teach at Pony Club and
encourages them to attain qualifications and develop their skills enabling a consistancy of teaching standards throughout our
Branches. You can read all about the Equestrian Coaches Training Programme here
By Kay Hogan BHSI.
Qualities of a Good Examiner – as suggested by the wonderful C+ and B Examiners at the
Dunedin Examiners Clinic, August 2016
Ask the TD to invite parents/coaches to the introductions. State things like how the exam will be run, when/if gear
changes will happen, when the breaks will be, what happens if there’s a hold up, if there is a need for the horse/s
to be lead round while the SJ course is walked, that if a candidate doesn’t hear or doesn’t understand a question
they should ask for it to be clarified and this won’t count against them at all. Define the role of the TD and suggest
when he/she can be approached if there is a query and above all stress that you are there to run a fair exam.
Developing a good working relationship with everyone may help at the end of the day if you are not able to pass
everyone. Once the intros are over clearly state where people may stand to observe
Be:
Relaxed (but aware)
Friendly (but not a friend!)
Approachable
Patient
Empathetic
Time-aware – don’t over-examine – it’s OK to finish a section early if you’ve covered everything
Accurate in your observations and comments- jot down notes during the exam
Have: A sense of humour
Good listening skills
The ability to put the rider at ease and get the best out of them
Make sure you know of any physical or mental disabilities and allow for these
Preparation – you are in charge of the exam – it should run smoothly and give the candidates every
possible chance of passing. Have everything set up beforehand
Plan your practical tasks so that you see the maximum possible within the time allowed, without
ushing or over-examining
Have a full understanding of the syllabus
Have good knowledge and understanding of the expected standards
Thoroughly research your questions and keep a balance between open-ended, yes/no, long & short
answers
Be knowledgeable of Pony Club methods – you may have your favourite ways of doing things but
don’t impose these on your candidates
Have a good eye for detail, without losing sight of the big picture
Be:
A good questioner
Good at clarifying questions and do this willingly
Have the ability to re-phrase if required
Ask yourself “does the rider understand the questions”?
Ask clear questions – and know the answer you want
If a rider starts to answer a question or begin a task incorrectly, stop and have a little discussion to see if you can
help them recognise they’re on the wrong track
If a rider has little or no knowledge of a particular subject, move on - you are there to find out what they
know – throw them a lifeline (but not too many!)
Remember a “pass” can be on several levels – it doesn’t have to be 100%
Have the ability to sum up with constructive comments, without being negative
ECTP D level Fast Track Weekends
As we said in the August ‘I-Coach’ NZPCA have pledged to run several Fast Track ECTP
Coaches Courses in 2016/7. We have confirmed courses now in Rotorua January 14/15th 2017
and Canterbury and MWC are keen to run one at Nga Tawa in the new year.
This is a relatively painless, supported and enjoyable way of upskilling yourself or your Branch
Coaches as NZPCA do a lot of the leg work. Branches need to recruit the D level ECTP coaches
and provide Morning Tea, Lunch and Afternoon tea for the officials. Oh and maybe some demo
riders too.
You can read all the requirements for holding an ECTP D level Fast Track Weekend right here
NZPCA H and A
EXAM DATES
The 2017 NZPCA H and A Certificate Exam dates and closing dates are available H and A Exam
Dates 2017 Click Here:
Click Here for the A Application Form:
Click Here for the H Application Form:
NZPCA highly recommend that if you are a B level rider, and are intending to take your H or A
Certificate Exam in the near future, that they apply to be a groom for the H Exams. Allowed
numbers of grooms are strictly limited. Groom Application Here:
