PCAT NEWSLETTER NO 47 – DECEMBER 2008

Sponsored by Horseland

PCAT WEB SITE –

PCA WEB SITE –

We live horses too!Editor – Ann Graves,

President: Judy Pitt – cretary: Jill Viney –

Most news items get posted directly onto our website under LATEST NEWS so look up that sectionregularly, especially in busy PC times.

NEW LIFE MEMBER

Carol Hobsonhas been awarded PCAT Life Membership for her many years of service to the movement. Well done Carol, richly deserved.

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPSat HorsleyPark in NSW

Anyone interested in taking part in any of these championships are asked to contact Ann GravesASAP. If you have received a nomination formand are wanting to be considered for selection, please complete it and send it in, if not I will forward youone. Theseneed to be returned ASAP. Don’t forget to ask your DC to complete the confidential report on form 11.6.4 on your behalf. We need this info well before our champs on Jan 17-18, as a short list of team members will be made for Showjumping and Dressage.

More detailed info is included on our website, but this is all the competition info riders need to know.

A team meeting will be organised in January to discuss transport, cost, sponsorship etc. All riders who have expressed an interest will be advised the date and venue. Riders and parents will need to be aware however, that they will need to be self funded.

Age Groups as at 1/1/09 Members – 12 & Under 17 yearsAssociates– 17 & Under 26 years

Participation Riders may take part in Dressage and one other discipline, not SJ and Eventing.

DressageJunior/MembersAssociate

ClassesWarm-up eventNovice 2.2 (2004)Elementary 3.1 (2004)

1st Champ EventNovice 2.3 (2004)Elementary 3.2 (2004)

2nd Champ EventNovice 2.4 (2004)Elementary 3.3 (2004)

3rd Champ EventElementary 3.1 (2004)Elementary 3.4 (2004)

ShowjumpingMembers & Associates

ClassesWarm-upAM 7

1st Champ EventA2

2nd Champ EventAM5

3rd Champ EventAM7

4th Champ EventPony Club National Grand Prix

Maximum start height of first event Members – 1.05m. Associates – 1.10m
EventingMembersAssociates

Warm-up dressageNovice 2.1 (2004)Novice 2.3 (2004)

Warm-up showjumpingAM 7AM 7

Dressage PhaseNovice 2.2 (2004)Novice 2.4 (2004)

XC & SJ PhasesDimensions – same as our Grade 1 for both age groups.

XC Speed – 475mpm500mpm

The state is looking for coaches and managers for each discipline, and an expression of interest for a team manager to organise uniform, meetings, etc.

I would like to emphasise that riders keep their Active Riding Worksheets up-to-date in their PC Record book. Suggest they have one for each of their favourite disciplines – especially Dressage, Showjumping andEventing – so they have these records on hand for selecting purposes. They are only one line entries and should include class standard (height) faults and placing if any. This is the purpose of these being kept up-to-date, even after tests are completed.

PCAT SERVICE AWARDS

This award has been made to long-time Tasmanian Pony & Riding Club members Nic Archer, Jessica Pyke and Sophie Colvin,who are about to leave their club in order to further their education in other areas. This is awarded for exceptional service to their club over many years so they will be greatly missed. We congratulate them all on thegreatcontribution they have made to their club

TECHNICAL DELEGATES’UPCOMING CLINIC

There will be a TD clinic at the Trials. ALL POSSIBLE TDS (PRESENT AND FUTURE) ARE URGED TO ATTEND. Not only do we need more TDs for eventing and dressage and show jumping competitions, but we need all our current TDs and Course Designers to be updated on safety matters on our XC courses. The PCAT is bringingNeil Clinton over to be the TD for Trials and to also conduct this clinic and be available over the weekend of Trials to answer any questions you may have. Neil is an international TD but is also very PC orientated. Anyone may attend but we will need to know numbers so that we can get enough printouts that he might have to distribute. It would also be a good idea for any senior riders who are eventing orientated to attend this as they will certainly learn from it which should help them to avoid technical mistakes.

Notify Judy Pitt if you are interested in attending.

NATIONAL COACHING ACCREDITATION SCHEME

Currently PCAT along with other states is implementing upgrades to our national coaching system.

From January 2009 the Level O (Orientation Level) is replaced with Pony Club Preliminary Coach (PCPC). Current Level O Coaches have the opportunity to upgrade to the new system. This must be completed by Jan. 2011 (two years from date of implementation). Level 1 is due to be updated in August 2009.

This does not affect Coaches who are already Level 1, however it is recommended that these coaches become familiar with the new system as they may wish to mentor a coach for the new level or become an assessor.

Coaches who are current Level O can apply for RPL/RCC as they have already completed most of the new system. These Coaches will need to complete two short modules, sign a coach’s Code of Ethics and be assessed in practical teaching skills.

