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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 Rule Book
Horse And Pony Care Rule Book 2023
PDF - 7 mB

Horse and Pony Care Area Dates 2024

Area Date Venue Branch/Centre Organiser Email
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. 

Horse And Pony Care Champs Results 2023
PDF - 218 kB
2023 Championships Questions
Mini Questions 2023 FINAL
PDF - 1 mB
Junior Questions 2023 FINAL
PDF - 656 kB
Senior Questions 2023 FINAL
PDF - 644 kB
Question Templates
Junior Questions Template
DOCX - 1 mB
Mini Questions Template
DOCX - 1 mB
Senior Questions Template
DOCX - 1 mB

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)

Achievement Badge Related to Horse and Pony Care Competition
Achievement Badge Related To Blue Cross Horse And Pony Care Comp
PDF - 72 kB
Sample Questions - Mini
Mini Points Of The Pony 2019
PDF - 55 kB
Mini Tack 2019
PDF - 47 kB
Mini Colours And Markings 2019
PDF - 45 kB
Mini Grooming 2019
PDF - 50 kB
Mini Safety 2018
PDF - 65 kB
Mini Grass Keep Pony 2018
PDF - 64 kB
Mini Travel And Rugs 2018
PDF - 63 kB
Mini Hoof 2019
PDF - 50 kB
Sample Questions - Junior
Juniors Shoeing & Care of Hoof 2019
PDF - 49 kB
Juniors Rugs & Care of the Pony 2019
PDF - 68 kB
Juniors Grass Kept Pony & Feeding 2019
PDF - 60 kB
Juniors Equipment Identification 2019
PDF - 43 kB
Junior Road Safety 2018
PDF - 77 kB
Juniors Countryside 2019
PDF - 47 kB
Juniors Saddlery 2019
PDF - 47 kB
Juniors Grooming 2019
PDF - 77 kB
Junior Breeds 2018
PDF - 65 kB
Junior Health And 1St Aid 2018
DOCX - 76 kB
Sample Questions - Senior
Seniors Shoeing 2019
PDF - 48 kB
Seniors Equipment Identification 2019
PDF - 55 kB
Seniors Grassland Management 2019
PDF - 47 kB
Seniors Health, Lameness And First Aid 2018
PDF - 53 kB
Senior Rugs 2018
PDF - 65 kB
Seniors Saddlery 2019
PDF - 54 kB
Seniors Bits And Bitting 2019
PDF - 47 kB
Seniors Fitness 2019
PDF - 49 kB
Senior Condition And Conformation 2018
PDF - 64 kB
Senior Feeding 2018
PDF - 77 kB

Need More Information?

Just contact our staff below:

Ellie Saunders
Sports Assistant
T 02476 698300 option 2