I coach February 2014 - New Zealand Pony Club

I - COACH
NZPCA Coaching Magazine
February 2014
It’s a bit late for a Happy New Year greeting, but I hope the year has started well for you all. No doubt all our coaches have been flat out during
the school holidays. The holidays have been packed full of NZPCA fun in the form of the North and South Island Dressage Champs, ECTP
Coaches assessments up in Northland, the H and A exams in Taupo. Congratulations to Alexandra Anderson and Zephania Steele for Passing
their A Riding Certificate and thank you to everyone who volunteered to help make these events take place without you they would not
happen. In 2013 NZPCA had 29 coaches sign up for the Equestrian Coaches Training Programme. We had 15 members sign up for the O
certificate, which is due to be replaced with the exciting new Equine Skills Certificate shortly. There is a great deal of work going on behind the
scenes to get this new initiative out as soon as possible.
As Many of you will know there has recently been an outbreak of the Equine Herpes Virus in New Zealand, if you want some more information
about the virus please click on the following link Equine Herpes Virus
Welcome Samantha Norman
New NZPCA General Manager: Samantha Norman
The NZPCA Board is very pleased to announce the appointment of Samantha Norman to the position of General
Manager. Samantha brings a strong business and equestrian background along with a real passion for Pony Club that
goes back to when she was a Pony Clubber herself in the UK. Samantha has Evented and Show-jumped in the past but
Dressage is her focus, having both competed and taught in the UK. Today she has two dressage horses that she
competes, one at level six. Samantha takes up her role as our new General Manager on January 27th. Over the next few
months I’m sure that many of you will get the opportunity to meet Samantha and will be impressed with her
knowledge and enthusiasm.
EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE REPORT
Now that 2013 is over it is timely to offer congratulations for the following: Completion of the ECTP D
level coaching programme for Alisha Arvidson from the Ardmore Pony Club. Sara Ball is to be
congratulated for her completion of the B level ECTP, this really is an enormous task, Well done Sara.
Natasha Russell D level and Jeannet Penney and Jairaj Rajaram for passing their C level ECTP. The
successful Senior Coaches course in Oamaru run by Kevin Lawrence and Jane Withers. 26 coaches
attended from all over the South Island. NZPCA also thanks Emma Barker for organizing the clinic and
to the fabulous demonstration riders. Again we need to follow up this activity with on-going support at
Branch, Club and Area levels.
In the past twelve weeks members of the E&D Committee have been working on completing materials
for release in early 2014.
Certificate in Equine Skills
Resource material is in final draft format for worksheets, assessment sheets, record sheets and tutor
guides. Suggestions have also been made as to how NZPCA can assist members with disabilities to
work through this certificate. Thank you to Kerry Currie for her input into this initiative.
Rally Plan Template
These are in final draft, thank you to Kay Hogan for her assistance. It is hoped that these templates will
assist coaches in planning - informative, safe, fun, and fair rally activities. You can now find these on the
NZPCA Web site on the Coaches Tab
Piloting Regional Coach Facilitator Programme
The aim of this programme is to provide hands on support, particularly to new parents showing an
interest in coaching at Branch level.
Areas may already have such people providing this important
role. The facilitator would communicate with Head Coaches at Branch level on a regular basis offering
support with rally planning, delivery and encouragement in completing their Coaching qualification.
Achievement Badge
This subject was initiated by Yvonne Steers who has received support from individual branches and the
NZPCA Board. Currently the project is being costed out and skills identified that could be awarded at DC level activities.
‘I Coach’
Thank you to Yvonne for this informative publication and Thank you to Jennifer Howard and Kevin
Lawrence for their contributions. The ‘I Coach’ now reaches 1050 Coaches.
There is much to look forward to in 2014 with the introduction of new activities for riders and support to
