Wasatch Pony Club

Rating Prep – D1

 

Leading/Longeing

Standard: Approach pony safely, put on halter, lead and turn correctly and safely.

 

Part I: Q & A (Read each question aloud twice, emphasizing the words or phrases in bold type.

Candidates must choose the right word or phrase to make the sentence TRUE. Underlined word or phrase is the correct answer.)

 

1. Proper handling of a pony keeps you, your pony, and others safe or warm. [Manual, p. 131]

 

2. Approach a pony slowly and quietly or as quickly as possible. [Manual, p. 131]

 

3. Go toward his head or shoulder. [Manual, p. 132]

 

4. Pat his neck or nose first. [Manual, p. 132]

 

5. Give your pony a treat or whack for getting caught. [Manual, p. 134]

 

6. When you lead a pony, always or never use a lead rope. [Manual, p. 135]

 

7. Hold the lead rope 6” or 2 feet from the snap with the end neatly folded or carefully wrapped around your hand. [Manual, p. 136]

 

8. Lead the pony by walking beside his neck on the left side or directly in front of him. [Manual, p.137]

 

9. Always turn your pony away from or toward you. [Manual, p. 138]

 

Part II: Candidates should demonstrate approaching pony, putting on halter, and leading and turning safely.

 

Pony Parts/Conformation/Lameness

 

Standard: Name any 10 parts of the pony (mane, tail, legs, eye, etc.)

 

With pony safely cross-tied, candidates should point out parts of the pony. [Manual, p. 231]

 

Stable Management

Standards: Groom pony with brush and curry comb, pick out feet, with assistance. Tack up and untack pony, with assistance.

Name 10 parts of saddle and bridle (any). Know two reasons for cleaning tack..

 

Part I: Q & A (Read each question aloud twice, emphasizing the words or phrases in bold type.

Candidates must choose the right word or phrase to make the sentence TRUE. Underlined word or phrase is the correct answer.)

 

1. Which of these things you should have in your grooming kit: hoof pick curry comb soft brush hammer dandy brush [Manual, p. 169-170]

 

2. When grooming your pony, start at the top of the neck or the tail and brush in circles or up and down. [Manual p. 171].

 

3. When using a dandy brush use short snappy strokes or long firm strokes to remove large bits of dirt or light dust. [Manual, p. 172]

 

4. When picking out the feet always work from toe to heel or heel to toe. [Manual, p. 170]

 

5. When tacking up, which goes on first: saddle martingale bridle?   Which goes on second: saddle martingale bridle? [Manual, p. 148-154]

 

6. The saddle should sit in the hollow below the pony’s withers or on top of the pony’s withers. [Manual, p. 148]

 

7. When putting on the saddle, the pad should be pulled up into the front arch of the saddle or stretched tight across the withers. [Manual, p. 148]

 

8. When bridling, keep the halter around the pony’s neck or remove it. [Manual, p. 152-153]

 

9. When bridling, put your right arm around the pony’s neck or over the pony’s head.  [Manual, p.152-153]

 

10. The throatlash should be a fist or finger wide. The noseband should be a fist or finger wide. [Manual, p. 152]

 

Part II: Candidates groom pony and pick out feet, then tack up (with assistance).  [Manual, p. 170-173]

 

Part III: Candidates identify at least 10 parts of saddle and bridle. [Manual p. 248-249]

 

Part IV: Candidates untack pony, with assistance. [Manual, p. 156]

 

Part V: Q & A (Read each question aloud twice, emphasizing the words or phrases in bold type.

 

Candidates must choose the right word or phrase to make the sentence TRUE. Underlined word or phrase is the correct answer.)

