HEAD COACH ROLE

Kelly Heckler - Head coach for the 2026 / 2027 Pony Club season

The head coach plans and runs rallies. Their role is to support riders and coaches, rather than necessarily always coaching themslef. Below is a break down of the head coach role:

Rallies and support

Set the calendar of rallies for the season, and plan and ensure the smooth and safe running of rallies

Support coaches in their work with riders.

Support riders to safely and happily enjoy what they are doing on their ponies. Ensure that all riders have equal opportunity to participate in rallies and put themselves forward for certificate exams and branch team events. During the season we try to give members exposure to a variety of equine disciplines.

Support families in their Pony Club journey

Track progress of riders to ensure learning towards certificate work in riding and horse management is on-going and clearly recorded. The head coach is available to discuss your rider's progress with certificate work and at rallies.

Facilitate the sitting of certificate exams. Dates for exams are earmarked at the beginning of the season, but are dependent on examiner availability so will be at the nearest available date. The head coach will discuss preparing for exams with riders and their parents when all certificate learning is complete.

As riders work towards certificates it is important they have an NZPCA manual to refer to. Manual 1 covers D, D+ and C certificates. Manual 2 covers C+ and beyond. These are available to order from the NZPCA website, EShop.

Branch teams

The head coach will share information about branch team events with all members.

If riders are interested, they will be asked to fill out an Expression of Interest form. This goes directly to our team selectors (not head coach) who are responsible for selecting Clyde teams in all disciplines.