C* Certificate Written Assessment

C* Certificate Written Assessment
This is the written assessment for C* Certificate candidates. It is an open book exam so you may use your C* Certificate Manual to refer to if you wish. This still needs to be your own work.

You will need to fill in your Pony Club membership number to do this assessment.

The expected time to complete this written assessment is approximately one hour, but there is no time limit if you wish to take longer, unless your examiner sets one. It should be done in one sitting.

Each question is compulsory and you won't be able to go back to a question on a previous page once you click 'NEXT'. If you cannot answer a question, you will need to write something in the box (eg N/A) to move on to the next.

There are 53 questions. There is usually one question per page, but a question may have several parts. The possible marks for each question are shown as a guide to how much time you might want to spend on it. This assessment is out of 130.

This assessment is based on:

- the Pony Club Australia Syllabus of Instruction 2019, and

- the Pony Club Australia C* Certificate Proficiency Manual.

Candidates must have their C certificate to attempt their C* Certificate.

As well as the written assessment, candidates also need to:
- Undergo practical assessment(s). The practical assessment sheets can be found on the PCA website.
- Complete a journal in an appropriate format of the year's riding and training. If the candidate's journal has been kept online, they are able to submit it electronically.
Good luck. Let's begin!

First published in Australia in 2020

by Pony Club Australia Ltd

ABN 95 090 080 265

www.ponyclubaustralia.com.au

Copyright © Pony Club Australia Ltd 2020
Zones and Pony Clubs affiliated with PCA have permission to reproduce all or part of this document to use when instructing or assessing Pony Club members. Reproduction by any other organisation or individual, and for any other purpose, is prohibited, unless PCA has given prior written approval and received the appropriate fee, if any.

Please fill in all your details below
Name*

First NameLast Name
Age*
Enter your examiner's email address, or the email your Club gave you to use*
example@example.com
Your email address*
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Pony Club or Accredited Riding Centre*
Name
Pony Club membership number*
State / Territory*

VICNSW/ACTNTQLDWATASSA
Today's Date*

DayMonthYear
Date
I understand this test must be my own work*
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Signature of candidate

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1. What characteristics enabled the early horses to be domesticated? Choose the best answer. (1 mark)*

They were plant eaters, and friendlyThey were strong enough to carry peopleHorses approached people to look after themGrass is easy to get to feed them, they could digest it on the run, they could travel fast and carry loads
2. Which one of these is an example of a horse showing the flight response? (1 mark)*

A horse laying down rather than load on a floatA horse shying at a jumpA horse biting his handlerA horse throwing his head up and kicking when you walk behind it
3. Answer True or False for the following
(4 marks)

a. Horses are creatures of habit. This makes them hard to train -  *

b. In order to train a horse, you need to teach him to think like you do -  *

c. Horses have an amazing memory - *

d. In reward training, the reward must be given immediately the horse does the right thing - *

4. Give an example of each of these Ten Principles of Training, to show you understand them:

(1 mark each, 10 in total)
1. Prioritise safety when around horses (eg at a camp, clothing, introducing new horse).*
2. Understand what the flight response looks like and how to manage it (eg describe a time it happened and what you did about it).*
3. Understand that the horse’s brain is different to ours.*
4. Prioritise calmness and be consistent at all times (for this you can explain why you need consistency).*
5. Find ways to get the horse to habituate to the things that scare him (eg cars, water).*
6. Use pressure-release and reward training effectively. Avoid punishment.*
7. Use voice, seat and weight aids correctly and understand their limitations. *
8. Train behaviours gradually (give one example of a behaviour you trained).*
9. Only give one aid at a time. Each aid should produce one response.*
10. Always focus on self-carriage (for this one, just explain what it means). *

5. If a horse saw a snake and shied while on one of the bush tracks you use regularly, he’s likely to shy there again. How would you go about stopping this behaviour each time you use that part of the track? (2 marks)*

6. If you are using pressure-release training,it is important to release the pressure within five seconds of the horse doing the right thing. (2 marks)*

