Hi BHPC riders,

This year, we have additional exciting club prizes for our BHPC end of year awards to encourage the highest standards of riding and horsemanship, and participation in club events. As advised in the June newsletter, embroidered rugs will be awarded in 3 categories for junior riders (12 years and under) and for older riders (13 to 26 years):

1) BHPC Champion Sports Horse,

2) BHPC Champion Formal Rider,

3) BHPC Horsemastership Champion.

Assessment of these categories will be based on:

1) Points from the August Formal Gymkhana based on fastest timing in the sporting events for Champion Sports Horse,

2) Points from the October ODE muster for dressage and show jumping for Champion Formal Rider,

3) Results of 3 horsemastership worksheets sent out over the next months and instructors’ observations of horse and gear care at musters, for Horsemastership Champion.

With regard to the Horsemastership award, I am working on a series of 3 worksheets that will cover lots of things about our horses, including learning more about parts of our horses and saddlery, how to care for our horses, and being safe with our horses. These are all aspects of the Pony Club Australia syllabus and will help to develop you as accomplished horse handlers. By filling out these worksheets you will be in the running for horsemastership prizes and for the Horsemastership Champion rug.

There will be a new worksheet emailed out to you in early September, October and November, with one for older members 13 years and over, and one for younger members who are 12 years and younger. The sheet that you fill out will be based on your age on 1 September. Even if you turn 13 in the next month, keep doing the sheet for younger riders as that way you stay in the same assessment group. I will send reference information out with the worksheets to assist you to find the answers, and you can also use any horse books you have, or look on the internet for answers. Younger members may need assistance, please ask your parents or older brothers and sisters to help you.

At our BHPC Awards event in November, there will be special horsemastership prizes for those who complete all the worksheets, and the special rugs for the Horsemastership Champions in the 2 age categories.

The first worksheets are about the parts of the horse, saddle and bridle. I have also attached reference  information. Fill the sheets out, and hand in at the canteen at the September muster lunch break. If you don’t get the sheets finished in time for the muster, just hand them in at the following muster. Any questions,  email or text me (0400 952 002).

Regards

Sandy

BHPC Chief Instructor