coaches. “On-line” learning will also be offering programmes to riders, coaches and officials.
My thanks to the many volunteers who have helped to make Pony Club an enjoyable experience during
2013.
Dudley Brown
Equestrian Coaches Training Programme News
To All Areas about holding coaches courses:
Areas/Clubs are now responsible for organising coaches courses for all levels of coaches as NZPCA has
suspended the Coaching and Training Programme.
It is important that Areas/Clubs find out what their coaches need in way of courses these are essential
for up skilling and refreshing knowledge
ECTP courses can be facilitated by an NZPCA National Coach or for D—C level, a qualified ECTP coach
a full list of coach facilitators can be found here : ECTP Coaches and Assessors
C+ - A level courses can be run only by NZPCA National Coaches: National Coaches Booking form
Areas may combine with neighbouring Areas to get sufficient numbers of attendees especially at the B
-A level where there are fewer numbers of coaches
Northland recently held an assessment weekend, thank you Barbara Woolhouse for all your efforts.
Kay Hogan was the facilitator for what was to be a very hot weekend. All the coaches passed their
assessments with flying colours and the area now has the following Coaches who have qualified ECTP
Natasha Russell D level
Jeannet Penney C level
Sara Ball B level
Heather Edwards C Assessor (also able to facilitate D level coaches clinics)
Sara Ball deserves a special mention for passing her B level ECTP, Well done Sara!
This means that NZPCA now has 16 ECTP B level coaches!
Well done girls. It takes commitment to see these qualifications through to fruition, we hope you
enjoy taking your skills out to the NZPCA riders and coaches.
So if you need to be assessed for your Equestrian Coaches Training Programme please contact an
assessor, you find the list here
NZPCA News letter
Important Notice: NZPCA head office are busy trying to keep you informed of all the
initiatives, how do we do this? We send out regular news letters but you need to register
to receive them. Here is the link
C+ - B Examiners Clinic dates and venues
TAR
ASCNO
BOP
5/6th April
Waitara Pony Club Grounds, Ranfurly Park,
C+ and B
2014
Waitara.
TBA
C+ - B
9th 10th Aug C+ and B
TBC
Peter and Debbie Barke's
Suzy Bolton
smbolton@xtra.co.nz
06 7522835
Stephanie
stephanieb@snap.net.nz 027 6956105
Bishop
Linda Hitchlinda.hitchman@live.com 07 5331695
man
Just to let you know that Examiners need to update every 5 years and NZPCA fund Examiners Clinics according to a pre
set rotation, click here for more details. Examiners might need to be prepared to travel in order to stay up to date
within the time frame. Please contact the organiser of the most suitable venue if you need to update. There is a full list
of current C+ and B Examiners on the NZPCA website here
How do I become a D, D+ or C Examiner?
Examiners may be drawn from many walks of life e.g. Parents
Teachers
Coaches
Senior riders Former PC members
Some qualities of good examiners are:
Empathetic Good time management skills Clear, uncomplicated thinker Fair Good questioning & listening
techniques Neat & tidy dress sense Patient Relaxed &confident without being overbearing Safety conscious
Where do I start?
 Approach your Head/Chief Coach and let them know you’re keen to become an examiner
 Know the relevant information in the manuals - it’s beneficial to attend a coaches clinic (compulsory for those wishing
to become C Examiners)
 Be confident coaching the level at which you wish to examine
 Read the rule book. This will explain the format of the exams for D, D+ & C certificates and who can examine them
N.B.
Rule 18. Examiners.
All examiners (except the National and Association Coaches) must be members of a Pony Club.
Rule 20. For D & D+ Certificates.
Examiners must be 18 years of age or over, and have served a probationary period of one exam with an experienced
Examiner. They are appointed by the Club Chief/Head Coach. They may come from the same branch as the candidates,
but must not have worked with any of them during the preceding month.
Rule 21. For C Certificate.
 Examiners must be 18 years or over, have attended a C level coaches course and have served a probationary period
of two exams with an experienced Examiner.
 Examiners are appointed by the District Commissioner in consultation with the Club Chief/Branch Head Coach, and
must not be from the same branch as any of the candidates.
What do I do next?

