Become a Pony Club Coach

Introduction

One of the core objectives of The Pony Club is to support members in developing their riding and horsemastership, as well as building the knowledge and skills needed to care for horses and ponies.

Becoming a Pony Club coach is a fantastic opportunity to share your passion, support members on their journey, and play a key role in developing their confidence, skills, and love of horses.

To start coaching for a Pony Club Branch or Centre you’ll need to be listed on The Pony Club coaching database – PELHAM. The easiest way to do this is for your Branch/Centre to add you on directly. If you aren’t already coaching for a Branch or Centre, use our Find a Pony Club tool to find your nearest one.

You’ll also need to have the relevant certifications for the level at which you want to coach – full details are below. You’ll need to show copies of your certifications to your Branch/Centre for them to add to the database.

Becoming a Pony Club Coach: What You Need to Get Started

To start coaching for a Pony Club Branch or Centre you’ll need to be listed on The Pony Club coaching database – PELHAM. The easiest way to do this is for your Branch/Centre to add you on directly. If you aren’t already coaching for a Branch or Centre, use our Find a Pony Club tool to find your nearest one.

You’ll also need to have the relevant certifications for the level at which you want to coach – full details are below. You’ll need to show copies of your certifications to your Branch/Centre for them to add to the database.

Enhanced Disclosure Check – In England and Wales this is a DBS check, in Scotland it is a PVG, in Northern Ireland it is Access NI. Contact your local Branch or Centre to arrange this.

Safeguarding – The Safeguarding course offered by the Pony Club is Safeguarding for Equestrians.

First Aid – The minimum qualification required for coaches is the Emergency First Aid at Work course. All first aid courses MUST have been completed through face to face delivery to meet the Pony Club requirements.

Continuous Professional Development (CPD) – Please be aware that from 1st January 2023 the CPD requirement changed to every year.

Further information and to book onto the training courses see Volunteer Training.

Details of available courses can be found here

Coach Categories

All new coaches are expected to meet the requirements of an Accredited Pony Club Coach, based on the certifications outlined below. Maintaining these certifications is essential to remain in an accredited role. If any required certifications expire or are not in place, coaches will move into a supervised or expired status until the requirements are met.

Accredited coaches are able to coach independently and may also supervise others, while supervised coaches must meet specific criteria and work under the guidance of an accredited coach at all times. Coaches in the expired category must not be used for coaching until their requirements have been updated.

Accredited coaches must satisfy all of the criteria below:

  • Aged 18+
  • Have up-to-date Pony Club CPD
  • Have up-to-date First Aid certificate

Accredited coaches may coach unsupervised, and may also supervise other coaches.

Supervised coaches must satisfy all of the criteria below:

  • Aged 16+
  • Have an up-to-date Enhanced Disclosure Certificate
  • Have an up-to-date Safeguarding certificate

Supervised coaches must be in the presence of an accredited coach at all times.

Coach Categories Enhanced Disclosure check – Updated every 3 yearsSafeguarding certificate – Updated every 3 yearsFirst Aid – updated according to the certificateCPD -updated every year
Accredited CoachYesYesYesYes
Supervised coach*YesYesOne or Both of these has expiredOne or Both of these has expired
Expired CoachCoach without Disclosure check and Safeguarding cert cannot be used.Coach without Disclosure check and Safeguarding cert cannot be used.

First Aid and/or CPD Expired CPD and/or First Aid Expired

FAQs: Becoming a Pony Club Coach

What certifications do I need to become an Accredited Pony Club Coach?

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You must have the following certifications in place to be a Pony Club Accredited Coach:

Enhanced Disclosure Check – In England and Wales this is a DBS check, in Scotland it is a PVG, in Northern Ireland it is Access NI. Contact your local Branch or Centre to arrange this.

Safeguarding – The Safeguarding course offered by the Pony Club is Safeguarding for Equestrians.

First Aid – The minimum qualification required for coaches is the Emergency First Aid at Work course. All first aid courses MUST have been completed through face to face delivery to meet the Pony Club requirements.

Continuous Professional Development (CPD) – Please be aware that from 1st January 2023 the CPD requirement changed to every year.

What Disclosure checks do Coaches need?

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Disclosure checks

The following disclosure checks can be added to a coach on PELHAM:

  • DBS checks must be held by any coach who teaches in England or Wales.
  • PVG checks must be held by any coach who teaches in Scotland.
  • Access NI checks must be held by any coach who teaches in Northern Ireland.

For more information on disclosure checks please check the safeguarding section of The
Pony Club website.

What safeguarding training is required for Pony Club Coaches?

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Safeguarding Training

The Pony Club recognises three levels of training:

  • Safeguarding for Equestrians – Initial Training, Tutor Lead (delivered face to face virtually)
  • Equestrian Advanced Safeguarding – Refresher Course for those that have previously completed Safeguarding for Equestrians, Self-Guided 

The first approved safeguarding workshop to attend must be the Safeguarding for Equestrians course, this is a face to face, tutor lead course that is delivered virtually.  This is followed three years later by the Advanced Safeguarding for Equestrians refresher course, this is a self-guided workbook style course that can be completed in your own time.  The two courses are then repeated every three years in strict rotation.

To book onto one of these courses please follow this link > https://pcuk.org/volunteers-training/#Safeguarding-Training

What First Aid courses are recognised for Pony Club Coaches?

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Recognised First Aid Courses

All First Aid courses must be attended in person, given the life-saving nature of the topics covered. Online or virtual courses are not accepted.

Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW)

  • Course length: Minimum of 6 hours (excluding breaks), delivered over at least one day
  • Requalification period: 3 years

First Aid at Work (FAW)

  • Course length: Minimum of 18 hours (excluding breaks), delivered over at least three days
  • Requalification period: 3 years

BHS First Aid

  • Course length: Two-day course or one-day refresher
  • Requalification period: 2 years

How often do Pony Club Coaches need to complete CPD?

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There is a yearly CPD requirement for all Pony Club Coaches and Assessors. This CPD update is not specific to coaching or assessing, but must be completed on an annual basis.

CPD must include at least one face-to-face element every two years. For example, if all CPD updates were completed online in 2025, at least one face-to-face CPD must be undertaken in 2026.

Does Assessor training count towards CPD?

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Yes. Test Assessor workshops are recognised as CPD for Pony Club Coaches as well as Assessors.

However, Assessor CPD must also be updated every three years for the highest level you assess.

What are the age requirements for becoming an Accredited Coach?

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Accredited Coaches must be aged 18 or over. Coaches aged 16+ will remain in a supervised role until they turn 18.

Need more information?

Please see the contact details to the right.

Contact Image

Ellie El khamlichi

Lead Training Officer
T: 02476 698300 E: training@pcuk.org
Contact Image

Rosa Dakin

Training Officer
T: 02476 698300 E: training@pcuk.org