YesNo
Explain why?*
7. If your horse habituates to your signals, is this a good or bad thing? Explain briefly.(1 mark)*

8. Choose one option below. As a reward, horses prefer: (2 marks)*

A gentle scratch or rubA hug around the neckA hearty slap on the neckYou saying “Good boy (or girl)!”
My reason for choosing this option:*
9. Linking a reward for your horse to a word (like ‘good’) or sound (like a clicker) is called using a conditioned reinforcer. When is it handy to use conditioned reinforcers? (2 marks)*
10. How do you teach a conditioned reinforcer? (2 marks)*

11. What is wrong with the use of punishment described here? (2 marks)
Your horse refuses a jump so you turn him away and pull him up, then hit him with the whip.*
12. If you try to train your horse while he is stressed, or he regularly becomes stressed during training, this is known as ‘flooding’. Instead of learning and remembering something new, the horse becomes permanently frightened. How can you avoid or overcome this? (3 marks)*

13. What is the difference between a step and a stride? (1 mark)*
14. What are a horse’s footfalls at the walk, starting from the off fore? (3 marks)*
15. The move at right is called?*

Turn on the hindquarters leftTurn on the hindquarters rightTurn on the forehand leftTurn on the forehand right

16. Pressure on both reins by the rider should produce one of possible three responses.
     What are these three? (3 marks)
a. Type a response*
b. Type a response*
c. Type a response*
17. 'Contact should never be more than enough pressure to keep the reins from sagging when they are held by the rider. This is because any pressure heavier than just contact is an aid and an aid should produce a response.’ (1 mark)*

TrueFalse
18. A metronome can help you and your horse maintain a good rhythm when you ride. How? (1 mark)*

19. Sometimes a horse can be overshadowed by a new environment and he forgets his training - like becoming very nervous the first time he goes to a show or sees the ocean. What steps would you take to overcome this? (2 marks)*
20.
a. Does this diagram show Canter Left or Canter Right? blanks*
b. How many beats in a Canter?blank*
c. When is the period of suspension - after 1, 2, or 3?blank*

21. Riding at a speed of 220m a minute is: (1 mark)*

A slow gallopA brisk trotA fast walkA fast canter
22. When riding at 400m per minute, how long should your horse take to cover 100m: (1 mark)*

15 seconds60 seconds45 seconds30 seconds
23. How would you warm up and cool down your horse before and after a cross country round? Mention length of time, pace and weather conditions. (3 marks)*

24. Give three reasons why warming up is important: (3 marks)*
25. In jumping, what is the difference between a treble and a triple? (1 mark)*

26. Explain how you would walk a show jumping course to try to achieve a smooth, even-paced round. Mention at least three things that might affect your horse. (4 marks)*
27. Name these three types of cross country fences (3 marks)
blank*
blank*
blank*
28. What should your horse be doing happily before you change from jumping at a trot to jumping at a canter? (2 marks)*

29. When walking a show jumping course, it is important to take note of distances between related fences because: (choose the best one) (1 mark)*

You need to place your horse exactly at the right point in front of the jumpYou need to know roughly how many strides your horse will take to help ride a smooth flowing courseYou don’t want to miss a fenceIt helps you ride the course faster
30. When you take a green horse to a new competition venue for the first time which of the following should you NOT do? (1 mark)*

Take your warm up slowly and calmly, away from the main arena(s)Arrive early with plenty of time to let him settlePractise the exercises you have been doing at homePunish him for disobedience and flight response behaviour so he learns early this is wrong

31. There are many advantages to lungeing a horse when it is done properly. Name two. (2 marks)*
32. A horse should live where he can experience the Five Freedoms. What is this horse not receiving in this situation? (2 marks)

Bobby is a 16hh thoroughbred who is ridden every second or third weekend and lives at an agistment farm with other horses nearby. The owner visits him once every day to see he has water and to check his rug. The owner supplements the grass in his paddock with hay when necessary, on his daily visit. This is most of the year, as the paddock, although it has a shady tree, is the size of a suburban house block and is usually bare dirt, manure until it breaks down, and weeds. Bobby is in the same paddock all year round.

