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Speed to Safety - an initiative of

Racing and Wagering WA

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Contacts

Careers in Racing Contacts

Racing and Wagering WA 70 Grandstand Rd, Ascot, WA 6104 PO Box 222, Belmont, WA 6984 Manager Racing Industry Training

Ron Fleming (08) 9445 5124 ron.fleming@rwwa.com.au

PCAWA Contacts

Pony Club Association of Western Australia 303 Cathedral Avenue, Brigadoon, WA 6069 Tel: (08) 9296 1500 PCAWA Development Officer Emma Lawrie development@pcawa.com

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Contents Contacts ...................................................................................................................................................................... 2

About The Speed to Safety Program .......................................................................................................................... 4

Purpose .................................................................................................................................................................. 4

Aims and Objectives ............................................................................................................................................... 4

Program Outline ......................................................................................................................................................... 5

2017 Timelines ........................................................................................................................................................... 6

Scoring ........................................................................................................................................................................ 7

Clubs ........................................................................................................................................................................... 6

Zones .......................................................................................................................................................................... 7

Qualifiers .................................................................................................................................................................... 8

Forms .......................................................................................................................................................................... 9

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About The Speed to Safety Program

Speed to Safety is an educational riding program where riders are coached to ride to their graded cross country

times in the safe environment and surface of a race course. Each training day also doubles as a qualifier whereby

each rider has the chance to qualify to ride in the final held on race day at a metropolitan racecourse.

Purpose Safety is paramount within Pony Club and dominates the procedures for any activity and safety is the key

motivator behind the Speed to Safety campaign.

Riding to a given speed has been recognised as an issue to be addressed within the Pony Club Association Western

Australia, particularly for those riders participating in Eventing whilst riding the Cross Country phase. Safety

considerations for both horse and rider and the ability to control a mount, are fundamental values within the

teaching foundation of Pony Club. The aims and objectives of the PCAWA state very clearly that every attempt

will be provided to riders, to not only receive a high standard of instruction but also be encouraged to experience

all elements of the equestrian world. The Speed to Safety concept offers an experienced, professional level of

training with the dedicated assistance of the Careers in Racing team and also highlights to the riders, career

opportunities within the racing industry.

Speed to Safety is more than a fun day at the races - it is an opportunity to reward an education process. A

generation of riders will grasp the significance and importance of control and safety whilst introducing broader

opportunities that await them within the equine and racing industries. It is also an opportunity to merge the

knowledgeable and experienced individuals of the racing industry with the enthusiasm and determination of our

youth.

Aims and Objectives To further develop the PCAWA Club Riders’ knowledge of the concept of riding to a predetermined speed, which

will serve to help when participating in speed orientated events such as Cross Country or Mounted Games.

To provide the catalyst for a safer riding environment for horse, rider and spectator by teaching the demands for

building a relationship between horse and rider that ultimately gives the acknowledgment of a required pace for

a particularly given time.

Through the provision of an understanding for speed and time relationships, riders will develop a rapport with

their horse. Consequently, they will more consistently be able to control the horse in varied situations whist having

the opportunity to ride in track pads and learn track riding skills and techniques. These new techniques can be

transferred to a number of different equestrian riding situations.

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Program Outline

Much like other Pony Club WA Sports, Speed to Safety is organised at a club level throughout the year with Zone

qualifier and State Championships to finish the year.

At each event, riders are timed individually, riding over 1000m to the approximate time they are graded for

PCAWA cross country. Riders do not need to be competing in eventing to take part in the Speed to Safety program

but must be competent and comfortable to travel at the required speeds without assistance.

There are two levels of competition depending on the grade at which the rider is competing/comfortable.

120’s - PC45, PC65 & PC80 must ride 1000m @ 500m per minute (120 seconds)

109’s - PC95, PC105 & PC1* must ride 1000m @ 550m per minute (109 seconds)

Each rider must be signed off by their club Secretary and Chief Coach as competent prior to attending training

days or Zone Qualifiers.