While the old system was more an apprenticeship the new qualification is an actual coaching level. Candidates who have been coaching in clubs will need to provide proof of coaching from a club official, usually the DC or Club CC and apply to PCAT to be assessed over four lessons covering a flat, jumping, a mounted games activity and any other approved topic.

All, including new candidates, need to have the following pre-requisites:

  • have knowledge to the standard of the Preliminary Pony Club Course Workbook. Workbooks can be obtained from PCAT Treasurer.
  • be a financial member of the PCAT or an affiliated Pony Club.
  • be 18 years of age to qualify but can commence training at 16 years.

New candidates will need to complete the Workbook and Practice Log. Current Level O Coaches who are not yet involved with coaching will have to complete the practical section of the coaching practice log before applying for assessment.

The new course is designed to be flexible in delivery and can be implemented in a number of ways. This may involve but is not limited to:

  • mentors for candidates to work with (mentors and assessors will be approved by the PCAT). Mentoring can be part of a normal club Rally;
  • independent study;
  • courses either on a specific topic or longer courses that cover a range or all of the topics.

This is a competency based system. RRL/RCC can be recognised at any time:

  • Candidate can provide evidence of a formal qualification.
  • Life skills or other formal training can be assessed against the learning outcomes to decide how much formal training is required prior to assessment.

All qualifications remain current for four years and activity updates must be undertaken to remain current.

PCAT ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

All the main office bearers were returned so there is no major change. The only changes are that we are now having only one state Grievance Officer – Phyllis Fairhurst – who has been trained as such, rather than one in each zone and the EFA representative will be our hard working president.

I do recommend that every PC member reads our President’s report. It was attached to the minutes that went out recently andcan be found on the web site too so I am not attaching it to this. It will give you all an idea of what goes on behind the scene so to speak, to make this organisation run as well as it does.

Liz Earley has kindly offered to assist both the Secretary and the President with any tasks that she can help with to lighten the work load. Her offer is greatly appreciated.

INTER PACIFIC EXCHANGE

Congratulations to Alison Hall of the Mersey Valley Club for gaining selection as our representative at the IPE and also to Erin Boer of the Birralee Club, who is the reserve.

INTERNATIONAL PRINC PHILIP MOUNTED GAME SELECTION CAMP

Samantha Gardiner from Circular Head PC and Joshua Dales from Huntingfield PC are the State’s representative at the Selection Camp in Adelaide. Well done both of you.

K TEST WORK CERTIFICATES

Our old Work Certificate book is now obsolete and has been taken off the website. We are adopting the PCAV K Certificate Resource Kit – 2 spiral bound books, one with reference material, the other with worksheets. This is a PCA initiative with all states ultimately adopting all the same reference material.

Members who have started using our old ones may continue with them, but all new test recruits should work with the new books. Info re these for clubs is in Sect 3 – Club Matters.

Our treasurer, Sue deKaste has a supply of these books and clubs and riders will be able to purchase from her. It is recommended that all clubs have one copy for reference. Sue will compile a list of books available through the PCAT, together with an order form/price list and place on the website.

HANDBOOK CHANGES

I have at last completed the Handbook update. It is available on the PCAT website and I do not think it is necessary for everybody to have a printed copy of the complete handbook however, all clubs should have at least one complete copy for quick reference. Be sure to insert updates as issued. It will get updated on the website whenever necessary so your printed version may be out of date in no time! Certain people will onlyneed parts of it, so they should print those out.

Longer documents will have their own index – being updated right now – contained in that section on the website.

If you are finding the font a little difficult to read, you can easily print it in a larger font after you have downloaded the word docs from the website. If you do,it may change the page numbers soI would leave the page numbers, but remove the page breaks, so the Index is relevant – even if it does not coincide with the actual pages. If you want to view it on the screen in larger type, just increase the view to 120% or more, then everything stays in its proper place.

Section 3, now entitled TEST AND COACHES’ GUIDELINES has been completely revised. It has been divided into four segments on different documents on the web so you do not have to open all to see what you need. Hopefully it will be easier for you to find what you want.

These are:

  • CLUBTESTING INFORMATION– Club Mattersof four pages of which all clubs should have a printed copy;
  • RIDER GUIDELINES– All Tests, which you should direct your riders to look at;
  • EXAMINERS AND EXAMINATIONS and COACHES AND COACHING COURSESwhich are self explanatory.

There are also two documents which include the required work sheets too:

  • GUIDELINES FOR CANDIDATES TAKING B TEST, and
  • H & A TESTfor riders who are taking their higher tests.

Club’s CCs and TCOs should be familiar with all sections.

The Forms and Trials rulesstill have to be done. A few changes have been inserted in the latter, but I still need to check all is correct. That is my next project which I hope will be completed before the end of January.

EFA rules allow Eventing show jump course designers to judge their coursesso we have deleted our rule from the Addendum.

