Level 5 Test

Suggested minimum age: 13

Objective

  • To become an educated and practical rider
  • To ride over fences at all paces
  • To gain practical experience and knowledge of the care of a stabled pony / horse
  • To be capable of riding a well-mannered pony or horse in all activities
  • To ride intelligently and with due regard for others and with a knowledge of pace, distance and discipline when riding alone and in groups

Riding

  • Working towards a supple, balanced position on the flat and over fences
  • Comment on the suppleness of your own horse
  • Discuss horses’ response to the aids and any loss of balance
  • Apply aids correctly for increase and decrease of pace, turns and circles
  • Turns on the forehand from the halt
  • Stand still, salute
  • Free walk on a long rein or with a loose rein
  • Change of leg at canter through trot and talk about balance of the horse
  • Know the aids for and show leg yielding at walk
  • Ride with reins in one hand
  • Ride up and down steep hills and banks
  • Jump a variety of fences show jumping and cross country
  • Jump up and down hill
  • Identify which fence was jumped the best and why
  • Jump doubles
  • Understand the reasons for the equipment the horse or pony is wearing
  • Discuss the advantages of a correct position
  • Name the scales of training
  • Discuss whether the horse or pony is working forwards in a suitable rhythm and tempo
  • Understand the meaning of suppleness in a horse or pony
  • Know the sequence of legs at all paces

Pony/horse care

  • Practical care and working of a pony/horse
  • Knowledge of the care, feed and work of a stabled pony/horse
  • Know principles of watering and feeding
  • Have knowledge of the different items of forage (feed)
  • Understand the importance of roughage
  • Recognise when to feed hay
  • Know the articles of grooming kit and be able to use them effectively
  • Know the structure of the horse’s foot as shown in the manual
  • Know the names of the farrier’s tools
  • Be able to name external parts of the foot
  • Be able to fit a saddle and bridle
  • Bits and their uses
  • Prepare a horse for travel
  • Load and unload safely
  • Put on a stable bandage
  • Know when a horse is lame
  • Identify signs of illness
  • Know the symptoms and reason for poor condition
  • Know when to call the vet
  • Be able to care for a wound until vet arrives
Rocking M Stables