 

1. Why should you clean your tack?

a. Tack can be ruined if not cared for properly.

b. Dirty tack can be rough on the pony’s skin.

c. It makes it look more expensive.

d. It it’s not conditioned, it will dry out and crack, which is unsafe. [Manual, p. 253]

 

2. Clean your tack once a month or every time you ride. [Manual, p. 253]

 

3. Check your tack for damage and wear every year or every time you clean it. [Manual, p. 255]

 

Turn Out Tack

Standards: Rider in safe and neat attire. Pony neatly brushed, feet picked out (with assistance), showing farrier care. Tack safe and neat (properly adjusted with assistance, if necessary).

 

Q and A (Read each question aloud twice, emphasizing the words or phrases in bold type.

Candidates must choose the right word or phrase to make the sentence TRUE. Underlined word

or phrase is the correct answer.)

 

1. When riding you should always wear your shirt and white breeches or ASTM helmet and boots with a heel. [Manual, p. 283-285]

 

2. “Turn out” means the way you and your pony are trained or dressed and prepared to ride. [Manual, p. 283]

 

3. Pony Club inspections are held before or after all mounted events. [Manual, p. 292]

 

4. It is okay or not okay to wear jewelry when riding. [Manual, p. 287]

 

5. It is okay or not okay to chew gum when riding. [Manual, p. 287-288]

 

6. A Turn Back inspection is held before or after you ride. [Manual, p. 296]

 

7. At turnout inspection your tack should be new or safe, your pony should be comfortable or sleepy, your pony’s feet should be polished or picked out, and the mane and tail should be braided or brushed out. [Manual, p. 293-294]

 

Conditioning

Standard: Know one reason for cooling out pony after exercise.

 

Q & A: Why do you need to cool out your pony after exercise? So he doesn’t get sick.

 [Manual, p. 155]

 

Nutrition

Standard: Know how to give water, grain, hay, and tidbit to a pony safely.

 

Q & A: (Read each question aloud twice, emphasizing the words or phrases in bold type. Candidates must choose the right word or phrase to make the sentence TRUE. Underlined word or phrase is the correct answer.)

 

1. A tidbit is a treat like an apple or a carrot or a type of bit. [Manual, p. 186]

 

2. To hand feed a tidbit you keep your hand flat or in a fist. [Manual, p. 187]

 

3. A pony should have water available twice a day or at all times. [Manual, p. 187]

 

4. Feed had in a hay feeder, manger, hay net or on the ground. True or False.  [Manual, p. 189]

 

5. Keep your grain safely locked up in a grain bin or where the pony can get it at all times. [Manual, p. 190]

 

6. Salt or pepper is important for your pony. [Manual, p. 191]

 

7. Grass or grain is the most natural food for ponies. [Manual, p. 191]

 

Travel Safety

Standard: Know basic rules of safe riding in a group, in an enclosed area.

 

Q. What are some of the rules for riding safely in a group in the arena?

 

A. Answers should include at least two of the following rules:

· be aware of other horses and riders

· keep at least 1 pony length ahead and behind your pony

· travel in same direction as other horses

· let others know when you’re changing gaits or going over jump

· pass left shoulder to left shoulder when going opposite directions

 

Foot Shoeing

Standard: Give one reason to pick out feet.

 

Q. Give one reason to pick out your pony’s feet.

 

A. So that he doesn’t go lame (from stones or from thrush); so that you can check to see if hoof needs trimming or shoeing. [Manual, p. 199]

 

Health/Veterinary Knowledge

Standard: Discuss what a veterinarian is. Give one reason the vet might treat your pony.

 

Q. What is a veterinarian?

 

A. A doctor that treats animals. [Manual, p. 209]

 

Q. Name one reason that the vet might treat your pony.

 

A. Sickness, injury, lameness, routine inoculations, dental care. [Manual, p. 209-210]

The following questions may be practiced verbally when candidate is unmounted, in preparation for the Riding Test Expectations part of the mounted rating prep.

 

Mount & Dismount

Standard: Mount and dismount, with assistance if necessary.

 

Q and A: (Read each question aloud twice, emphasizing the words or phrases in bold type.

