RATINGS
 

It is the goal of all clubs to prepare as many members as possible to the C3 Level. Congratulations to our all upper level members for reaching such high standards. In the tradition of Pony Club, these upper level members "give back" to the club by teaching and being mentors for younger members.

HA
Fiona G

Traditional (Eventing) B
Haley D
Anna M
Laura K

Traditional (Eventing) C3
Carina B
Ashleigh G.
Chloe M
Georgia T
Sissy K
Kirsten H


How to plan for taking a Rating in 2008:

The club is responsible for hosting ratings from the D1-C2 level. The club will offer one rating at each level twice a year. Ratings given through the club cost $30 per member per rating. Ratings at the D and C1/C2 level must be coordinated through our club's ratings coordinator at least one month prior to the rating date. Visit the PVPC Calendar for the dates set aside for ratings. Ratings start with formal inspection and then move to flat work, followed by grids/jumping and for D3 level ratings and above, cross country. Horse management including record books are reviewed at the end of riding. Schedule a minimum of two hours for D1/D2 , four hours for a D3, and up to six hours for a C level rating.

The upper level ratings (C3, B, A) are all National Tests which are coordinated by the Mid-Cal Region. The Mid Cal website is an excellent source of reference for ratings http://midcal.ponyclub.org/ratings_information.htm If you are planning on taking an upper level rating, C3-A, it is important you inform our DC, Winston Thomas, and follow the announcements on the Mid-Cal Website. There are mandatory orientations, paperwork and deadlines that you will need to comply with. Two upper level prep clinics are being offered in 2008. The first will take place in Twin Rivers March 8th-9th. The second clinic will take place at the Horse Park at Woodside May 31st - June 1st. If you have any questions, please contact Mary Spangler at maryspangl@aol.com

 

D Ratings

The D ratings are an introduction to the fun and challenge of riding, establishing a foundation of safety habits and knowledge of the daily care of a mount and tack. The D1 through D3 Pony Club member learns to ride independently and with control, maintaining a reasonably secure position at the walk, trot and canter over low fences. All D ratings are awarded at the club level.

Viviane Schaller is the coordinator for the PVPC D ratings clairevivi@aol.com All new members must wait 30 days to take the D1 rating. At the D2 level and above, we ask that one of our mounted instructors recommend you for a rating. The club will also sponsor a "prep" for each rating within a month of the rating date. Only ratings D1/D2 may be combined (all others must be taken separately).

How to Prepare
Important reference materials are available on the USPC website at http://www.ponyclub.org/forms.php under forms under "D" for the D standards and test sheets and under "F" for flow charts. Members should use the Flow Chart to get signed off on all areas of the standard prior to taking a rating. You can work with either an instructor or with a C or higher rated member in the club. Practice "talking" and explaining your answers out loud to someone before the rating.

D Standards of Proficiency 2007
D Study Guide (Written Test)
D-1 Test Sheet 2007
D-2 Test Sheet
D-3 Test Sheet 2007
D1 - Guidelines for D-1 to C-2 Testing

Flowchart -- D1
Flowchart -- D2
Flowchart -- D3

General Guidelines for the D Ratings

  1. Ratings can be stressful, so don't be too hard on yourself. Remember that no one is perfect! A trainer once said. "if you want perfect, buy a bicycle!" You can only control your own preparation. You horse may not be aware that they need to be on good behavior that day. The D Ratings are meant to be good learning experiences.
  2. Proper attire for the D ratings is Pony Club Casual. You can read about the difference between proper formal, informal and casual attire in the D Manual. Pony Club Casual includes a PVPC polo shirt (tucked in) , pony club pin, belt, breeches, tall boots or half chaps, and ASTM (American Sciety for Testing and Materials) approved helmet bearing the letters SEI (Safety Equipment Institute). Hair should be neatly tied back and we recommend you use a hair net. Most candidates also wear gloves. Clothes must be clean and boots must be polished. D3 candidates will need cross country vests as well to ride in the open.
  3. Horse must be clean without stains or dirt. Feet must be picked out. Shoeing must be up to date. You horse should show regular care and grooming.
  4. Make sure your tack is really clean and all the stitching is intact. Have a C rated member look over your tack before the rating to make sure that it meets standard.
  5. Come to the Horse Park at least 30-45 minutes before the start of the rating to give you enough time to set up water and feed for your horse and do any last minute grooming. Bring water buckets, hay net and hay for your horse. Don't forget snacks and water for yourself!
  6. Each member taking a rating should have one parent present during the entire rating. Parents can help setting up jumps and support the ratings coordinator as needed.
  7. Bring $30 to give to the ratings coordinator. Checks made out to PVPC.
  8. For D 3 candidates only. The D3 rating is a big step beyond the D2. At the D3 level, you must keep a Health and Maintenance Record Book for at least 3 months. Also you need to know how to put on protective boots and bell boots and know the structures they protect. Finally you will to begin to learn to put on stable wraps. Pony Club still encourages home made stable wraps at the D3 level. Contact a C rated member to learn how to make them. Give yourself enough time to practice stable wraps. You will want to practice regularly for at least one month.

