COACHING NEWS OCTOBER 2014

PCAWA State Coaching Panel  

Inside This Issue Editor’s Note DSCP Achievement Badges – Worms & Tetanus C*/K School Gear Check Matters Book Reviews

Key Dates International Quiz Talk 10 November 2014 PCAWA Citizenship Awards Closing Date: 14 November 2014 RAP Awards Night 13 December 2014 State Coaching School 7 & 8 February 2015 Examiner’s Update 7 February - Evening

Editor’s Note

 Spring is definitely upon us and further north than the Great Southern Region I would imagine it feels as though Summer has already arrived. This edition of Coaching News has an outline of the program for the State Coaching School, several pages on Gear Check matters (just to bring everyone up to speed on issues), plus regulars like Badges and Book Reviews.

The other day I found myself thinking "only another 2 rallies to the end of the year" and realised that a lot of volunteers must equally feel quite drained towards the end of their Pony Club calendar. The next day I came across an article on "Mindful Living" and there were a few nuggets that I think are worth sharing:

ü Choose your audience/the people who interact with you - metaphorically put the ones who encourage and support you in the best seats at the front and the ones who sap your energy or take up your precious time in the back-row.

ü Listen to your inner voice. We have many and immediate distractions which can be more diverting but we need to hone our intuition and be more in touch with what we "want" to do as opposed to what we "need" to do.

ü Be grateful. In our consumer orientated world it is very easy to feel wanting at the end of the day but there is considerable value in acknowledging (quite literally writing down) 3 things that you are grateful for at the end of each day or that has made your day.

For me the last bullet point had particular relevance when I was conducting a gear check of our very young riders and jokingly said to a 5-year old "glad to see you don't have any nail polish (on your hands)" when she in all innocence said "but I have got some on my toes!" I just loved that honesty.

No luck as yet with finding the "engagement" saddle for my rotund Galloway so I have had to make do with lungeing him in the paddock (my grass manege is still too wet at the moment in spite of a relatively dry winter) or walking him down to our neighbours and using his round yard - At least the ducks enjoy a graze in my damp manege!

So the combination of regular exercise, restricted grazing (all 3 are in the "Jenny Craig" paddock at night) and being very mindful of any extra feeding has got the weight tape moving in the right direction. I use a fairly typical metal scoop for bulk feed but just as dieters are recommended to use smaller plates, I use smaller scoops for feedstuff with higher energy levels (enamel mug and a soft cheese container for bran and muesli respectively).

The issue of retaining our older riders is something that we will be addressing at the State Coaching School, which has the theme of "Keeping Riders Interested". However we are keen to learn how clubs have tackled this challenge. So please send in your ideas; not just on coaching older riders, but on any aspect of coaching. I would love to be able to publish a page of tips and acknowledge the contributors.

The question of whether stallions are allowed at Pony Club rallies/events came up the other day. The answer is a very clear no. Under the PCAWA By-Laws the following mounts are NOT permitted as Pony Club mounts:

Stallions, colts (a horse or pony 3 years and under that has not been gelded) and rigs.

Mounts, which in the opinion of the Chief Coach or their nominee, are considered to be unsafe or unsuitable

There is an old saying that you: Tell a gelding

ü Ask a mare (us girls always like to be asked) ü And discuss with a stallion. And children are not ready for a discussion with a stallion; nor a colt nor a

rig for that matter.

A rig is a very confused and frustrated male horse. A rig is a male horse that is carrying either one or two testicles concealed in its abdomen, making it visually appear to be a gelding, while behaving like a stallion. These horses are medically described as a cryptorchid, literally meaning “hidden testicle”. Normally in colts foals, the testicles migrate from the abdominal cavity into the scrotum just before or just after birth, but occasionally they may fail to descend or may get lost en route. This is called cryptorchidism. Approximately 15% of two- to three-year-old colts are rigs, so it is fairly common. The male hormone testosterone is produced by the testicles, whether they are in their normal position in the scrotum or lurking somewhere inside the horse’s body. This means that rigs often display similar stallion-like behaviour. So my advice when considering buying any new pony, gelding or otherwise, is:

ü If you can buy a pony that is known to you ü Have the pony for a trial period ü Get the pony vetted.