33. What are the advantages of leaving your horse’s feathers on, and whiskers and ears untrimmed? (2 marks)*
34. Sometimes it is necessary to clip your horse in winter. Explain why, and what steps you should take to ensure your clipped horse’s welfare? (2 marks)*
35. Name two types of clips and explain their advantages (2 marks)*

36. Click True or False for the following:
You can explain your answer if you wish. (4 points)
A horse is at risk of infection after being pricked by the farrier*

TrueFalse
Explain why?
Horses have to be shod to cope with regular work*

TrueFalse
Explain why?
If your horse loses, or partially loses, a shoe you must get a farrier immediately*

TrueFalse
Explain why?
The frog should always be able to touch the ground, shoe or no shoe*

TrueFalse
Explain why?
37. Why is it safer to have two people rather than one to load and unload a horse from a float? (2 marks)*

38. a. In an ideal world, which method of spelling your good competition horse would be the best? (1 mark)*

Once a year for 4-6 weeksOne week a monthOne week every few monthsSix months every two years
b. Explain the choice you made above. (2 marks)*
39. Name any three things you need to do before giving your horse a reasonably long spell, and why. (3 marks)*
40. Name some advantages to putting manure in a manure pile or ‘muck heap’. (2 marks)*

41. What are the advantages of feeding hay over chaff? (1 mark)*
42. How would you describe the condition of this horse pictured below? (1 mark)*

PoorThinModerateGood
43. What do you understand by the saying ‘Feed according to workload’? (3 marks)*

44. Imagine your horse has been turned out for six months due to an injury. The vet has examined him and declared he is fine to start work again. Describe the way you would bring him back into work to compete in mounted games. Include an outline of the work program, the time line, feeding and other care. (8 marks)*
45. Your horse seems very unwell one morning with no obvious injury. a. Describe three observations/readings you could take, to include in a phone call to your vet. (3 marks)*
b. There could be other signs your horse is unwell and which a vet may ask you about, but which you cannot measure. Name three. (3 marks)*

46. A first aid kit is essential for every horse owner. What are the following three items useful for? (3 marks)
a. Gauze dressing *
b. Betadine scrub *
c. Cohesive bandages (vet-wrap) *
47. Name three reasons a horse may be lame, and the treatment for each. 6marks)*

48. Why is it important not to underdose or overdose when de-worming your horse? (2 marks)*
49. What is the best way to tell if your horse needs worming? (1 mark)*
50. Name four signs your horse’s teeth may need doing. (2 marks)*

51. a. Which answer below is closest to the age of this horse’s teeth? Select one. (1 mark)*

5 years10 years15 years20 years
b. Explain the signs that tell you this horse’s age (1 mark)*
52. There are five categories of bits. Which sort are these two? (2 marks)
blanks*
blanks*
53. Problems can sometimes occur when you use boots or bandages on your horse during work. Name two problems. (2 marks)*

Next:

Your 500 word essay

The C* manual states that “at the end of your C* certificate you will write a short essay (500 words) about your horse’s management and how it fits in with the Five Freedoms. Include this in your journal.”

If the essay has been done on paper, you can hand this and the whole journal in at the same time as this written assessment, or hand your journal with the essay in at a time agreed upon with your assessor.

Or

If it was done electronically, you should submit it online to your assessor, as outlined by your Pony Club or Zone representative.

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Assessor Use

1. Written Assessment score _______ / 130

2. Journal submitted: __________ (date)

Result _________________________________________________

Assessor name ______________________________

Signature ______________________________

Comments:

You are finished! Well done and good luck. Please submit your written assessment now.

You should receive a receipt to show this has been successfully submitted. If not, please email info@ponyclubaustralia.com.au or use one of our contact methods on the website.

Your Club will contact you with your results in due course.
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C* Certificate Written Assessment

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