STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Combined State Championships are held annually for 11 disciplines, including; Dressage, Sporting, Campdrafting, Team Penning, Team Sporting, Jumping Equitation, Show Jumping, Mounted Games, Combined Training, One Day Event (ODE) and Show Riding. Competitors must be a required Championship standard to qualify to participate in these championships and supply copies of grading cards and/or other documentation as required. Competitors are between the ages of 7 to under 26 and compete in their relevant age group. 

Event Description, eligibility, qualifying times and further information is specified in the schedule for each event.

State Championship Disciplines

Please be advised that the below are subject to change at any time for any reason. Pease refer to the event schedule for the most up to date information. 

DRESSAGE

Often referred to as the “gymnastics” of horse training, since it is designed to improve the suppleness and responsiveness of the horse and the skill of the rider. It is required as basic training for all equestrian events. Competitors must ride standard written tests from memory and are judged on their ability to perform in harmony with their horse. PCANSW uses Equestrian Australia Dressage tests and full details of which tests for the Dressage Championship will be provided on the event schedule.

INDIVIDUAL COMPETITION

Riders may choose one level only to compete in, however they must have competed at this level previously, with a minimum score of 58%.

Tests

Prelim              1.2 & 1.3

Novice             2.2 & 2.3

Elementary     3.2 & 3.3

Medium          4.1 & 4.2

SPORTING

Championships bring keen competition in Flag, Bending, and Barrel racing as well as other novelty events. 

AGE GROUPS

Under 11 years

11 years and Under 13 years

13 years and Under 15 years

15 years and Under 17 years

17 years and Under 25 years

EVENTS

Qualifying Times & Races:

Riders must have times recorded on their performance card for any two of these four events to qualify:

Flag Race                           

Under 11 years- 51 seconds        

Under 13 years – 49 seconds     

13 years & over – 44 seconds

Bending Race                    

Under 11 years – 16 seconds     

Under 13 years – 14 seconds      

13 years & over – 12 seconds

Barrel Race                        

Under 11 Years – 25 seconds     

Under 13 years – 23 seconds      

13 years & over – 21 seconds

Bonfield Bounce Bend   

Under 11 Years – 40 seconds     

Under 13 years – 37 seconds      

13 years & over – 35 seconds                                                              

For the Bonfield Bounce Bend the height of the plastic barrels are;

Juniors (under 13 years) no less than 30cms and not to exceed 40cms

Seniors (over 13 years) no less than 50cms and not to exceed 60cms

TEAM SPORTING

Championships bring keen competition in Flag, Bending, and Barrel racing as well as other novelty events in Teams

AGE GROUPS

Juniors (under 17 years)

Associates

EVENTS & QUALIFYING TIMES

CAMPDRAFTING

This unique Australian sport is fostered within the Pony Club movement. Riders demonstrate their skills at cutting a beast out of a mob in an enclosure and then manoeuvre it around a set course. Points are allocated for cut out and work on the course.

Suitable performance of mount/rider combination. A minimum performance of an outside score in two (2) events will be required.

AGE GROUPS

10 & Under 13 years

13 & Under 15 years

15 & Under 17 years

17 & Under 26 years

NOTE: there will only be one beast in the yard for the 10 & Under 13 year’s age group.

TEAM PENNING

A fast-paced event that gives a team of three riders 2 minutes to separate three specifically identified cattle from a herd of 30, and put them into a pen at the opposite end of the arena.

Ages are taken at the first day of competition;

Junior – 10 & under 17 years

Associate – 17 & Under 26 Years

Zone Teams: Riders must be from the same zone and have competed in at least 2 Team Penning events in the last 12 months. Each rider can only compete in one team.

JUMPING EQUITATION

Riders are judged on their riding style and control of the horse whilst jumping.

INDIVIDUAL COMPETITION

Three classes will be held, starting with a simple jumping round and increasing in difficulty (but not height) with each subsequent class. Two classes will be held on Saturday and one on Sunday.

SHOWJUMPING

Horse and rider are required to jump a course of fences according to their ability.

Ages taken as at the first day of competition.

Under 13 Years          

B Grade and above– all nominations accepted

C Grade – all nominations accepted

D Grade – acceptance of nominations up until a total number of entries in this age group reaches 60

            13 and under 15 years           

A Grade or Championship Grade – all nominations accepted

B Grade – all nominations accepted

C Grade – acceptance of nominations up until a total number of entries in this age group reaches 60

            15 and under 17 years

A Grade or Championship Grade – all nominations accepted

B Grade – all nominations accepted

C Grade – acceptance of nominations up until a total number of entries in this age group reaches 60

            17 and under 26 years

A or Championship Grade – all nominations accepted

B Grade – all nominations accepted

C Grade – acceptance of nominations up until a total number of entries in this age group reaches 60

POLOCROSSE

A team sport combining polo ad lacrosse. A team consists of six players, plus one reserve, divided into two sections of three who play 3-4 alternate quarters.

