DCI/ZA Panel
Below you can find the DCI/ZA Panel Booklet as well as flyers and forms to upcoming events.
What is the DCI/ZA Panel?
The DCI/ZA Panel runs alongside and in consultation with the Zone Committee (Executive plus Delegates) to run the Zone.
The Panel helps with supporting clubs to navigate any Pony Club administration and the delivery of the PCA Syllabus.
We are also available to assist in tasks undertaken by club committees, such as:
- • running rallies
- • the provision of coaching
- • grading for competitions
- • teaching horsemastership
- • getting officials for comps
- • helping their members through the all-important graduated certificate level assessments. These activities are all supported by your friendly members on the NMZ DCI/ZA Panel.
Other roles include supporting the Zone by implementing PCV’s training and assessment of coaches, dressage judges and gear checkers. As well as the preparation and assessment of higher-level certificate candidates, and on occasions the running of Zone activities such as competitions, clinics and camps.
DC’s, Rally Planners and Club Chief Instructors (in fact any club official) are free to contact members of the Panel for help in these areas.
Please find in the following pages an introduction to all the members of our DCI/ZA Panel members with their contact details, so you can feel comfortable about approaching them anytime for help.
DCI/ZA Members
Name: Rachael Edwards
Role on the panel: Chief Instructor
Location/suburb: Seville, Victoria
Clubs involved with: Regular clubs include : Seville, Kangaroo Ground, Donvale/Templestowe, Mountain District
Main areas of interests in pony club: Proficiency Certificates, Poles, Grid work, Show Jumping, Dressage, Cross Country, Competition Riding, Quiz, Musical Ride/Formation Riding, Creating fun activities for riders in Pony Clubs
Pony Club discipline knowledge: All activities
Certificate Assessor Status: E D D* C C* K B
Coaching Accreditation: PCA Level 1, PCA State Assessor, EA Level 1 General Coach, Cert IV Sports Coach (Equestrian), Cert IV Training & Assessment; PCA – Gear Checker Accreditation
Favourite quote for horsemastership: “No one can teach riding so well as a horse.” – C.S. Lewis
Phone: 0417 033 198
Name: Rob Welch
Role on the panel: Involved in coordinating the club visits, former CI of the zone
Location/suburb: Yarra Valley
Clubs involved with: Donvale, Mt Evelyn
Main areas of interests in pony club: All round interest within the pony club movement
Pony Club discipline knowledge: Mainly Showjumping/Eventing. But can coach in most things required at rally
Certificate Assessor Status: Have not done assessing for some years, used to assess C certificate
Coaching Accreditation: Current level 1 NCAS Pony Club
Favourite quote for horsemastership: “Perfect practise makes perfect”
Phone: 0437 510 420
Name: Lauren Howes
Role on the panel: Zone Assistant and Zone Examining Secretary
Location/suburb: Wandin North
Clubs involved with: I attended Mooroolbark Pony Club as a rider from aged 5 to 26.
Main areas of interests in pony club: Supporting the pony club movement so current and future riders can enjoy all the opportunities, friendship and love for horses in the hope they all have the joyful memories of pony club that I have.
Pony Club discipline knowledge: Dressage, Eventing and Groundwork. As a pony club rider I regularly rode in mounted games, polocrosse and hunting and I really enjoy my trial rides.
Certificate Assessor Status: I assess C Certificate and have completed up to my K Certificate.
Favourite quote for Horsemastership: “Everyone hopes to have that one special horse who is their one in a million.” I am lucky enough to have had that horse for the past 18years, through a large part of my pony club years and he is still out in my paddock.
Phone: 0407 798 235
Name: Erin Remilton (Phillips)
Role on the panel: Zone Assistant
Location/suburb: Wandin North
Clubs involved with: I attended Wyena PC as a rider from aged 13 to 26 and I am a life member. I am mainly involved with Mount Evelyn PC.
Main areas of interests in pony club: To foster the love for horses and to strengthen the bond between horse and rider. To see partnerships form between horse and rider. Also teaching jumping and games.
Pony Club discipline knowledge: Showjumping, Dressage, Groundwork, Mounted Games and Eventing. As a pony club rider, I regularly rode in almost everything Pony Club had to offer.
Certificate Assessor Status: C Certificate, C*, E, D, D*
Coaching Accreditation: EA Introductory Coach
Favourite quote for Horsemastership: “…for there is no other feeling in the world to compare with it, if one loves a great horse. It gives a thrill that nothing else ever can. It cannot be put into words, because words cannot express it.”
Phone: 0432 061 033
Name: Kim Ward
Role on the panel: Zone Assistant
Location/Suburb: Yarra Glen
Clubs involved with/clubs attended: I started riding at Wyena Pony Club when I was aged 7 and transferred to Lilydale Pony Club at the age of 12. Later my daughter became a member of Yarra Glen & District Pony Club. I held the role of Secretary (4 years), District Commissioner (6 years) and President (1 year) and was awarded Life Membership by the Club in 2019. I am currently involved with the Riders Without Horses Program at North Eastern Horse and Pony Club as an Instructor.