Clubs may run training days through the year at any time by contacting the Careers in Racing team, these training

days can be conducted at suitable club grounds, local race tracks or Lark Hill Training Facility. Minimum attendance

of 6 riders are required to run a training day.

Riders must hold their C Certificate and should attend two or more training days before attending Zone Qualifiers.

Zone Qualifiers are organised at a Zone Level, however if this is not possible, zones may request clubs to ‘host’

their Zone qualifiers. This is to ensure riders of all clubs within the Zone have the chance to compete. If a rider

cannot make a training day in their own zone, they may ride at another zone qualifier with the permission of that

zones committee. This also applies if a zone decides not to run their own qualifiers and agrees with another zone

to send their riders to their qualifiers. Visiting riders recorded time will be counted against riders in their home

zone, not the zone of the training day they have visited.

Riders may also attend other zones training days to practise with the permission of the other zones committee.

The outcome of Zone Qualifiers is to record the two best times in both the 109 and 120 classes. These riders will

then be eligible to compete in the State Championships at a Metropolitan Race Meet where they have the

opportunity to ride on the course proper on race day. (Only 2 representatives from each zone will automatically

qualify, however up to 6 Wild Card entries may be selected when final entry numbers are in)

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2017 Timelines

Responsible Party

Event Time Frame Info

Clubs/Zones & RWWA

Training Clinics January 2017 – July 2017

Local race track or Lark Hill Training Course

Zones & RWWA

Host Zone Qualifier June 2017 – September 2017

Local race track or Lark Hill Training Course

PCAWA & RWWA

Speed to Safety Championship

October/November 2017

Ascot Racecourse

Clubs How do Clubs organise a have-a-go day?

1. Liaise with the Careers in Racing Team as to the best dates available.

2. Careers in Racing Team will either organise the mechanical horses to attend the club day or organise the club to attend a local race of training track.

What happens at a have-a-go day?

1. Riders will be given instruction on the rules of the sport, emergency procedures etc.

2. If it is the first have-a-go day and a mechanical horse is available, each rider will receive instruction on position, rein holds and counting times.

3. If it is the first qualifier a demonstration will be given on how to saddle up track pads correctly and saddling will commence

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Zones

As per all Pony Club WA Championships, Zones will be responsible for organising Zone Qualifiers.

Riders will apply to attend and a maximum of two riders per zone will invited to ride at the final.

How do Zones organise a qualifier?

1. Liaise with Zone, Clubs and Careers in Racing team and event organisers as to when the best

dates are available to run training days/qualifiers.

2. Careers in Racing will liaise with preferred local race club to arrange their participation in the

program

3. Contact PCAWA to lock in proposed dates and add to Speed to Safety calendar on PCAWA

website.

4. Contact Careers in Racing to lock in training days. Please note that Careers in Racing has limited

availability and early booking is essential to avoid disappointment.

5. Distribute the qualifier information to every club member and representative within the zone so

nobody is excluded. Ensure there is an RSVP closing date to give a guide to numbers.

6. Meet with race club prior to event to confirm operational requirements for the conduct of the

event.

7. 3 days before the training day/qualifier call the race club and Careers in Racing to confirm

attendance. If numbers are low, also call participants. There is no minimum number to run a

qualifier with. This is at the discretion of the organizer and coach on the day.

Scoring

Qualifying for the final is based on a points system as follows:

10 Points – to rider closest to the time

7 Points – Next closest

5 Points

3 Points

1 Point

The rider from each class with the most points accumulated at the Zone Qualifier qualifies to ride in the

final.

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Qualifiers 1. Everyone gathers at the racecourse at the arranged time.

2. A briefing will be given to participants on the day’s activities including:

a. OH&S procedures;

b. Track rules (including where the 1000m mark, finish line and other markers are located);

c. What to do in an emergency (e.g. the horse/pony becomes too strong or the rider is dislodged);

3. If it is the first qualifier and a mechanical horse is available, each rider will receive instruction on position,

rein holds and counting times.