Candidates must choose the right word or phrase to make the sentence TRUE. Underlined word or phrase is the correct answer.)

 

1. Always do a salute or safety check before mounting. [Manual, p. 24]

 

2. Check to see that the saddle pad is straight or clean. [Manual, p. 24]

 

4. Check the bridle to see that all buckles are polished or fastened and that nothing is dirty or twisted. [Manual, p. 24]

 

5. Before mounting be sure that the girth is tight enough or on, the stirrup leathers are run up or pulled down, and that the stirrup leathers are the same length or tight. [Manual, p. 24]

 

6. Mount from the near (left) or off (right), facing the pony’s head or tail. Hold your whip and both reins or off rein only in the left hand, use your right hand to turn the stirrup toward or away from you. Put your right hand on the pommel or cantle of the saddle. [Manual, p. 25]

 

7. To dismount, remove both feet or the right foot from the stirrups. Put your left hand on the pony’s croup or withers. Swing your right or left leg over the croup and slide or jump down. [Manual, p. 26]

 

q Basic Position

Standard: Demonstrate basic correct position at the halt and walk. Hold reins correctly at the halt. Shorten and lengthen reins correctly at the halt.

 

Q and A: (Read each question aloud twice, emphasizing the words or phrases in bold type.

Candidates must choose the right word or phrase to make the sentence TRUE. Underlined word or phrase is the correct answer.)

 

1. Sit on your seat bones, deep in the center or at the back of the saddle. [Manual, p. 28]

 

2. Sit deep and tall or leaning forward in the saddle. [Manual, p. 28]

 

3. Let your legs stretch forward or hang down long and relaxed. [Manual, p. 28]

 

4. Your stirrup should be under the center or ball of your foot, and your heels should be down or high. [Manual, p. 28]

 

5. Your feet should hang underneath your seat or knee. [Manual, p. 30]

 

6. Look up and over or at your pony’s head. [Manual, p. 30]

 

7. Your arms hang under or in front of your shoulders, close to or away from your ribs. [Manual, p. 30]

 

8. Your reins may go between your little finger and ring finger or your first and second fingers. [Manual, p. 31]

 

9. To shorten your reins, hold the tail end of your left rein with your right hand while you slide your hand up or down the rein. [Manual, p. 31]

 

10. Your reins should be long enough so you can keep your hands over or in front of your pony’s withers with your elbows bent. [Manual, p. 33]

 

The Aids and Changes of Direction

Standard: Rice at the walk and trot, with control, keeping mount on rail. Demonstrate simple change of direction at the walk and trot. Perform gradual transitions from walk to trot and walk to halt.

 

Q and A: (Read each question aloud twice, emphasizing the words or phrases in bold type.

Candidates must choose the right word or phrase to make the sentence TRUE. Underlined word or phrase is the correct answer.)

 

1. The aids or transitions are the signals you use to help your pony understand what you want him to do. [Manual, p. 33]

 

2. The aids are your hands, legs, seat and sometimes your voice. True or False. [Manual, p. 33]

 

3. A short squeeze of both legs or hands means to go forward. [Manual, p. 33]

 

4. Both hands squeezing backward means to stop/slow down or turn left. [Manual, p. 33]

 

5. When you relax your seat, and sit up tall, it means slow down/stop or turn right.  [Manual, p.33]

 

6. Your voice is used to help out or instead of the other aids. [Manual, p. 33]

 

7. To stop, take a deep breath, sit tall, close your legs on the pony’s sides, stop following with your hands, and jerk or squeeze your hands. [Manual, p. 33]

 

8. To turn, look the way you want to turn, sit tall, turn your seat a little, and take your hand across or away from his neck. [Manual, p. 33]

 

9. To keep your pony on the rail, use your inside or outside leg. [Manual, p. 33]

 

10. “Reverse” means turn around and go the other way or back up. [Manual, p. 33]

 

11. “Change of direction” means go across the arena or halt. [Manual, p. 33]