Probably had the same examiner. She was downright rude to me at one point - and I’m not saying this as a fragile 18-year-old, more like me looking back as an adult and realizing she was just a terrible person.
1 Like
Not in the UK. Max age was increased, but only to 25.
Oh bummer!
For someone who never had the chance to do anything like pony club as a child, it has been fun to do it as an adult.
2 Likes
This isn’t the USPC I remember either.
Same. She had something against me from the moment I walked in. Every other examiner at that test was lovely, including the one who failed me on the flatwork, so this isn’t a sour grapes thing from a 16 year old.
Literally weeks after exceeding standards on lungeing at my H-A she threatened to fail me on lungeing within 60 seconds of walking the horse into the lungeing ring because I wasn’t perfectly stationary and pivoting on one foot. Every time I tried to explain my approach and why I felt the circumstances dictated I start slower for that horse on that day, she talked over me and chastised me for bringing a problem horse. That was the end of pony club for me. At the time I chalked it up to having outgrown pony club and needing the freedom to make my own way in the horse world. My dad had words with her attitude towards children before we left.
4 Likes
My experience was similar, and I don’t think it’s sour grapes. I totally understand and agree with why I didn’t pass some of the riding, but I never had any trouble with the knowledge sections. It started with my examiner questioning the temperature I had listed for my horse (99 degrees, which I had taken every day for a week) and saying, “Don’t you think that’s a little low?” I didn’t dare say, “Well, if you want the textbook answer, it’s 100.5 degrees.” That exchange just eroded my confidence and I couldn’t get it back again.
Oh, I am not saying there have not been experiences with pony club, as an adult, that make me scratch my head.
I am sorry for all the people who are stuck dealing with ‘that’ type of examiner.
1 Like
The only consolation I got (four or so years later) was my own trainer had done her A at the same time one of said examiner’s students was taking it. (Examiner was not administering the rating.) The student failed, and reportedly the examiner was enraged at the other examiners. Sucks to be her. 
1 Like
