Working Rallies
FULL DETAILS ARE ON PAGE 13 

  1. A working rally is one at which Coaching is given or received and which is open to all Members of the Branch or Club within the age range and/or Certificate level for which it is intended.
  2. Working rallies must be authorised by the Branch or Club Committee, will be held when required and must adhere to the following criteria:
    1. The minimum duration of a rally is 1 ½ hours of coaching. The Branch or Club committee will determine the length of a working rally at the beginning of each season/calendar year.
    2. Working rallies may be either mounted or unmounted; an unmounted working rally is usually for horse management.
    3. Team practices, team coaching sessions or private lessons do not qualify as working rallies.
    4. Health and Safety Plans as per GR 26.2 are complete
  3. Annual planning for working rallies should be prepared by the Head Branch Coach or Chief Club Coach (if a Club without branches) at the beginning of a season/calendar year in consultation with the Branch or Club coaches. Discussions should be communicated with Branch President/Club DC.
  4. Rally Attendance for Examinations and Competitions: The Riding Member must have attended a minimum number of working rallies in the twelve (12) months preceding the examination date or closing date for entries to inter Branch/Club, inter Area, National or significant events identified by Branch, Club and Areas.
    1. Riders with no certificate or who hold D, D+ or C certificate must attend a minimum of five (5) working rallies. Three (3) of these attendances must be the combination of rider and mount that are sitting the examination or entering the competition.
    2. Riders who hold C+ certificate (both riding and HM) must attend a minimum of four (4) working rallies. Two (2) of these attendances must be the combination of rider and mount that are sitting the examination or entering the competition.
    3. Riders who hold B (both riding and HM) or H or A certificates must attend a minimum of three (3) working rallies. One (1) of these attendances must be the combination of rider and mount that are sitting the examination or entering the competition.

  1. Pony Club Camps: A camp of up to three (3) days, that does not include coaching as per 15.2, will qualify for one (1) working rally, and a camp of four (4) days or more may qualify for two (2) working rallies. If rallies as per 15.2a and 15.2b are held within the camp, they may qualify as working rallies refer to 15.7d.
  2. Dispensation: In the case of a Pony Club Member who, for good reason, is unable to attend the requisite number of working rallies, the District Commissioner in consultation with the Branch Head Coach or the Club Chief Coach and the Area, Club or Branch President may waive the number of working rallies by only one.
    1. In the case of H & A Certificate examinations, dispensation must be stated on the application form.
  3. Attendance: Riding Members of a Branch or Club can count working rallies towards their required minimum number of working rallies providing they meet the following criteria:
    1. Riding Members may be marked present on one (1) mount at a working rally only if they are present for the duration of the entire rally;
    2. Riding Members taking more than one (1) mount to a rally must nominate the mount to be marked present and must ride it for the duration of a discipline section of the working rally;
    3. Two (2) working rallies can be held on the same day when the duration of each is a minimum of 1½ hours of coaching;
    4. Regardless of the number of mounts, a maximum of four (4) working rallies may count in any one (1) calendar month;
    5. Riding Members, who are away for reason of study or work from their Branch or Club (without Branches), may attend working rallies at a Branch near their study or work of temporary residence. A record of these attendances must be certified by that Branch Head Coach or Club Chief Coach, and made available to the Branch Head Coach or Club Chief Coach and the District Commissioner of the Member’s home Branch or Club upon request.
    6. Riding Members are able to attend other Branch or Club rallies with the prior approval of both their Head Coach and the Head Coach of the rally they plan to attend. A record of these attendances must be certified by that Branch Head Coach or Club Chief Coach, and made available to the Branch Head Coach or Club Chief Coach and the District Commissioner of the Member’s home Branch or Club upon request.


Any unruly persons or animals may be excluded for safety reasons, from the working rally or grounds during organised activities. All persons on the grounds must adhere to the NZPCA Code of Conduct. At rallies, the Branch Head Coach is responsible for ensuring that all combinations can safely be accommodated. At all other Pony Club events and activities, the most senior official will determine exclusion of any persons or animals for Health and Safety reasons.