Attend an examiners clinic (this is desirable but not compulsory- you can also work alongside a mentor and learn the
techniques of examining)
 Ask an experienced examiner if you may observe them conducting an exam
 Become familiar with the exam templates – these will form the basis of your exams. As you gain in experience you
may like to prepare and develop your own
Once you have fulfilled the necessary training you can be appointed as an examiner!
National Coach Kevin Lawrence has written this piece for the ‘I Coach’
COPING WITH FAILURE
One of the real strengths of the Pony Club certificate examination system is that it prepares candidates for an actual examination
where the candidate must demonstrate their competence in a test situation in order to be successful. There is also of course, because
this is an examination, a chance that the candidate may not pass, they may fail. Failure is a fact of life and the reality is that an ability
to cope with failure is an essential life skill. No person is going to be always successful at whatever they attempt. When preparing for
an examination where failure is a possibility a motivated candidate will take themselves beyond the level required to ensure they have
given themselves every opportunity to succeed. This is a most important and valuable skill that our Pony Club examination system
actively promotes.
As a coach of examination candidates it is always your hope and intention that your riders will pass their certificate examination, and if
they have been well prepared and most importantly are working at the level they will be successful. An ideal day is when all
candidates have presented themselves well at the required level and are clearly competent.
In the certificate examination process however, just as in real life, there will be occasions when the candidate, for a variety of reasons,
is not able to demonstrate on that particular day that they are competent at the level. The examiner then is in the unenviable
opposition of having to tell a candidate or candidates that they have not been able to pass them on this occasion.
The giving of results and summing up that the examiners undertake at the end of the day is a very important occasion. Candidates
who have been successful will of course be excited and relieved that they have passed. They can be justifiably proud of their
achievement.
Candidates who have not been successful will be given their results separately and usually prior to those who have passed. The
majority of unsuccessful candidates will already know in their mind that they may not have been successful, accept the examiner’s
decision and take on board the advice they are offered. Too often however candidates and their support person(s) do not take this
decision at all well and this attitude does appear to be increasingly prevalent with several recently reported incidents. There have also
been reports of examiners reluctant to examine due to this pressure.
It is quite understandable that an unsuccessful candidate may be upset (more likely if they have not been well prepped) and it is one of
the roles of a support person to commiserate appropriately with the candidate. As a coach however preparing candidates it is
important that you organise beforehand who the support person will be. Often a parent is not the most beneficial or suitable support. If
they themselves are likely to become upset then they will have a detrimental rather than a positive effect. The candidate’s coach may
well be a more beneficial support person than a parent.
The support person should take a pen and paper to the sum-up to record notes. It is otherwise quite difficult to always remember the
key points that were discussed. The sum-up should be brief and it will outline the areas that the candidate did well in and the areas
that require further work. This is where the support person is really vital as the candidate may not be in a clear frame of mind to take
on board what is being said. Every examiner hopes that an unsuccessful candidate will re-present themselves at a later date having
