The Pony Club and Riding Clubs offer an excellent examination structure for riders with their own horses and ponies to measure their progress.  Isn't it a shame that Riding School customers who ride once a week do not have such a ladder to measure their achievements and give a direction to their lessons.  Some Riding Schools offer their own test system which, although quite good, does not mean very much when you move and change schools.

The Association of British Riding Schools offers a series of Equitation and Stable Management Tests especially for Riding School clients and of a national standard.

The first test, 'Test 0', is especially for nervous adult beginners and small children and can be taken on the lead rein just to get the person use to the test situation.  The tests progress logically, testing ability to mount, lead in hand, alter stirrups and girth, untack, tack up, bandage etc., as well as progressing through walk and halt in Test 1 to trotting in Test 2, cantering in Test 3 and riding without stirrups in Test 4 and so on - including jumping and dressage tests up to Test 1 0.  Each test costs a little more than an extra lesson and can be taken at your own Riding School on horses and ponies you are familiar with.

Your School must, of course, be approved by the Association of British Riding School for it to be eligible to run the Tests.  Ask your Riding Instructor about them.  The ABRS Office will be pleased to help any School which would like to start organising the Tests.  If a School is interested, but is not yet a member of the Association, then the Office will forward an application form for inspection with a view to approval.