The very popular Pony Club Achievement Badge awards, which boast over 30 badges for Members to attain, is gaining two further additions for 2009.

The first new badge has come as a result of The Pony Club (PC) working closely with The British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA), to give PC members the ability to assess both suitability and safety when using their tack, body protectors and hats; the badge is named 'Equipment Safety'.

The second badge, entitled 'Butterflies and Moths' aims to give Members and overview of the 60 species of butterflies and 2500 species of moths in Great Britain.

The 'Equipment Safety' badge will use a variety of methods, including games such as 'spot the current safety standard', to help Members understand when a piece of equipment may be unsuitable.

Key points in the syllabus include knowing what to look for in correctly fitting riding hats and body protectors, checking tack for safety aspects such as stitching in need of repair and correct stirrup size.

Details of the Equipment Safety badge are being rolled out by Tricia Nassau-Williams and Norma Smithson from BETA, during the Pony Club Annual Instructor Conferences throughout April.

Claire Williams, Executive Director and Secretary of BETA, commented that "This new badge represents a team effort between BETA and the Pony Club to help raise young riders' awareness of important safety issues.”

“It also compliments BETA's training of tack shop staff to fit riders' hats and body protectors and to offer reliable advice about saddlery; riders of all ages can tap into that knowledge when they shop with a BETA-trained retailer."

To attain the 'Moth and Butterflies' badge Pony Club Members will need to learn the difference between butterflies and moths, demonstrate knowledge of the life cycle of both and most relevant in the changing climate, how environmental processes may affect this.

As well as the more common moths such as the Hawk Moth, the badge also pays particular attention to the Cinnebar moth and its part in killing ragwort plants to further education of this important aspect of equine welfare.