improved those areas that were not up to standard and next time pass. It is necessary therefore that that the examiner’s feedback is
remembered. Too often we hear comments like ‘I didn’t pass because I was on the wrong diagonal on a circle’. Such comments
clearly indicate that the summing up was not well remembered as this would not have been the reason for not passing. It may however
have been one of several incidents which added up to the candidate not demonstrating that they were working at the required level.
The support person will note the areas requiring further work and will be able to discuss these more fully with the candidate at a later
date. They will also have the opportunity of asking any questions of the examiner if they require further clarification.
The summing up process is clearly outlined in Manual 3 p 184-185. Further references include Manual 2 p 420-423 ‘Sitting certificates’
and Manual 3 p 181-185 ‘Examination’.
Kevin Lawrence BHSI
Thank You Kevin
NZPCA ran a Coaches Survey at the end of last year and we asked you to join in, we had 179 responses, however, the
survey is now closed but thank you to all those that took part. The results of that survey will go forward to the
Education and Development committee for analysis.
H and A Exams 2014
The closing dates have now passed for the H and A exams in the South Island, Pam Donnelly and NZPCA are busy organising the exam timetables,
riders, observers and Grooms. The dates for the final H and A Exams of the year are below. Make sure you get your applications in on time. Thank
you
Exam Date
Venue
Applications close
Assessments close
7/8th June 2014
North Island
Friday 7th March 2014
Friday 25th April 2014
Lunging for the H Certificate
We have had transferred to DVD three copies of Jennifer Howard’s Lunging for H certificate. The content is still current
and very informative, if you are interested in viewing these, we ask that you pay $25.00 and then upon returning the
DVD you will be refunded with $20.00. With only three copies there might be a wait for viewing, so if you want to buy a
copy they are $15.00 each. Please email NZPCA or more details candt@nzpca.org
Paralysis by Analysis
During the Holidays I was able to watch some coaching videos and one that I really enjoyed was by Pippa Funnel, the UK
Event rider. Pippa, by her own admission , in the early days was unable to function effectively because of her nerves. She
went to see a Sports Psychologist who was able to find out where things were going wrong and make a difference to
Pippa’s performance. The one phrase that I thought was worth remembering was ‘Paralysis by Analysis’ in other words,
THE PONY CLUB & BITTING
We have to compromise our ‘ideals’ on bitting because small children on strong ponies need to be able to stop and to
be safe. At this level the pony is used to transport the rider, to give confidence and to develop the rider's balance. Soon
the child will working towards controlling the pony through skill rather than through strength or the use of a strong bit.
It is important that the rider learns control with an acceptable contact because the animal will only use its full musclepower if it has confidence to take more rein - for example lower the head and stretch out from nose to tail when
jumping.
How can we teach correct contact if the pony is frightened of the bit in its mouth and is either running away because of
the pain, or going up and down on the spot, unwilling to move forward freely ‘into the bridle’?
Only too often stronger bits are used on ponies because either their riders have not developed good balance and give
unintentional driving aids, or the pony’s original training (to respond to the contact wearing a snaffle) has not been
continued.
Surely the practise of using increasingly restrictive bits as a substitute for the schooling and training of horse and rider
is short sighted and will have a serious influence on the performance of all, including our top horses, in the future.
(Courtesy of PCUK)
Our NZPCA National Coaches (NATS)
Who your NZPCA National Coaches Are!!!
Why Your Area Should Use Them!!!
National Coach Kevin Lawrence

