Certificates are so Important.
They are the icing on the cake. Your horses deserve best practice. It is vital you learn how to be not only a rider but a horseman or woman. Develop sound horsemanship skills and knowledge of your horses well being and safety using your manual.

Your Branches will be following the NZPCA curriculum. The rallies they hold will be a mixture of all things pony Club.
But that does not mean you will have to do certificates or that the coaches will be reading from the manual.

Instructors may have days where they plan for theory. Others will concentrate on your riding skills and plan lessons around you and your mount. Some do both.

Each instructor has their own particular style.
Your head coach should be keeping an eye on how your cards and lessons are progressing. And for that reason their may be a need to bring a clinic forward or run a theory day for riders wanting to prepare for a particulear certificate.

Its a two way street between instructors and riders and the good management of the head coach.

Your can ask to see your certificate at anytime. And remember the learning is primarlily with you for your theory.