 

C Ratings

The C1 and C2 is a Pony Club member learning to become an active horseman , to care independently for pony and tack and to understand the reasons for what he or she is doing. The C1 and C2 show development towards a secure, independent seat and increasing control and confidence in all phases of riding.

CJ Kolb cjkolb@comcast.net and Anne O'Connell anneoconnell@earthlink.net are the C coordinators for the PVPC C ratings this year. One of our mounted instructors must recommend a member for a C rating. The club will also sponsor a "prep" for each rating within a month of the rating date. Important reference materials are available on the USPC website at http://www.ponyclub.org/forms.php under forms under "C" for the C1 and C2 standards . Members should use the Flow Chart to get signed off on all areas of the standard prior to taking a rating.

C Standards of Proficiency, C-1/C-2
C Study Guide
C-1 Flowchart
C-1 Test Sheet 2007
C-2 Flowchart
C-2 Test Sheet 2007

General Guidelines for the C Ratings

  1. C ratings can be very long and stressful. Remember to take good care of yourself by remembering to eat and drink and maintain a sense of humor! Depending upon the number of candidates, C ratings can sometimes take most of the day. Go over the test sheet many times before the rating to cover all details.
  2. The C ratings are formal ratings. Candidates must wear Pony Club Formal or Informal Attire. Pleases review and know ALL aspects of these different attires described in the D Manual. Candidates may bring club polo shirts to change into after their formal inspection for the jumping part of the rating.
  3. Your horse must be extremely clean without stains or any trace of dirt and well groomed. Feet must be picked out and should be polished. Shoeing must be up to date. Horses should be presented at their very best. Your formal inspection is your first and most important presentation to the rater. Make it a good one.
  4. Make sure your tack is really clean and all the stitching is intact. This means you should take everything apart, clean it, and polish all metal. Have a higher level rated member look over your tack before the rating to make sure that it meets standard.
  5. Come to the Horse Park at least 30-45 minutes before the start of the rating to give yourself enough time to set up water and feed for your horse and do any last minute grooming. Bring water buckets, hay net and hay for your horse. Don't forget snacks and water for yourself!
  6. Each member taking a rating should have one parent present during the entire rating. Parents can help setting up jumps and support the ratings coordinator as needed.
  7. Bring $30 to give to the ratings coordinator. Checks made out to PVPC.
  8. The Record Book becomes more important in the C Ratings. Have a higher rated member review your Record Book to make sure it containes all the required information. One way to double check yourself is to review Record Book under Forms on the USPC website http://www.ponyclub.org/forms.php Pretend that you are handing your horse over to someone else to care for. Is all the needed information there? Can you explain everything that is in your record book? Read the standard and make sure that you have met the time requirement on record keeping.
  9. Stable wraps and shipping bandages are important components of the C ratings. Proper application takes months of practice. Apply these bandages often and have them checked by instructors or higher level pony club members. You can practice by coming to a mounted meeting with a bandage in place for evaluation.
  10. You will need to participate in club activities and begin doing tack inspections to take a C rating.

Additional considerations before taking a C2 rating

  1. Longeing is part of the C2 rating. Longeing is not easy and it takes a lot of practice. Before taking your C2 rating, make sure that you attend a longeing clinic being offered by either the club or the Mid Cal Region months before your rating. You may also want to schedule a private lesson with one of our instructors to practice longeing "the Pony Club Way" before a rating. There are two good references available in our library and through the USPC Bookstore - USPC Guide to Longeing and Ground Training and a new DVD - USPC Standard : USPC Guide to Longeing.
  2. At the C2 level, you will need to have a letter from the DC stating that you have been teaching the Ds. Make sure that you request this from the DC at least two weeks before the rating.
  3. Give yourself enough time to write a conditioning program for your horse and your discipline of choice. Understand the reasons behind the conditioning program and how you monitor your horse's vital signs to make sure you are on track.