What is the Blue Cross Horse & Pony Care Competition?
The competition features teams of three Members who demonstrate their knowledge and practical horsemanship skills taken from the Pony Club Efficiency Tests over a number of rounds.
Teams compete at their Area Competition with the aim to qualify for the Championships.
There are three levels:
- Mini - Teams to consist of three members aged 10 years and under on the 1st January of the competition year, with one member to be 8 years or under. Questions to be based on the Care section of the E, D and easier parts of the D+ Efficiency Tests.
- Junior - Teams to consist of three members aged 13 years and under on the 1st January of the competition year, with one member to be 11 years or under. Questions to be based on the Care section of the D, D+, C and easier parts of the C+ Efficienct Tests.
- Senior - Teams to consist of three members aged 25 years and under on the 1st January of the competition year, with one member to be 16 years or under. Questions to be based on the Care section of the C+, B and AH Efficiency Tests.
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.
Dress should be appropriate to a working yard environment. Pony Club sweatshirts, shirt and tie, jodphurs, boots, gloves and hats are expected.
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.
2023 Championship dates are 11-19th August, timetable to be confirmed.
Area Competition Dates
| AREA | DATE | VENUE | BRANCH/CENTRE | ORGANISER | |
| 1 | 11th April | Hayfield Equestrian centre | Deeside and Hayfield | Mary Robertson | deeside@pcuk.org |
| 2 | 17th June | East Moor House | Tynedale Hunt Pony Club | Lesley Walby | tynedale@pcuk.org |
| 3 | 11th March | Lower Rookes Farm | Rockwood | Ann Shepherd | rockwood@pcuk.org |
| 4 | 26th Feb | Eccleston Equestrian Centre | John Gilbert | area4.centres@pcuk.org | |
| 5 | 5th March | Clwyd Special Riding Centre | Area 5 | Katy Powell and John Gilbert | katyp.powell@gmail.com |
| 6 | 13th April | Derby College | South Trent Branch | Jane Foster | Jane.foster37@ntlworld.com |
| 7 | 13/14th May | Berriewood Farm | United pack | Nicola Fitter | nicolasuppc|@yahoo.com |
| 8 | 3rd/4th April | Hill Farm Riding Centre | Hill Farm PC Centre | Sarah Moorbey | hillfarmridingschool@yahoo.com |
| 9 | 15th April | Lincomb Equestrian | Wyre Forest | Mrs Alison Vincent | wyreforest@pcuk.org |
| 10 | Enderhill Equestrian Centre | ndjessbuf@gmail.com | |||
| 11 | 30th May | Squirrells Riding School | Hayley Squirell | i.squirrell@sky.com | |
| 12 | 20th May | Flamstead | flamstead@pcuk.org | ||
| 13 | 31st May | Northington Stables | northingtonstudandstables@gmail.com | ||
| 14 | 30th April | tedworth pc tbc | Tedworth | Laura Moore and Michelle Williamson | tedworth@pcuk.org |
| 15 | 2nd June | Heazle | Dulverton West North Molton | dulvertonnorthmolton@pcuk.org | |
| 16 | 13th May | Little Margate Equestrian Centre | Litte Margate Equestrian Centre | Rachel Philpott | info@littlemargateequestrain.com |
| 17 | 25th march | Laurelview Equestrian Centre | Mid Antrim | Rachelle Mark | midantrim@pcuk.org |
| 18 | |||||
| 19 | Dumfriesshire Hunt | dumfriesshire@pcuk.org |
Championships 2022
This year we brought back the Blue Cross Horse & Pony Care Final to the JCB Pony Club Championships held at Offchurch Bury, Warwickshire!
The winners were:
Mini- Mill house Riding Centre and Individual Winner: Isla Erskin Crum ( Old Berkshire Hunt)
Juniors- East Essex Hunt A and Individual Winner: Purdie Orton (Warwickshire Hunt).
Senior - Atherstone Hunt and Individual Winner: Georgia Stanton (Silvermere Equestrian Centre)
Congratulations to the winning teams and to everyone who competed at this year Blue Cross Horse and Pony care final.
Please click here to see The Pony Club Championship Horse and Pony care results for 2022.
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