Camino Real Region

C-3 Info B Info H-A, A Info Instructional Resource List H/H-A Study/Review Sessions Volunteer Form

National Ratings Coordinator - (NRC) C3 - Deborah Davies, Prep organizer email C-3 Test Info

2008 USPC Medical Release Activity Medical Release

One per competitor, completely filled out and signed, even if the competitor is 18, it must be signed by a parent. This would only
impact those members that are still living at home, going to college, or under the financial responsibility of their parents.

Candidates for C-3 Ratings are evaluated and certified by the USPC National Examiners. The Region will ask the USPC Office to schedule a National Testing in those years in which the number of candidates complies with USPC National requirements. A member Club will be requested to host the test when a National rating is held in the Region, the Region will appoint an Impartial Observer and conduct the test according to the USPC Guidelines for Upper Level Test.

Preparation Candidates capabilities must comply with current C3 Standards and their demeanor shall indicate the maturity to undergo a rigorous test. Region will offer a C3 Prep Clinic, weather permitting. prior to each scheduled C3 test which candidates are required to attend. Region also requires that all candidates complete and submit a C3 Prep Guide for review by the Regional Ratings Coordinator or their designee. The Regional Supervisors approval of a candidates application is contingent upon being an Active Member in Good Standing, proper completion of the Prep Clinic to the Standards at the Prep clinic, review of the Prep Guide and return of all required paperwork with fees as specified. If only a small number of candidates apply a mixed level Prep Clinic may be held in lieu of canceling the Prep Clinic.

Application Candidates, in conjunction with their District Commissioner must complete a C3 Test Application and forward it to the Regional Supervisor for approval. Application must be signed by the candidates D.C. Applications from candidates who have not fulfilled the Preparation requirements will not be accepted. Applications must be submitted within two weeks after the Prep Clinic or as directed by the Ratings Coordinator. The C3 Test fees shall defray the cost of the examiner’s expenses and compensation and any other costs of the test. The C3 test shall be conducted within the guidelines of the Guidelines for conducting C3 tests.

Cancellations Unforeseen cancellation of the C3 Prep or Test may happen due to weather circumstances, unavailability of Clinicians or Examiners, lack of candidates, etc. Every effort shall be made to keep the Prep and Test as scheduled. After all expenses incurred are paid, refunds may be given.

Candidates for B, H/HA and A Ratings are evaluated and certified by the USPC National Examiners. The Region will ask the USPC Office to schedule a National Testing in those years in which the number of candidates complies with USPC National requirements. A member Club will be requested to host the test when a National rating is held in the Region, the Region will appoint an “Impartial Observer” and conduct the test according to the USPC Guidelines for Upper Level Test.

Preparation Candidates capabilities must comply with the current requirements of the USPC Standards of Proficiency and their demeanor shall indicate the maturity to undergo a rigorous test. Region requires that ALL candidates attend a Prep clinic which will be scheduled at least 3 weeks prior to the application due date. The Regional Supervisors approval of a candidate’s application is contingent upon proper completion of the Prep Clinic. No candidate will be encouraged to take the test for the experience.

Application Applications and fees shall be as required by USPC, Inc. Applications must be signed by both the candidates District Commissioner and the Regional Supervisor. Application must be in the Regional Supervisors hands no later than ten days prior to the due date of USPC National Testing Committee.

National Testing Only certified National Examiners conduct all B, H/HA and A tests. If a test is not scheduled for a given rating in the Region, the Region will assist the candidate in making every effort to get the Candidate into a test in another region

Rating Prep Clinic The Region will, if there are sufficient candidates, schedule and organize Prep clinics for B, H/HA and A rating levels. The required number of candidates shall be as required for the tests. While separate Prep clinics for each rating level is ideal, mixed rating Prep Clinics (C3 through A) may be held when there are only a few candidates at each level. Appropriate clinicians shall be obtained for those Prep Clinics. To attend the clinic each candidate must submit a reservation form and a Club check which must be in the National Ratings Coordinators hands four (4) weeks before the scheduled clinic. Fees may be refundable with written notification from a vet or doctor.

