What is the Blue Cross Horse and Pony Care Competition?

The competition features teams of three Members who demonstrate their knowledge and practical horsemanship skills taken from the Pony Club Tests over a number of rounds.

Teams compete at their Area Competition with the aim to qualify for the Championships.

There are 3 Levels:

• Minis: Questions to be based on the Care section of the E, D and D+ Test cards and Mini Horsemanship Achievement Badges. At the Championships a small number of questions will cover all of the D+ syllabus.
• Juniors: Questions to be based on the Care section of the D, D+, C and C+ Test cards and Horsemanship Achievement Badges. At the Championships a small number of questions will cover Advanced Achievement Badges and all of the C+ syllabus.
• Seniors: Questions to be based on the Care section of the C+, B and AH Test cards. Questions at AH Test level should be used sparingly as not all Branches/Centres will have AH Test level competitors.

Please see the Horsemanship Rulebook for more clarification of this competition.

Horse and Pony Care Resources

All Horse and Pony Care resources can be found in the Resource Hub . These resources include previous years Championships questions, question templates, achievement badges related to this competition and sample questions for all levels.

Horse and Pony Care Webinars – January 2026

• Area Organisers Webinar – Tuesday 13th January 6:30pm (invitation only)
• Trainers, Members and Parents Webinar – Tuesday 20th January 6:30pm
• Assessors Webinar – Thursday 29th January 6:30pm

Please follow the link below for registration links. 

How the competition works?

Teams make their way around different ‘stations’, each of which will comprise of a different theory or practical based topic. Ten minutes are spent at each ‘station’, during which time Members are asked a series of questions to be marked by the Assessor.

Points will be allocated per section, as well as for the manner in which Teams approach the competition. One round will be chosen, at random, as the ‘tie-breaker’. In the event of a tie, the Team with the highest score in that particular round will be declared the winners.

Horse and Pony Care Area Competitions and Qualifiers

Area competitions take place between March and June, where qualifiers are based on number of entries in each class. Good luck to all still training to compete at their area. Congratulations to those that have already qualified. Competitor information will be sent to all qualifiers once all of the area competitions have taken place. Area competitions must be completed by June 8th 2026. 

Blue Cross Horse and Pony Care Championships

The HPC Championships take place at the JCB Pony Club Championships in Offchurch Bury, in August. Each Horse and Pony Care section (Mini, Junior & Senior) will take place on a different day. Each team qualifies through their area competition, where the numbers to qualify depends on the number of entries in each area. Teams are then invited to enter the JCB Championships. For the minis, this is a great opportunity for them to go to Champs and discover all that Pony Club has to offer, before they get a chance to ride there.

Teams

• Mini Section– Teams of four- Ages to be 10 years and under on the 1st of January of competition year, with one member to be 8 years and under.
• Junior/Senior Section– Teams of four- must have two junior members (ages to be 14 years and under)  and then two of any age up to 25.
• The competition comprises of a Mini and Junior/Senior competition. All teams can be made up with one member only who has also competed at another level in this year’s competition provided they are eligible. Complete teams may not compete at more than one level.
• Inter-Area Senior Friendly Competition – Each area can enter up to TWO teams directly into the national finals with no qualification required. Members must be aged between 16-25 years.

Ideally we would rather have teams of four, but if you cannot get a 4th member then we will allow teams of 3 to Area and Final Competition. If you have a team of 3 then the ages rule apply:

All ages will be taken from the 1st January of the competition year.

The Pony Club Dengie Quiz Kahoot Revision Sessions

Are you looking to expand your knowledge of ponies, horsemanship, and Pony Club life? Or perhaps you’re thinking about taking part in the Quiz Area Competitions this season? The Horsemanship Committee, together with our brilliant Horsemanship Youth Representative, is here to help!

We are excited to announce a series of Quiz Kahoot Training Sessions — fun, interactive, and the perfect way for Members to test their knowledge, learn new facts, and practice for upcoming competitions.

The Horsemanship Committee is delighted to welcome Abi as our new Youth Representative! Abi has been an active member of the Angus Branch in Area 1 for around 18 years and has taken part in a wide range of Pony Club activities, including show jumping, mounted games, Horse and Pony Care, and Quiz. Some of her proudest achievements include Best Senior Individual for Horse and Pony Care (2019), 1st placed Senior Team (2023), and passing her AH Test this year.

A recent graduate with a BSc (Hons) in Veterinary Physiotherapy, Abi credits much of her knowledge and confidence to her years of Pony Club horsemanship. She is passionate about equine welfare and is excited to share her expertise and enthusiasm with the wider Pony Club community.

In her new role, Abi will act as a voice for young Members, ensuring their views are heard and supporting initiatives across the Horsemanship Committee. She looks forward to working with the Committee to help make Pony Club experiences engaging, educational, and fun for all Members.

This year, Abi, will be supporting the Horsemanship Committee in hosting these sessions and to help prepare Members for the upcoming Quiz Areas and the Final which will be held at Loughborough University, Holywell Park Conference Centre on Sunday April 19th 2026. 

These sessions are open to all Members looking to expand their knowledge, whether you’re entering the competitions or just want to brush up on your horsemanship skills. The cost is per screen, so gather your team, join in together, and put your knowledge to the test!

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn, have fun, and get quiz-ready for the season ahead!

Rules

• Individual Competition: One entry is allowed per person.
• Team Competition: Centres/Branches can enter a piece of Collaborative art, contributed to by a minimum of three members (no maximum)

• Entrants must be a current Member of a Pony Club Branch or Centre in the United Kingdom or part of our International Membership.
• The artwork should be inspired by a personal memory or idea. If you need references, please use photos from your own collection or your family’s collection. Avoid using images from magazines or published sources, as those are protected by copyright and belong to someone else.
• Team Competition: Centres and Branches can submit a collaborative piece of art that follows the same theme as the Individual competition: “Pony Club Fun Memories.”
• Please note that we do not accept digitally edited photos that have been altered to resemble drawings.
• The subject of the work must be equestrian-related.
• The piece must be entirely the artist’s own work.
• By entering the competition, participants give their express permission for their submission to be used for publicity if required.
• There are three separate age categories: 11 years and Under, 12-16 Years, and 17 Years and Over.
• Age = age on date of entry
• Deadline for entries is midnight 30th April 2026.

 The 2026 Thelwell Pony Club Art Competition is OFFICIALLY OPEN! 

This year’s theme is “Pony Club Fun Memories” — celebrating all those special moments, friendships, and adventures that make Pony Club so unforgettable.

We can’t wait to see your creativity shine as you bring your favourite Pony Club memories to life through art!

A huge thank you to all our talented Members who took part last year — your incredible entries truly impressed our judges, and we’re so excited to see what you create this time!

 Deadline for entries: Midnight, 30th April 2026

Participation Certificate

The 2026 participation certificate is currently being updated and will be available to download shortly. This is where you’ll be able to access it once it’s ready — stay tuned!