I have just revised the Fence Judges Directions. There is a difference in the order of some clauses so they fit into suitable places, some neater diagrams, and a few points taken from the PCAV ones, but the major changes are those relating to the Fall/Elimination rule.

Clubs, provide up to date Fence Judges Direction to your stewards, and . Please make sure all your fence stewards are notified that - ANY FALL CAUSED BY A FENCE IS ELIMINATION AND RIDERS MUST LEAD THEIR HORSE HOME.

Obviously all points covering what is done after a rider falls are now irrelevant too so are removed.

Check the date on the footer to find out if a document has been updated later than your last copy.

INFORMATION FOR RIDERS RE THE NEW ELIMINATION RULE

Any fall caused by an obstacle on a XC course is elimination and riders must lead their horse home. The rider may, IFTHEY HAVE A CLEARANCEFROM THE MEDICAL officer in charge at the event, show jump or ride asecond horse.

They may ask permissionfrom the organising committeeto school over a couple of fences of the same grade or lower after the event. The organising committee does have the right to refuse this request. This must be done under supervision – preferably a qualified instructor. A Rider may never go out alone on the XC course at any event.

FIRST AID UPGRADE

The PCAT is making $330 available to each zone to enable them to hold an upgrade to the workplace level 2 by having an equestrian module. The CCP have liaised with SafeTas, who have come back with a proposal and they believe they can deliver a meaningful outcome by doing a training course on how to manage spinal injuries. If anyone is interested in taking this course, please contact your zone secretary. We particularly want coaches, especially Level 1 ones as they are more likely to be ongoing than parents, to take this course. We do need to upgrade our general coverage, because accidents can happen at any time and last year two of the more serious ones happened when no ambulance was required to be present.

JUMPING EQUTIATION CLINIC

David Quick gave a very informative clinic which was well attended and appreciated by all those in attendance. David is one of the few riders who has competed in both Grand Prix dressage and Grand Prix showjumping. He emphasised that JE is all about the basics of any jumping rider therefore we all need to practise its philosophies.

David made it abundantly clear how important the balanced jumping seat with a secure leg position and good eye contact is to a successful show jumping round. I would like to point out to those who shun JE that the present World Cup holder, Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, who incidentally also won it 2 years ago and was individually placed in the WEG at Aachen, was brought up by these methods.

As a result of this we have a few more probationary judges whom we hope will progress to fully fledged ones in the near future. Will clubs please give these judges the opportunity to get experience when they conduct JE classers so that they may upgrade.

PCA INSTRUCTORS’ CLINIC

Di Keach conducted the National clinic on behalf of the PCA. Again there was a good representation, though not as many as last year. Having the two clinics so close together caused thisperhaps, but we could only get the coaches at those times. Again a most interesting Clinic – Di makes them such fun too. She only took the position on for two years, and now the PCA has decided that they will hold a single clinic and invite each state to send representatives who will then be expected to hold clinics in each zone to pass on this knowledge.

Reports of both clinics can be viewed on the website.

HORSELAND RAFFLE

What a wonderful result for the state and all the clubs this was – $3,881 each for both the state association and for the clubs. They get to keep half the proceeds of the tickets they sell, so the more ticket you sell the more your club benefits. Our grateful thanks to Horseland for their continued sponsorship. I hope you all support them when needing horsy gear. The state funds were distributed as follows: Championships – Trials $1,300, Dressage/ Jumping $600, Games $300 and each zone receives $420 each for their development fund.

Well done to the Tasmanian club which was only $5 short of $400 and $105 ahead of the next club Birralee! Well done to all of you for the effort you put into it and especially to Christie Russell-Jarvie of Derwent PC who won the Bookseller’s prize.

The winners were -

1st-$1000-Mark Van Galen - Longford. 4th - $125- Sue Lowery- Railton

2nd - $500-Sue Ellis- Derwent PC 5th - $75 - Bruce Young- Meander

3rd-$250-Lucille Stubbs - TPRC6th- $50 - P Cochrane - Bowthorpe, Longford

GAMES NEWS

These are the games which will be used for next year. The finals will be held at Fernpark

Round 1 – Bending Postmans ChaseFive mug

Round 2 – Egg & SpoonPony ClubTyre

Round 3 – Daily MailHousewives ScurryHi Low

Round 4 – Stepping StonesTack shopFish

Round 5 – Ball & ConeWindsorCastleBall & Bucket

Round 6 – Stick PegSack5 Flag

Selection for Prince Philip Mounted Games Team 2009 Junior Team and the 2009 Senior Team.

Final selection for both teams will be on Anzac Day. The State Coach, Barry Harper will be conducting training days for all interested riders up until that date. This squad of riders will need to complete the Nomination forms as per the handbook. Liz Earley has very kindly offered to co-ordinate this squad on the PCATs behalf, so if all interested riders would like to contact Liz, her email address is . Dates for these clinics will be advised as soon as possible.