MOUNTED GAMES

A great fun and skilful team activity for all riders. This event involves teams of four riders plus a reserve competing in fun games as a team. 

GAMES & QUALIFYING TIMES

The following qualifying times apply for games to be held at the State Championships. Team must meet the qualifying time in at least five events. Events and times are to be recorded on the entry form for each team. Please refer to the event schedule as some games change each year. 

For directions and equipment for each of these games please see the Mounted Games Rule Book available from the Association Office.

ONE DAY EVENT

Consisting of three sections – dressage, showjumping and cross country jumping. It is designed to test the courage, determination and all-round ability of the rider, as well as the training and conditioning of the horse.

INDIVIDUAL COMPETITION

Individual awards to 10th placing. Where there is a tie (after countback) the ribbon recipient will be decided by the flip of a coin, except for tenth place in which case extra ribbons will be provided.

DRESSAGE TESTS

CROSS COUNTRY SPEED

Time for completing the course is calculated at:

Time Limit is twice the time allowed. Periods during which a competitor has been held up by a Jump Judge or Official, will be deducted from the actual time taken, to determine the correct time for completing the course. All jump judges will carry an accurate stopwatch for this purpose. Cross-country courses will be open for inspection to all interested persons at a time to be announced.

OPTIMUM TIME

Riders 17 years and under 25 years do not ride to optimum time. Riders under 17 years will ride to optimum time (time allowed plus nothing less 20 seconds) before a time penalty is incurred. An award for closest to optimum time on the cross-country will be awarded in each group to the rider with a clear cross country round who is closest to the optimum time.

SHOWJUMPING PHASE

COMBINED TRAINING

Consisting of two sections – dressage and showjumping. It is designed to test the courage, determination and all-round ability of the rider, as well as the training and conditioning of the horse.

DRESSAGE TESTS           

SHOWJUMPING PHASE

SHOW RIDING

An event where horse and rider demonstrate their skills on the flat. The horse is judged on confirmation, paces and manners, whilst riders are judges on their riding ability.

AGE GROUPS: Ages taken as at the first day of competition.

Under 9 years

9 & Under 11 years

11 & Under 13 years

13 & Under 15 years

15 & Under 17 years

17 & Under 25 years

STATE CAMP

The Pony Club NSW State Camp brings together the top 75 riders in the disciplines of Dressage, Showjumping, Eventing, Mounted Games, Formal Gymkhana and Tetrathlon. The camp is held in January every year from Sunday to Friday at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre (SIEC). Riders receive instruction from top Instructors and lectures from horse industry professionals.

Camp starts on Sunday where all riders meet and settle in. Instruction takes place from Monday to Thursday and riders depart on Friday morning. Evenings include lectures from well-known personalities in the horse world, veterinary surgeons and other fun activities. State Camp is not only about receiving the best instruction for you and your horse it is also about making great friendships which can last a lifetime. Your horse will be well looked after by experts who give 24-hour supervision, you will stay in comfortable twin share cabins onsite at SIEC, and receive all meals. Horses are stabled and instruction takes place at SIEC which has covered stables, an indoor arena, various outdoor arenas and a training cross country course.

The Camp is open to Pony Club members who;

• Are financial members for the year of the State Camp with the Association through their Club before 31st December in the year prior.
• Will be aged 15 to 24 inclusive on the first day; (Excluding Mounted Games – riders aged 14 or 15 years as at the 1st of January.)
• Have passed their “C” certificate;
• Are of State Championship standard in their chosen discipline;
• Will be mounted on a suitable horse to maximise benefit from top instructors;
• Are recommended by their Club and have satisfactory attendance at Pony Club instructional rally days (must have attended at least 3 rally days in the preceding 12 months, copy of attendance card to be included);
• Are recommended by their Zone Chief Instructor as a worthy Pony Club member of sufficient standard;
• Have their horse microchipped.

Applicants must apply on the official application form which will be available on this website each year. The application form asks questions about your performances in Pony Club and outside competition, certificates achieved, previous instructional schools attended, experience with other horses etc. It is very important that the application form is filled in carefully and correctly, as this information will be used to select participants.

The selectors are also looking for Pony Club members who regularly attend their Club rallies, have performances at State Championships and also at Club and Zone level, have performed well in open competition and have been riding the particular horse for a substantial period of time. You must nominate on a particular horse and most details will pertain to that particular horse. Major requirements of State Camp applicants are enthusiasm, a desire to learn and improve and be willing to try your hardest.

Mounted Games Squad

Fifteen riders make up the squad and train once a month throughout the year in addition to putting on displays.

Ten riders are chosen at the State Mounted Games Championships or on specified Squad Selection dates to form the Squad.

Nominations are open to exceptional riders aged 12 years up to those riders turning 16 years during the year of competition and must hold a minimum ‘C’ certificate.