The Pet N Sur Pony Club Academy is a leadership programme offering three practical and flexible learning pathways: Coaching, Performance, and Sports Management – all designed to grow your equestrian knowledge and skills.

It’s flexible, self-paced, and full of activities.

Whether you’re looking to increase your confidence, develop your coaching, improve your riding performance, or learn how to run events and clubs, this programme will support your goals with both practical training and theory.

​​​​​​​This is our second intake, and while the programme is still evolving, your experience and feedback will help shape it for the future. We're committed to learning and growing together to create the best possible opportunity for all involved.

The Academy comprises of 3 pillars, each focusing on a different stream of subjects, with everyone choosing an Independent Study Project.  In the Independent Coaching Study Project, you will create your end-to-end pathway.  It consists of a series of self-paced activities designed for you to review and provide reflection and commentary on, with specific outcomes.

The three pillars are:

• Sports Management: Learning about equestrian sports' administrative and organisational aspects.
• Performance: Focusing on improving yourselves, learning skills and achieving better performance.
• Coaching: Exploring opportunities to grow an equestrian coach.

You can access the learning materials through the online Sporttutor Learning Management System (LMS).   

Go to https://sporttutor.nz/nzpca

Once you've submitted your application through Nominate and requested access through SportTutor LMS, you’ll be granted access to the full course.

• Sign up online through the link provided.
• Work through modules at your own pace.
• Each module has practical activities, videos, and worksheets.
• You can complete it on your own, with friends, or in a group.

• Access to Academy Support Webinars where you can ask questions and get guidance.
• Join a study group or share a mentor.
• Resources and ideas to help you complete each section.
• Encouragement from other members doing the Academy at the same time.

The Academy usually takes around 6 months to complete, and the content sits at about NZQA Level 4. Everyone’s situation is different – some may finish sooner, while others need more time. To help keep you on track, we encourage you to aim for completion within 12 months. You still have up to 5 years if needed, giving you plenty of flexibility on your learning journey.

Yes, where the Academy content overlaps with the NZPCA syllabus, this can be signed off by NZPCA-approved individuals, following the rules and requirements for NZPCA certificates.

NZPCA is working with the ITO to put NZQA credits in place for the future. These won’t be available for this intake, but the process is underway, and it’s an exciting step as we continue to grow and strengthen the programme. Thank you for being part of this journey.​​​​​​​

You need a mentor for both your life journey and this course (can be the same person or two different people).

Mentors Role:

• Keep you accountable to your plan.

• Support both long-term strategy and daily actions.

• Ensure the right things happen at the right time, speed, and quality.

• Challenge you and not accept excuses.

💡 The Mentors module will guide you step-by-step in finding the right mentor.  We recommend you complete this module first.

Yes, there will be compulsory webinars or a camp/hui.

You have flexibility. Depending on your preference and schedule, you can study every week or opt for a block of study.

You can present your work in the way that best suits your learning style – there’s no one “right” way. We encourage you to step outside your comfort zone, try different methods, and challenge yourself to grow.

Here are some ideas based on different learning styles:

Visual Learners
Create infographics, posters, diagrams, or slideshows with images and graphics.

Auditory Learners
Record a podcast, give an oral presentation, or join a discussion or debate.

Kinaesthetic / Tactile Learners
Build models, show your learning through hands-on tasks, or run interactive activities.

Reading / Writing Learners
Write an essay, report, or manual, or summarise your learning in a written format.

Multimodal Learners
Mix and match! Combine visuals, speech, text, or even create a website or digital project.

The goal is to express your learning in a way that’s meaningful to you – and shows what you’ve understood and achieved.

Yes, you’re welcome to study with others – in fact, we encourage it!

Learning together can make the journey more enjoyable and motivating. You can:

• Form a small study group with fellow participants.

• Share ideas, tips, and resources.

• Keep each other accountable and celebrate progress.

• Meet online or in person, depending on what works best for your group.

Working together not only enriches your learning but also builds lasting connections and support along the way.  NZPCA are happy to assist in linking particpants and working with study groups.

You can go at your own pace, but we'll also provide support and reminders to keep you on track if needed.

Recommended Resources for Your Journey

As part of your registration, you’ll receive a valuable book recommendation: "Unleashing Greatness" by David Galbraith – a great resource for personal and performance development.

We also recommend having:

• All three Pony Club Manuals
• NZPCA Coaches Resource Manual (if you're doing the Coaching Pillar)
  
• Enrolment in the Equestrian Coaches Training Programme (ECTP) for coaching development

​​​​​​​Additional resources will be suggested from our Pony Club e-shop, and all participants will have access to a shared resource library to support their learning.