Closing date for the February 18/19th South Island exam is Friday 18th November (No
Exceptions)
COACHING TOOLS
We have a great tool to assist Coaches with their record keeping. Ideal for keeping the Certificate
record card information up to date. Thank you Kara Lockhart for this resource. This does not
replace the record cards it is simply a tool to help coaches keep track of progress. If you would
like a copy Click Here .
Click here for your Free Rally Plan template
Click here for your Free D+ Rally Plans Template
There are Rally plans and many more resources available at the E shop.
Our product of the Year has got to be the Kim Widdowson Easy Jumper Exercise Cards. For
$25.00 plus postage you get a really useful book full of useful exercises that does not require
shifting poles around. Each card contains a single layout that can be used in three different ways
by 3 different riding levels.
Everyone who picks up this book says ‘Oh my goodness…...thats just what I need!!!”
Proposed ECTP Fast Track D level Venue and Dates
Area/
Branch/
Club
TAR
Contact
Linda Huitson
Email
Phone
Date
[email protected]
0273927212
New Year 2017
AUK/WR Kerry Currie
[email protected]
09 236 8654
31st March/2nd April
WW
Rae McIntyre
[email protected]
06 3797977
m
Jul-17
MWC
Louise Ilton
[email protected]
06 326 9075
TBA
BOP
Karen Owen
[email protected]
0274824401/073748537 May 2017
CBY
Sue Graham
[email protected]
03 314
8209/0272223624
Feb/March 2017
C+ - B Examiners Clinics 2016/17
Area
WW
Date
Feb-17
WR
26-27th Nov
Venue
TBA
Huapai
Showgrounds
Contact
Rae McIntyre
Email
[email protected]
Sarah Comrie
[email protected]
Otago Southland have just completed their Examiners Clinic for this rotation. Well Done Charlotte
Young for all your efforts in getting this organised. From their weekend they have now upskilled
three C Examiners to C+, updated 5 B Examiners and gained 4 new C+ Exam TD’s...thoroughly
worthwhile weekend. The feed back from the Examiners was positive and Kay Hogan said it was a
great weekend.
Certificates are an essential part of the Pony Club system, providing incentive and encouragement to
learn and improve at all levels.
Examiners are usually Coaches, actively instructing at rallies, at the level they are examining at. The
exception to this is at A & H Level, where the examinations are conducted by the National Coaches.
Clubs and Branches are responsible for training their own D and C Level examiners. Courses for
these people can be arranged with the National Coaches at this domestic level.
The Rules and Guidelines for Pony Club Certificates clearly states the criteria an examiner must
meet in order to be eligible to exam.
C+ and B Examiners must be qualified through attendance at an Area-run Examiners clinic and must
be named on the Association's C+ & B Examiners list. The clinics are funded by the Association and
run by four Areas each year, rotating through Areas within each Zone nationally on a four-year cycle.
Examiners are required to update by attending one of these Clinics at least every five years.
If you are due to update or want to become an examiner Click here for more information.
Fun, Fun, Fun
Pony Club is about learning, however, a lot of learning happens when we are having fun in a relaxed
environment. We are more prepared to challenge ourselves at our own level and can be safely
encouraged by our peers. Our philosophy we have used at Ashhurst Pohangina is believe it is
extremely important to plan fun for all our riders especially seniors as they so often only see each
other in a competitive nature.
Here are a few things our riders have enjoyed or have asked to do over the next 12 months.
Relaxed senior rallies, where they can ride with each other their own age is important to the riders. To
do this we have flexible groupings at times it is straight certificate level, others it is age or competition
level. Also we use our senior riders as demonstration riders frequently for our younger riders.
Examples our riders have enjoyed bareback jumping, dual jump, playing games with the juniors and
practicing the skills they enjoyed as juniors as well as fun obstacle courses

