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:
- Minis: Questions to be based on the Care section of the E, D and easier parts of the D+ Efficiency 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 easier parts of the C+ Efficiency Test cards and Horsemanship Achievement Badges. At the Championships a small number of questions will cover Advances Achievement Badges and all of the C+ syllabus.
- Seniors: Questions to be based on the Care section of the C+, B and AH Efficiency Test cards. Questions at AH Test level should be used sparingly as not all Branches/Centres will have AH Test level competitors.
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 Dates 2024
| Area | Date | Venue | Branch/Centre | Organiser | |
| 1 North | 11/04/2024 | Castle View, KW1 5TP | Castle View Centre | Ashleigh Campbell | asleigholdwick@yahoo.co.uk |
| 1 South | 11/04/2024 | Hayfield Equestrian, AB15 8BB | Deeside PC | Mary Robertson | deeside@pcuk.org |
| 2 | 29th May 2024 | Murton Equestrian Centre | Murton Equestrian Centre | Charlotte Belbin | murtonequestriancentre@gmail.com |
| 3 | 12th May (Minis) 19th May (Jnr/Snr) 2024 | Wilseden Equestrian Centre, Lane Side, Wilsden, Bradford BD15 0LQ | Ryburn Valley Branch and Throstle Nest Centre Branch | Liz Dunn | liz@justindunn.com / bwmossy@aol.com |
| 4 | TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC |
| 5 | 3rd March 2024 | Clwyd Special Riding Centre, llanfynnydd, Wrexham. | Area 5 | John Gilbert / Katy Powell | Training.area5@pcuk.org |
| 6 | 13th April 2024 | Derby College Equestrain Centre, DE7 6DN | South Trent Branch | Jane Foster | jane.foster37@ntlworld.com |
| 7 | 20/21st April 2024 | Berriewood Farm | Nicola Fitter | ngfitter@yahoo.com | |
| 8 | 3/4th April 2024 | Hill Farm PC Centre, IP30 9HL | Hill Farm Riding School | Sarah Moorbey | hillfarmridingschool@yahoo.com |
| 9 | 6th April 2024 | Lincomb, DY13 9RB | Wyre Forest PC | Mrs Alison Vincent | dc.wyreforest@pcuk.org |
| 10 | TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC |
| 11 | 28th May 2024 | Royal Albert & Alexander School, RH2 0TD | Mid Surrey PC | Gina Kitchener | gina@midsurreyponyclub.co.uk |
| 12 | 26/27th May | Holly Tree Farm, Caddington. LU1 4HH | Flamstead | Gemma Issot | flamstead@pcuk.org |
| 13 | 27th May | Greenways Stables | Area 13 | Andrea Hurley | area13@pcuk.org |
| 14 | 28.4.2024 | White Horse Liveries | Tedworth | Laura Moore | Lauramoore1325@yahoo.com |
| 15 | TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC |
| 16 | 30th May 2024 | Newton Ferrers Equestrian Centre | Newton Ferrers Equestrian Centre | Newton Ferriers Equestrian Centre Proprietor | school@newtonferrersequus.com |
| 17 | 5th April 2024 | Ballymac Stud, BT63 6AD | Iveagh Branch | Sandra Morton | iveagh@pcuk.org |
| 18 | 7th April 2024 | Bowlings Riding School | Pembrokeshire Hunt | Jan Luke | pembrokeshire@pcuk.org |
| 19 | 24th March 2024 | Barstobrick, Dumfriesshire | Nitsdale Pony Club | Philippa Barnes | tmckigen@aol.com |
Horse and Pony Care Support Webinars
The following webinars will take place to support the areas to hold an organised Horse and Pony Care competition at the correct standard.
These will be carried out every year at the start of the year and will be available to watch on YouTube afterwards.
AREA ORGANISERS - 16th January 2024 - 18:30-20:00
This webinar is invite only for those organising Area Competitions
This will cover:
► Running the competition
► Assessors
► Questions
► Scoring
► Rules
► Rosettes
► Qualifiers
► Results
TRAINERS/PARENTS/MEMBERS - 24th January 2024 - 18:30-20:00 - Book Here
This webinar is for anyone that would like to know about Horse and Pony Care. This will cover:
► What is Horse and Pony Care
► Running of the day
► Questions
► Assessors
► Training and Teams
► Rules
► Qualification
► Results
► Champs
ASSESSOR TRAINING - 30th January 2024 - 18:30-20:00 - Book Here
This webinar is for anyone that is/could be assessing Horse and Pony Care. This will cover:
► How to prepare to be an assessor
► How to manage your time during the assessment
► How to objectively assess the sections
Championships 2023
Congratulations to the winning teams, and to everyone who competed this year at the Blue Cross Horse and Pony Care Championships. This year was our biggest turnout for years!
Thank you to everyone involved in the organisation and planning of the event.
Mini - Mill House Riding Centre and Individual Winner: Poppy Willis (Old Berkshire Hunt)
Juniors - Warwickshire Hunt and Individual Winner: Katherine Cooper (Warwickshire Hunt)
Senior - Hayfield EC & Angus and Individual Winner: Georgia Stanton (Silvermere Equestrian Centre)
Please see below for full results.
Championships 2022
Congratulations to the winning teams and to everyone who competed at this year Blue Cross Horse and Pony care final.
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)
Need More Information?
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