Practical Horsemanship Test

For horses and ponies 2 years old and over. To be lead in a head-collar and long rope or lunge rein or in a bridle but the rope or lunge rein must be either attached to the noseband or to a coupling and used with snaffles and caverson nosebands only. Marks will be awarded for horse and handler working harmoniously and calmly together. Horse can be led from either side for the sake of safety and convenience when changing rein- or can remain to the right of handler if preferred. A stick may be carried but must not be used to force or coerce horse into cooperation. (A schooling stick with a flag on the end is a useful schooling device).

	NUMBER		SCORE
	NAME AND AGE OF RIDER IF 18 OR UNDER		%
	NAME AND AGE OF HORSE		PLACING
	JUDGED BY:
	TIPS AND ADVICE BY:
	MOVEMENTS	Max Mark	JUDGES SCORE	COMMENTS
1	Enter at A with horse walking on the centre line and to the right of handler. X halt and salute- horse must lower head for 2 or 3 seconds.	10
2	C track right in walk	10
3	B halt- immobility 2 seconds then commence half turn on the forehand (head left quarters right) proceed in walk to M	10
4	M half circle left 10m to centre line- show 3 straight strides on centre line then commence half circle right 10m to H- walk to C	10
5	Between C and M trot to F	10
6	Between F and A walk to K.	10
7	K X M change rein- walk to C	10
8	Between C and H trot to K- K walk	10
9	A halt- immobility 4 seconds- proceed in walk to B	10
10	B halt – immobility 2 seconds then commence half turn on the forehand (head right- quarters left- proceed in walk to A	10
11	A walk down centre line to X – X halt salute – horse to lower head for 2 or 3 seconds-leave arena where convenient	10
12	Horse and handler working in harmony (horse maintaining consistent distance in all movements, respect for handler, smoothness and clarity of  horse's movements in response to handlers aids)	20
13	Willingness, manners and understanding of horse (willingness to maintain in ‘own space’ willingness to respond to aids given, attitude and ‘facial/bodily expression’)	20
14	Handler’s ability to give clear and understandable aids- confidence of handler and confidence of horse.	20
15	Total score	170
	Tips and advice:
SCORING EXPLAINED; 0=Not performed. 1=Very bad. 2=Fairly bad. 3=bad. 4=Insufficient. 5=Sufficient 6=Satisfactory. 7= Fairly good. 8= Good. 9=Very good. 10= Excellent.