Anything that is topical at the time, for us it included Pokemon hunting!

Beach rides, awesome for getting out of riders comfort zones and practicing speed work

Trekking over farm land if available or riding on bridle paths.

Overnight stays when working on certificates, often unmounted is easier but if you can riders do
enjoy. I am pretty lucky my husband is very understanding and often there are a large amount to
teenager’s in our house and he has learnt to cope with it.

Riding on a Race Course. If you are lucky enough to be close to one of these and able to access if
the local racing club will let you. The riders really enjoy this, tricky thing is planning it for when the
horses are fit enough to ensure you minimise any risk of injury to the horses.

Guest speakers: I am sure you will all do the Vet but Saddle fitters and Dentists are always
popular. We have even had a leg dissected to see how the tendon’s work, as we are lucky to have
good contacts with Massey University. We also had our ponies weighed at PC the parents and
riders really enjoyed this.

Fun themed rallies, dress ups - teenagers love coming in their onesies!

Social Time make sure there are ample opportunities to cook marshmallows along with learning at
unmounted rallies with a purpose such as a helmet check, enrollment and a topical piece of
information.
When you ask our riders what they enjoy most is hanging out with each other. We often have all day
holiday rallies and I have got much better on allowing enough time for LUNCH as the social part of
Pony Club is extremely important in our busy calendars.
Next request the Ashhurst Senior riders asked me for is a double slalom show jumping event that will
go into a rally along the way.
Enjoy your riders. Louise Ilton
Head Coach Ashhurst Pohangia Pony Club
Thank you Louise. Louise is also NZPCA Coach of the Year 2015…..you can see why!!!
Pictures below.
Fun things to do with your
Riders. Here are some
Photographs from
Ashhurst Pohangina Pony
Club.
Some creative thinking going on here and
these riders would have had so much fun.
Dual Jumping, guaranteed to excite the
riders.
A bit of Fancy Dress to
brighten up the rally?
NZPCA Achievement Badges
What’s it all about? The thinking behind the Achievement Badge Initiative is to give encouragement for
PC members to keep progressing though the certificate system, in a simple and fun way. It is a
motivational incentive, aimed at our most junior riders, with or without a horse, through to our future
Olympians. The Generic Badges are for everyone who attends Pony Club. Level One and Level Two
Badges are aimed at D through to C Certificate level but everyone can achieve them in any order and at
any time. The badges may be positioned on the arm, saddle blanket or any other manner that the branch
agrees.
What does it achieve? It makes learning more exciting and the rewards more immediate. Gives bragging
rights to the members with the most badges. Stimulates greater enthusiasm to attend PC Rallies and
creates a new learning culture. Encourages members to complete their certificates. The badges become
a visible recognition of the member’s passion and dedication. Successful badge holders become role
models for others. Adds value to the existing certificate system. The potential to become the foundation of
a more comprehensive award system. It will be rider driven – riders will be able to access the skill sheets
online to discover the next badge they are ready for
How does it work? NZPCA HO has a stock of each badge and these are supplied through the NZPCA E
shop only to a Branch Secretary or Head Coach. Operationally, awards are carried out at branch level.
Branches will order stock from NZPCA in advance so that they can award Badges to members without
delay. Prefereably on the day of achievement. A set of simple skill sheets for each badge is available on
requirements required to achieve each badge. Members will be awarded badges by their branch
immediately upon satisfactory completion of each achievement.
Achievement Badges - Green
Achievement Badges - Yellow
Rebecca Dearden, chair of Education and Development’s Bio.
Member of and coach at Waitara Pony Club, Taranaki. C+ examiner
and C+ ECTP coach. Previously head coach at local branch for 6
years. ESNZ Candidate National Show Hunter Judge. I have
coached teams to Zone and National Games Champs events and
this year coached our Club team at the recent Manawatu Show
Hunter Champs. I attended Pony Club as a rider and have
continued on to be a coach. I was elected onto the NZPCA Board in
2015 and currently hold the portfolios of Riders Council Liaison and
newly became Chair of the Education and Development Committee.
With the support of Dudley and Yvonne I look forward to working
with coaches across pony club as we continue to build on the great
foundation made by Dudley and the E&D committee. Please feel
free to contact me via email on [email protected] if you
would like to provide comment or feedback on any Pony Club
coaching matters.
Welcome Rebecca!!
Riders without horses programme review
This programme has been in existence for a few years and is
due for review. The Education and Development Committee are
looking for feedback from coaches that have used or are using
this programme. If you have any information you would like to
pass on about what works and what doesn’t work or are happy
to answer a few questions about your experience as a coach
using this programme please contact Rebecca via email
[email protected] by 31st October.
For PC Coaches
I wonder how many coaches watched both the recent Rio Games, especially the Para Games, and noticed how much the
coaches were brought into the picture? I found it so interesting. The athletes paid tribute to them, as well as to their
sponsors and their whole country of supporters. In their turn, the coaches showed their pride in what had been achieved,