Although people have bought ponies unknown, unseen and without vetting, this is generally a recipe for disaster.

Next month will see the race that "stops a nation." Regardless of what we think of how horses in the racing industry are treated, the winner of the first Melbourne Cup (1861) did it tough. Archer, the winner, was reported to have walked the 850km from Nowra to Flemington to take part in the race. And what's more he did the same the following year. Amazing. To happy, healthy and safe riding and coaching.

All the best from your Editor. Denise.

From the Director of the PCAWA State Coaching Panel

This month's newsletter has a strong focus on Gear Check matters. The new GCAP (Gear Checking Advisory Panel) have been documenting gear queries that have come in through the first half of this year. We are also looking at finding a suitable date to run a Gear Check Accreditation Clinic to help get those interested get up to speed.

I am pleased on behalf of the SCP to pass on congratulations to the Wanneroo members who took part at the State Eventing Championships. They were well organised and their presentation set the highest standards; a great example to others.

I hope you enjoy the article on the C*/ Certificate School - I would encourage other clubs/zones to apply for funding for these schools; it makes the C*/K certificate process much more achievable and enjoyable for our older members. At the moment only about a third of the Zones have taken up Healthway Funding for coaching orientated workshops and clinics. Please don’t leave it to the last minute as it makes it difficult for the State Coaching Panel then to resource these events.

Finally we have a very comprehensive State Coaching School lined up for our coaches and older riders (Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th February) including:

ü Adapting SJ equipment for X-Country fences

ü Lungeing at C* & B levels

ü Hands-on Sessions covering Road Rules, Wound Care, Float Maintenance, Mounting/Dismounting, Knots and Vaulting

ü Diagonals, Paces & Footfalls

ü Introducing lateral work

ü Show Jumping (split class D to C and C* to A)

ü Open Forum for coaches with topics such as using Workbooks, SCP Initiatives like Orientation to Pony Club for Parents/Coaches and Land Care

ü Plus an Examiners' Seminar on the Saturday evening for all examiners and those interested in becoming an examiner.

The full program and booking form will be up on the PCAWA website soon so start planning for 2015 today. Tracy Crocker Director State Coaching Panel

PCAWA and the State Coaching Panel have secured a sponsorship with APE Vet Supplies to supply the PCAWA Membership with Equine First Aid Kits at wholesale prices – the Full Kit and Travel Kit are specifically tailored to Pony Club and ideal for C Efficiency Certificate studies. Visit www.pcawa.com to download the information page and order form today!

Using Achievement Badges for Young Riders WORMS & TETANUS

Using Achievement Badges can help break down Certificate Requirements (E Standard) into "bite size" pieces. However at E and D Standard there is no current requirement for candidates to demonstrate any understanding of 1st Aid for horses. But it is sensible to introduce as early as possible an understanding of:

ü Treating a minor wound (very little blood) - covered in the Spring Edition of Coaching News

ü That ponies need protection from Internal Parasites and Tetanus.

ü Generally young children are quite enthusiastic about caring for their ponies and need little encouragement in doing the "right thing" and it is useful to educate parents as well particularly if they have a non- horsy background.

Internal Parasites - Worms and Bots Just about all horses and ponies have worms. The life cycle of worms starts when the horse eats larvae with his pasture or hay. Once inside the horse, the larvae develop into adult worms and lay eggs. The eggs are dropped n the ground with the horse's manure and hatch into larvae, which the horse eats, starting the cycle over again. Generally all horses should be wormed every 3 months regardless of the conditions in which they are kept. In addition make sure to:

ü Use the worm dose for the weight of your horse - round up to the nearest 50kg calibration on the syringe

ü Poo pick paddock regularly ü Rotate wormers ü Rotate paddocks and if you can use biological "vacuum cleaners" like cattle to reduce the larvae

level in paddocks.

