Equine Working Notebooks

Equine Working Notebooks

for The Pony Club tests and NVQ Horsecare Mandatory Units

Examples Taken From each of the Pony Club notebooks:

'D' Test | 'D+' Test | 'C' Test
'C+' Test | 'B' Test | AH Horse and Pony Care | 'A' Care Test

Chapter 12

CATCHING YOUR PONY IN THE FIELD

  1. Go into the field and close the gate behind you.
  2. Keep the headcollar behind your back in case your pony runs off when he sees it.
  3. Walk towards your pony's shoulder and speak to him as you approach. Do not rush or you may frighten him.
  4. When you get near enough pat his neck or shoulder. You could offer him a titbit. Never take a bucket of food into a field if there is more than one pony in it. They may start fighting.
  5. Put the rope of the headcollar around his neck and hold onto it as you put the headcollar over his nose.
  6. Speak to him as you put the headpiece over his head and fasten it.
  7. Lead him in from the field walking by his shoulder.
  8. Open the gate wide so he does not knock his hips as he walks through.
  9. Close the gate after you.

TURNING YOUR PONY AWAY INTO THE FIELD

  1. Open the gate wide so he does not knock his hips as he walks through.
  2. Lead your pony through and turn him to face the gate as you close it.
  3. Walk him a little way into the field and turn him back to face the gate.
  4. Put the rope of the headcollar around his neck and hold onto it as you undo the headpiece and slip the headcollar off.
  5. Step back as you let him go in case he bucks as he turns round to go into the field.
  6. Leave the field fastening the gate securely behind you.

A titbit could be a polo, a piece of apple or a carrot sliced lengthways, or a few nuts.

Question 12.1 Why should you speak to your pony when you walk up to him?

SOME QUESTIONS THE EXAMINERS MAY ASK YOU

Think about what you might answer if you were asked any of these questions in your test.

  1. Show me how you put on a headcollar.
  2. Tell me how you will turn your pony out in the field.
  3. How do you turn your pony around when you are leading him?

The examiner might also ask you any of the questions in this chapter.