All Our NATS hold British Horse Society Equestrian Coaching Qualifications (BHS) – This means they have all trained and
worked in Europe and have been through an extensive professional system of training over a long period of time. Our NATS
have been taught how to coach from a comprehensive proven system of coaching

Our NATS have been trained in riding and coaching with some of the world’s most successful coaches and riders. They have a
deep understanding of the classical system of training horses and riders, and they have had to reach and pass a European
standard before gaining their qualifications

Our NATS travel the whole of New Zealand to conduct courses, seminars and clinics

Our NATS upskill on a regular basis by attending clinics with visiting international coaches and have developed a mentoring
system with some of New Zealand’s most prominent coaches and riders

Our NATS are willing to mentor coaches wanting to become future Association and National Coaches

Our NATS conduct all NZPCA H and A level examinations, so can fully prepare candidates for exams

Our NATS are the only Coaches qualified to conduct coaching courses (and assessments) for C+ level and above coaches

Our Nats provide lectures and demonstrations at NZPCA Conference, these are free for members who attend

Our NATS also happily provide free advice to riders and coaches, see NZPCA website for email details
Kay Hogan
Peter Barke/Jacque Williams
Jennifer Howard
Jane Withers
USE OUR NATS and LEARN FROM THE BEST!!!
Nicola Ward
FALLS
Jennifer Howard has written an interesting piece for the “I Coach’ to go along with this there is
an interesting clip from the Horse and Hound here
To a young rider:
The sooner you start falling off the better – Does that sound strange?
The key thing about falling well is to be relaxed, accept you are going to hit the ground, and
above all, don’t stick out an arm to brace against the impact…..fractured wrists are very
painful.
Young riders who play Games will sooner or later be falling off, quite often, getting back on in
a hurry, and taking it in their stride. It’s not very far down to fall off a pony. As you get more
supple, better balanced and co-ordinated it will happen less often.
I have watched people in a martial arts class, especially to see how they fall and have been so
impressed to see middle-aged women fall beautifully, landing on their shoulders and
backsides, and leaping back to their feet. Of course the difference between doing this as a
sport and falling off a horse is that the martial arts person knows they are going to fall, and it is
part of their training.
Jockeys are taught to fall well, to ‘tuck and roll’, as it is important in their situation not to remain
on the ground under other horses’ feet. So why don’t Coaches teach riders “How to Fall”?
I’ve done it either using a real pony standing alongside a thick mattress, or with a Swiss ball
placed on a small trampoline, which replaces the movement of a pony/horse, and the same
mattress alongside. Bring along a Judo coach or similar person to teach riders how to fall
‘properly’. Reaction has to be drilled into everyone by repetition and practice, and laughter.
Tell your riders: It’s a bit like on feeling an earthquake –children are taught that when you feel
one starting, to: “Drop, Cover and Hold ….So when you feel yourself slipping off say to
yourself “Let go, Tuck and Roll”. Always try to land on your back and rounded shoulders, with
your head tucked in and arms crossed– that way you should get away quite lightly, maybe just
a few bruises. Unless you are riding in wide open country it’s best to let go of the horse/pony –
it won’t go far and can save some nasty tugs and sprains.
I’ve told lots of people how I was taught – my sister and I had lessons in an indoor school,
(soft footing) with the wife of the riding ‘master’, and every time he came into the school we
were expected to fall off! It happened just about every lesson, and we got very good at it. Kick
your feet out of the stirrups, swing the right leg back and over and let go…….. I was about 7
years old, my sister a year older, and our ponies were quite small so the ground was not far
away. And truly, I’ve always been so relaxed about falling, I’ve survived with very little
damage – only two broken collar-bones in about 50 years, and one of those was because the
horse put his foot in a hole and fell down!
Jennifer Howard
8.02.14
Thank You Jennifer.
Here is a quiz for your Pony Club members
Print off for a rainy day
How Much Do You Know About:
A Good Turn Out Field & What your Pony Needs?
Tick the Correct Answers
1. What is the best and safest type of fencing for
your pony’s field?
5. What time of year do ponies get fat because there
is too much grass?
a. Early summer
b. Late summer
a. Barbed wire
c. Mid winter
b. Post and rail
d. Autumn
c. Plain wire
6. When might your ponies need hay in the field?
d. Sheep wire
a. Summer
2. What is the best type of water supply?
b. Autumn
a. A water trough
c. Winter
b. Buckets
d. Spring
c. An old bath tub
7. What do ponies need shelter from? You may tick
more than one.
d. A muddy stream
a. Aircraft
3. Where in the field is the best place to put a
shelter?
b. Hot sun
a. Right in front of the gate
c. Frost
b. Facing the view and wind
d. Driving rain
c. The furthest corner
e. Gentle rain
d. Near and facing the gate, away from the wind
8. Which of these plants is poisonous? You may tick
more than one.
4. What should not be in the field? You may tick
more than one.
a. Ragwort
a. Bottles
b. Roses
b. Beer tins
c. Yew
c. Grass
d. Acorns
d. Rubbish
e. Dock leaves
e. Poisonous plants
f. Long grass
f. Water
That’s all from the Education and Development department for now. If you have anything you would like to see in
the ‘I Coach’ please let me know. Email: candt@nzpca.org