and forecast what the future would hold for their people.
I did not specifically see this happen to the able-bodied riders, though I caught glimpses of Eric Duvander in the
background of our Three Day riders. But it was heartening to me, as a coach, to see our coaching profession getting
some generic recognition. It would be so encouraging if at regional and national levels our best efforts could be
recognised – by the riders and then by the Press.
We have the situation in New Zealand that up till the present time no qualifications are expected, let alone required, of a
coach. You probably are aware that in the USA, for instance, no one can teach even at Pony Club unless they hold a
qualification. The Public Liability aspect is huge, partly due to the cheerful American habit of suing for damages at the
least provocation. I heard of a father suing a coach when his daughter fell off breaking her arm, a greenstick fracture,
while on the lunge. Of course it shouldn’t have happened, and I’ve never seen it happen myself, but the point is that the
coach was described by the father as ‘chasing the girl’s horse with a big whip’, hence causing her to fall off, and the
damage included his being deprived of his daughter’s company while she was in hospital!
We are so lucky to have ACC protection from this sort of thing, but the new Health and Safety laws are extremely strict
and it would be no surprise to me if some evidence of qualification isn’t eventually brought in, in this country.
I’ve been to a few shows and competitions lately, even judged once – so I’m passing on some really current thoughts.
I’ve noticed two details related to riders, one of which you may think is totally unimportant. The other quite definitely is
important.
Firstly, does no one any more teach riders that: When they mount, they should throw the spare end of rein over to the
horse/pony’s off side, and it should Stay There?! Mounting this way is described quite clearly in PC Manual 1. Lots of
people have obviously not heard about this, or can see any reason to make sure they do throw that loop over. It is fairly
obvious that you’d want to keep it out of the way of your foot while mounting – but afterwards?
The explanation that I was taught is derived from the show ring. When a judge looks at a pony/horse from the near side –
He wants to see a clear uncluttered picture of the whole animal – that’s why the mane is plaited over to the off-side, and
show riders carry their cane in their right hand. So obviously that loop of rein should be on the same side, not visibly
flapping around on the horse’s shoulder. You might call this an old fashioned bit of etiquette, but it makes perfect sense
to me.
The other detail I’ve noticed is actually far more than a detail, it affects the pony/ horse’s balance and muscular
development: It’s a matter of changing the rising diagonal, when you change direction – so that the rider is sitting when
the inside hind leg is on the ground. Show ring riders used to pay no attention to this at all, but in recent years I’ve
noticed that most of them now do, and I’ve credited them with having been well taught at Pony Club. However it is not
happening universally, and I find this really disappointing. I’ve frequently watched a rider spend the whole class on one
diagonal, regardless of what rein she was on.
This reminded me of an A exam I took part in as an examiner, years ago….one rider was distinctly unconscious of the
need to change while we assessed her flat work; we did give her a ‘life-line’ by discussing diagonals at some point, but
nothing changed. She continued on through the phrases, doing bravely on the cross-country despite her rather overenthusiastic horse. Then came the riding of a ‘green’ one. As examiners we had had a chance to see these ridden
earlier, so knew they were in good shape. However this rider started off quite briskly, but soon came back to us, saying: “I
don’t think I should go on with this one, he’s lame.” The horse was not lame at all, but it was obvious as we watched that
he was very uncomfortable when she trotted around on the inside diagonal. It was sad that such a basic habit had been
allowed to go uncorrected right up to this level. Obviously her coach didn’t think it was important and of course this
aspect of her performance was not the whole reason for her failing the exam on that day; there were other sub-standard
elements as well, but this one has stuck in my memory as being so un-necessary.
Jennifer Howard BHSI
By Kim Widdowson
Congratulations to Kim Widdowson who has produced this really
useful Coaches Resource. We have now sold almost 100.
Everyone who picks it says ‘Oh my goodness, that’s just what I
need’. if you want to order a copy $25.00 plus postage pop
along to the NZPCA E shop here You wont be dissappointed!!
Diary Dates 2016—2017
Event
Venue
Date
More Info
Bruce Forbes
Team Event
Wellington/
Wairarapa
4-5th January 2017
http://www.sportsground.co.nz/nzpcabruceforbes
North Island
Waikato Equestrian
Dressage
28th - 29th January 2017 [email protected]
Centre
Champs
South Island
Dressage
champs
Blenheim
14th - 15th Jan 2017
Cambridge SJ
Waikato
4th - 6th Feb 2017
HOY
HOY
March 7th – 12th 2017
Eventing
Champs
Northland
19-23rd April 2017
SI Show
Jumping
Rangiora
17/18 Jan 2017
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
H and A Exams 2017
Venue
Application closing date
Assessment closing date
Exam Date
South Island
Friday 18th November 2016
Friday 6th January 2017
18/19th February 2017
North Island
Friday 10th March 2017
Friday 28nd April 2017
17/18th June 2017

Happy Coaching everyone, as the season kicks off in a big way and we are all trying to juggle our
busy lives between things we have to do and things we want to do. Our volunteers are a very
important part of the Pony Club Family. Here are some quick tips for coping:

Plan Ahead

Be Flexible

Recruit Help

Remember no one is perfect

Have Fun