Main areas of interest in Pony Club: Is to engage members into a social, fun, club environment where they can learn to ride and take care and be safe around their horses with like-minded people whilst feeling part of the horsey community. I also enjoy instructing the younger age groups by playing lots of riding games while preparing them for their certificate work by playing fun, interactive Quiz games. Having many years’ experience as a DC, I am happy to assist DC’s with Rally Planning etc.
Pony Club discipline knowledge: Pony Club Quiz is my specialised discipline. It is new here in Australia but slowly gaining recognition as a fun and inclusive way of getting to know other Pony Club members as well as learning all about horses. Quiz involves fun games (Charades, Headbands and Pictionary), horsey trivia such as famous Equestrian Olympians, books, movies, and songs along with puzzles and famous horses, etc, etc. I have been Team Manager/Coach at both National and International levels.
Ride to Time is also my specialised discipline. I run the Ride to Time Series in our Zone which also involves a lot of fun by giving riders the opportunity to ride on a racetrack in a supervised, contained environment. It teaches them how to ride at a given pace and judge how fast their horse is travelling.
Coaching Accreditation: PCA NCAS Preliminary Instructor
Favourite quote for horsemastership: “Fail to Prepare = Prepare to Fail”
Phone: 0419 349 411
Name: Kate Rigby
Role on the panel: Zone Assistant
Clubs involved with: North Eastern, Wyena, Donvale & Templestowe, and Kangaroo Ground.
Main areas of interest in Pony Club: Mounted Games, Tetralthon, Dressage, Country and Show jumping
Pony Club discipline knowledge: Mounted Games, Tetralthon, Dressage, Country and Show jumping
Certificate Assessor Status: D*D C C* certificate assessor
Coaching Accreditation: British Horse Society Intermediate Instructor, PCA Level 1 Coach.
Favourite quote for horsemastership: “If your horse says “no”, you either asked the wrong question, or asked the question wrong.” – Pat Parelli
Phone: 0423 060 782
Name: Gill Gascoigne
Role on the panel: Zone Assistant
Location/Suburb: Kangaroo Ground
Clubs involved with: Kangaroo Ground PC, St Andrews Horse and PC. Kangaroo Ground Adult Riders Club
Main areas of interest in Pony Club: Confidence building of horse and rider. Teaching at clinics especially for the younger riders. Following the syllabus and preparing students for PC certificates. Introducing Equitation Science
Pony Club discipline knowledge: Training using positive reinforcement (clicker training). Groundwork, Dressage, Working Equitation and trail riding.
Certificate Assessor Status: E, D, D*, C, C*
Coaching Accreditation: PC Level 1; PCA – Gear Checker Accreditation
Favourite quote for horsemastership: “ If the horse is not doing exactly what you want, it will be because he does not know what you want.” – Franz Maringer
Name: Lisa Morrison
Role on the panel: Secretary
Location/Suburb: St Andrews
Clubs involved with: currently taking a break from teaching but in the past taught at Eltham, St. Andrews, Yarrambat, Hurstbridge
Main areas of interest in Pony Club: Show jumping and Cross Country
Pony Club discipline knowledge: Dressage, Eventing, Show Jumping
Certificate Assessor Status: E, D, D*, C, C*
Coaching Accreditation: Level 1 EA, PC Dressage Judge grades 5-3
Favourite quote for horsemastership: “Everything is just an obstacle you have to navigate.”
Phone: 0421 522 162
Name: Jackie Wright
Role on the panel: Zone Assistant
Location/Suburb: Wandin North
Clubs involved with: Lilydale Mooroolbark PC. I started at Mooroolbark PC. I have represented our zone at several State and National events.
Main areas of interest in Pony Club: Eventing, Tetrathlon and Show Jumping. I also enjoy coaching teams and helping riders work together.
Pony Club discipline knowledge: Tetrathlon, Eventing and Show Jumping
Certificate Assessor Status: D, D* and E
Favourite quote for horsemastership: “Horses lend us the wings we lack.”
Name: Kylie Parker
Role on the panel: Zone Deputy Chief Instructor
Location/Suburb: Eden Park
Clubs involved with: Kangaroo Ground PC.
Main areas of interest in Pony Club: Eventing, and all aspects of pony club. I also enjoy coaching young eventers, and helping riders gain confidence.
Pony Club discipline knowledge: Dressage, Show Jumping, Cross Country – Eventing, and Games
Coaching Accreditation: Current level 1 NCAS Pony Club;
PCA – Gear Checker Accreditation
Certificate Assessor Status: C Certificate
Clubs I have visited in my ZA role: I visit lots of clubs for Brenda Mitton Junior Eventing Clinics
Favourite quote for horsemastership: ““Horse lovers are stable people”
Other Members
Michelle Fox – ZA
Beth McCann – (former NMZ ZR)