4. If it is the first qualifier a demonstration will be given on how to saddle up track pads correctly and saddling

will commence

5. Gear check of horse and rider - more information in the Pony Club WA Gear Checking Manual.

6. If riding in track pads a demonstration will be given on how to do this correctly, prior to riding on the track

7. Proceed to mount and move onto track.

8. Commence with a warm up of the track. This is usually one lap half in trot and half in a slow canter or

trotting around to the 1000m mark. Ensure riders are familiar with where the 1000m mark and finish line

are as this is where they will be timed from.

9. Decide on running order. This does not have to be any order in particular. It can be whichever order the

riders are comfortable going in or can be done in grades.

10. Ensure riders are clear on their graded times and where their times start and finish from on the track

before they set off and that the first riders have beepers.

11. Allow time for up to 2 or 3 rounds for each rider. 2 practise rounds and 1 qualifying round. If numbers are

low more practise rounds can be done depending on the fitness of the horses.

12. Record each round and give feedback on position, riding style, technique, split times, the horse’s

behaviour, overall time etc.

13. Record qualifying time.

14. Work out placings and inform riders on the day who has achieved the points

15. Some zones organise an evening function and presentation for Speed to Safety final qualifying place

announcements, ribbon presentation etc. Whether or not final riders who have qualified for finals are

announced on the day of the last qualifier is at the discretion of the zone and what they have in place.

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Forms

1. Pony Club WA Speed to Safety Event Entry Form

2. Careers in Racing Disclaimer Form

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SPEED TO SAFETY

More than just a fun day at the races

Organising Club or Zone:

Date:

Speed to Safety Training Day Open to all PCAWA Riding members 12 years and over, who have achieved their C certificate, the Speed to Safety is an educational riding program where riders are coached to ride to their graded cross country times in the safe environment and surface of a race course.

Riders begin with receiving instruction on position, rein holds and counting times using the mechanical horse. After warm up, riders are individually timed, riding over 1000m to the approximate time they are graded for PCAWA cross country i.e.: Those riding:

PC 45, 65 & 80 must ride 1000m @ 500m per minute (120 seconds)

PC95, 105 & one* must ride 1000m @ 550m per minute (109 seconds) Each rider must ride at a minimum of one qualifier to be eligible for the finals.

Open to all PCAWA Members from all Clubs and Zones Entries close: ____________________

Rider Name Date of Birth

Club

Date C Cert Achieved

Horse Name

Horse Age

Eventing Grade currently competing

Emergency Contact Name

Phone

Email

Please indicate your preference ☐ AM Session ☐ PM Session

I, as chief coach of _______________________________, do hereby declare that the above named horse and

rider combination is COMPETENT in their ability to complete the Speed to Safety Training Session. We also

declare that a signed disclaimer is held by the club for the riders listed on this form.

Club Chief Coach Club President/Secretary

Name Name

Signature Signature

Please return this form to:

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Speed to Safety

Release and Waver of Liability

Name

Address

Pony Club

Age

Pony Club Certificate Held (eg C)

Parent or Guardian Name

Parent Contact Phone Number

Release and Waiver of Liability

Horse Riding is a Dangerous Activity

I understand and acknowledge that horse sports are a dangerous activity and that horses can act in a sudden and unpredictable (changeable) way, especially if frightened or hurt.

I understand and acknowledge that serious INJURY or DEATH may result from horse sport activities and agree that I PARTICIPATE at my OWN RISK.

I agree not to take drugs that may affect my reactions before or whilst riding.

Effect of this Document

I understand that signing this document constitutes a complete and unconditional release of all liability the Racing and Wagering Western Australia and Pony Club of Western Australia including all of its state bodies, to the greatest extent allowed by law in the event of me and/or the children under my care, suffering injury or death.

Signed (parent or Guardian if under 18)

Date