Bots are similar to worms as they live inside the horse. But instead of hatching into larvae that crawl onto grass, bot pupae turn into bot flies. These flies buzz around the horse and lay little yellow eggs on the hair of his legs and body. When the horse rubs his nose on his legs he swallows the eggs and the whole cycle starts over again. Some horses get very stressed by bot flies. So in addition to removing the bot eggs with a bot block (or bot knife if used by older member or adult) you may need to use an equine fly spray on the horses legs and belly.

Tetanus Tetanus is sometimes referred to as Lockjaw. If a horse contracts Tetanus, unless caught very early on, it is fatal; the horse's muscles stiffen up and he either dies or has to be put down. The bacteria that cause this infection of the nervous system enter the horse's body though a wound or through the umbilical cord attached to a foal's belly button. Speak to your veterinarian about vaccination as a preventative measure and make sure you keep a record of any vaccinations.

So if using the PCAWA Achievement Badges it is advisable to take a note of attendees and issue badges at the next rally. Article by Denise Legge

State C& and K School 30 August 2014 – Presented by Tracy Crocker

Saturday 30th August 2014, State Coaching Panel conducted a State C* & K School at Peel Metropolitan Horse & Pony Club, King Road, Oldbury. Weather forecasts for the day were grim, but we were lucky enough to escape most of the rain!

7 coaches attended and 7 candidates with 4 bringing horses to participate in the ridden lessons. Participants were from Albany PC, King River PC, Darling Range, Walliston, Serpentine, and Peel Pony clubs. State Coordinators were a little disappointed that there were not more in attendance considering the amount of enquiries SCP get on these certificates, but for those who made the effort to come feedback was that it was well worth it.

The clinic began with a brief introduction and outline of the day’s programme, then Nyrell Williams provided a very informative presentation on lunging expectations for C* and K candidates. She began by going through the notes and explaining all the requirements including gear, reasons for lunging and safety factors to be considered and correct fit of equipment. This was followed by a practical session, firstly with Nyrell demonstrating what is required then allowing candidates with horses to demonstrate their skills and allow Nyrell time to work with each of them.

Those without horses didn’t miss out on the practical session, with Gina Hendrie taking them and getting them to practice using the Whip, rein and voice commands on each other to gain insight into how difficult it can be for riders when they start out lunging. Quality of gear was also discussed to ensure that candidates are able to use gear that is suitable for the task and easy for them to handle.

Left is a sample of the very scrumptious fruit available throughout the day and kindly prepared by Diane Ould of Peel Horse & Pony Club.

After morning tea it was onto flatwork. Gina Hendrie presented a very informative lesson on the standard expected at C* Level and to achieve results coaches need to be aiming at the basics of straightness and accuracy with riders.

From the flatwork lesson it was time to bring it up a notch or two with active riding presented by Don Hawkins. He introduced coaches and riders to Mounted Basketball, ex- planning how to introduce horses and riders to the game and what can be achieved

in a very short space of time, once riders gain confidence and realize how much fun can be had. They became very competitive and pushed their horses faster to try and get the goal for their team. It showed that even eventing and dressage horses and riders could participate in Active Riding activities and have fun. In the end it was hard convincing the riders that they needed to stop and go in for lunch!

After lunch participants were split up into 4 groups and in 30 minute rotations were able to have some practical lessons on bandaging, knots, correct fit of gear and bits.

Final presentations for the day were done by Nyrell Williams and Tracy Crocker explaining the process for C* and K Exams and then question time.

Overall feedback was that the information presented was very informative and answered a lot of the attendees questions, whilst giving coaches some new ideas on how to guide their C* and K candidates. There was some talk amongst presenters of the possibility of holding a C* & K camp next year! Will depend on whether there would be enough interest.

Article by Tracy Crocker

Update on Gear Checking

Gear Check Enquires

With a new GCAP (Gear Checking Advisory Panel), we have been documenting gear queries that have come in through the past 6 months. Earlier in the year, more improvement areas were found for gear checking rules. Following the re- lease of the 2014 Gear Précis we saw a spike in gear queries come in, whilst July quieted right off.

