JERSEY rider Hayley Waters has the distinction of being the only Islander to have passed the Pony Club’s A test within the past ten years and one of only six in the whole of Great Britain during the past 12 months.

The test is the ultimate achievement open to members and requires very high standards in all the disciplines of equestrianism.

Candidates have to lunge and then ride six horses, demonstrating their proficiency in dressage, show jumping and cross-country.

They also have to give an account of each horse’s performance and their suggestions for improvement. A range of tests of progressive difficulty can be taken by Pony Club members, but before embarking on the A test it is necessary to pass a theory test dealing with stable management and horse care.

Hayley (25) travelled to Talland Equestrian Centre to be assessed by UK examiners and was the only candidate on the day to pass.

She has been pursuing a career with horses since leaving school at 17, working and teaching at Caroline Ozanne’s yard at Les Ruettes, St Saviour. She is now a qualified BHS assistant instructor, having gained the British Horse Society stage three and preliminary teaching qualifications, which required her to give 500 hours of instruction.
Some of these were spent teaching younger Pony Club members at their rallies.

As the A test will give Hailey exemption from the BHS stage four test, the next step on her career ladder will take her to Huntley Equestrian Centre at the end of next month, where she plans to spend a year or more as a working student with her horse, Liatos.

She will be aiming for intermediate teaching and stable management qualifications and then finally, hopes to become a fully fledged instructor.

After that, who knows? Hayley would eventually like to return to Jersey but in the meantime would like to gain more experience on the mainland, possibly working at a show jumping yard. ‘It just depends what I’m offered,’ she said.

Hayley’s passion for horses stems from childhood, starting with a little skewbald pony called Cracker. ‘He was very naughty but he taught me a lot,’ she explained. After that she borrowed ponies from Le Claire Stables, including Maylord’s Reply who qualified and came fourth in the second round of the national newcomer’s showjumping competition, just missing out on qualification for the Horse of the Year Show.

Hayley admits that her career success is very much due to her mentor, Caroline. ‘Caroline, and her husband, Ian, have both given me a great deal of help and support since I joined them,’ said Hayley. ‘They have given me time off and assisted me with the test requirements. I am also grateful to Douglas and Louise Pryce who loaned me their horse, Coco, for practices.’

Although she will be sorry to lose Hayley, Caroline is justly proud of her achievements, adding that as far as she knows only ten other Islanders, apart from Hayley and herself, have passed the A test over the years. Despite this, Jersey is the Pony Club branch with the highest level of success.