As a coach, if you have a gear query, remember that the Gear Check Manual, its appendices and amendments should be your first port of call. Following this, ask you Club Chief Coach or an experienced pony club member of your club. If unresolved, the Coaching Panel and GCAP stand ready to clarify and assist in any unanswered gear query you or your club members may have about gear – coaching@pcawa.com

In the next few pages you will find 3 articles clarifying:

ü The use of grass reins and anti-grazing straps - a small child is no match for a pony determined to graze

ü Stirrup Irons

ü Micklem versus Multibridles.

Although all of these items have recently appeared on the PCAWA website and in eblasts it might be useful to have the latest information all in one place. I would encourage you to print off these updates, laminate the pages and put up in your clubroom for all to read.

Kind regards,

Jacinta Withoud

Gear Checking: Grass Reins & Anti-Grazing Straps

Spring is upon us. That means lots of tasty green grass that horses and ponies may find hard to resist. Below is some information about the gear that is permitted to combat those headstrong ponies

that can’t resist a snack while being ridden. Careful consultation & supervision by coaches is highly recommended when riders use these attachments:

Gear Checking – Stirrup Irons Pages 82-86 of the Gear Checking Manual

During 2014, and especially documented from the State Dressage Championships, a large number of riders are pre- senting to gear check with stirrup irons that do not fit correctly. Please at a club level ensure that

your members are checked regularly for correct fit of their stirrup irons. The pictures below detail the types of stirrups allowed, materials permitted and also fit guidelines.

If a particular stirrup is not in the gear check manual, it is not permitted.

Gear Checking – Micklem vs Multibridles

The Micklem bridle has been allowed in PCAWA since 2013 and comes in two versions – the Micklem Competition and the Micklem Multibridle.

We would like to clarify their differences and where they are allowed in PCAWA.

Micklem Competition Bridle

Known as a competition version, without a nose ring or bitless bridle fittings.

Permitted: All Dressage, All Eventing Phases, Show- jumping, Tetrathlon.

Not Permitted: PPMG, Novelties, PC Mount or Polo- crosse.

Note – do not fit the nosepiece as for a drop nose- band. It should be above the soft tissue of

the horse’s nose.

Micklem Multibridle

Has a ring on the nose piece, which allows it to be adjusted to a lunge cavesson* or (with extra fittings)

a bitless* bridle.

Permitted with a bit: All Dressage, All Eventing Phases, Showjumping, Tetrathlon.

Not Permitted: PPMG, Novelties, PC Mount or Polo- crosse. *Not permitted as a lunge cavesson or

bitless bridle.

Note – do not fit the nosepiece as for a drop nose- band. It should be above the soft tissue of the

horse’s nose

Taken from: Gear Checking Manual Amendments 2013, Item 7 Gear Checking Précis Updated May 2014

http://www.williammicklem.com/micklembridle.html

Book Reviews

Jumping For Kids by Lesley Ward; Storey Publishing ISBN 13 978-1-58017-671-2

This book will take coaches and riders from preliminary flat work to trotting poles to jumping at shows. Throughout the book there is strong focus on safety and building skill and confidence one stage at a time as well as a useful section on problem solving. There are a great number of clear photographs and excellent courses set-outs for both poles and jumps. The author is American so there are some terms that will sound a bit foreign like stadium jumping for show jumping and most measurements are in feet and inches as opposed to metres. That aside this book is designed to make jumping safe, positive and fun.

The Scales of Training Workbook by Claire Lilley; J.A.Allen ISBN 978-0-851-31-970-4

This book is more likely to benefit coaches who ride and the older more competitive rider. Although the Scales of Training are not currently covered by Pony Club Australia, unlike Pony Club UK, many of the terms can be found as part of a dressage score sheet.

As set out in the title, the book contains numerous exercises for horse and rider to work through the scales of training for dressage, jumping and eventing. Each exercise is clearly set out with an easy to read diagram, what to look for in the exercise, training tips and problem solving.

Claire's comprehensive career has spanned over 30 years and has been involved in many aspects of equestrianism. Currently running her own training centre in the UK, Claire regularly competes on her own horses up to Grand Prix level and is author of several equestrian training books. Visit her website www.clairelilley.com

Article by Denise Legge