Cancellations Unforeseen cancellation of the Prep may happen due to weather circumstances, unavailability of Clinicians or Examiners, lack of candidates, etc. Every available effort will be made to keep the Prep schedules.

HB, C-3, B, H/H-A, and A ratings are scheduled on a national basis and require a greater depth of knowledge and proficiency than the earlier ratings. Successful candidates are competent, all-around horsemen, active and contributing members of USPC, who participate in a variety of Pony Club activities. They are also thoughtful leaders who set an example for all levels. Remember with all of the Specialty Ratings, it is a very good idea to look at the National website, www.ponyclub.org for information. The below information is to help start you on the process of obtaining your National Ratings.

The B rating is for the active horseman and Pony Club member who is interested in acquiring further knowledge and proficiency in all phases of riding and horse care. The B is able to ride experienced mounts with confidence and control on the flat, over fences, and in the open. The B should be able to ride and care for another person's experienced mount, maintaining proper mental and physical condition without undoing any of the mount's education. The B understands and is able to explain the reasons for what he or she is doing and to contribute to the education of younger Pony Club members.

The A, the highest rating, is divided into two parts: the H/H-A, which covers horse management, teaching, and training, and the A, which tests the riding phase. The H/H-A has the knowledge, experience, and maturity to evaluate and care for a mount's needs efficiently and in a variety of circumstances, and to teach riding and horse care to others. The A is able to ride mounts at various levels of schooling with judgment, tact, and effectiveness; to train young mounts; and to retrain spoiled mounts.

The following lists are from notes from B, H/HA and A Preps over the last few years. These lists are by no means complete lists. There are always new and better resources being found especially on the Internet. And there are always new updates constantly for better horse management, which are usually published in the magazines noted below. Please use your own clubs resources, as upper level pony clubbers knowledge is invaluable. Also don’t forget to inquire about your vets, your farriers, your equine dentists knowledge, and other equine professionals, too.

iii) From page 4 of the B Standards of Proficiency there are listed READING LIST FOR B CANDIDATES. The following items I have found to be of very good resource material. However, ALL the items listed in the Standard are meant to be used.

iii) From page 5 of the A Standards there are listed STUDY MATERIALS FOR THE H/HA/A CANDIDATES. The following items I have found to be helpful. However ALL items listed in the Standards are meant to be used. The list below should be added to the B List above.

2) Other Publications for B, H/HA & A Levels: Please note that some of these publications have not been reviewed OR approved by the National Testing Committee for B, H/HA & A resource material. So please compare and contrast information from these sources with the approved Pony Club resources above. However, some of these publications may be listed on the C or D Standards of Proficiency and, if so, are definitely approved

There are many, many other publications. All of these have been available to all those that attended clinics at my house as it is hard to transport all the books to clinics. However, sometimes I’ve even brought a load of books to Santa Ynez clinics whenever possible.

If you have a specific area that you feel you need more information on, please contact me for further publications.

3) Pony Club Clinicians/Instructors: Your local club will be the best resource for you as it can give you the names of close-by clinicians and instructors that you can use on a continual basis. The people that I will list can come for a one or two day clinic which is helpful but what really is needed in some cases is a full program of three or four days a week.

b) News from National, November, 2002, C-3 Examiners—By Region, pages 9-25 found at the www.ponyclub.org website. This list, even though it is titled C3 Examiners, has most of the B, H/HA & A Examiners on it, too. The first page lists the Examiners by Region, note that Southern California, Middle California, Sierra Pacific, Intermountain and Southwest regions are the closest to us within about a 500-mile radius. You will have to ask the Examiners individually if they are approved for B, H/HA or A Level Clinics as Examiners are themselves constantly learning and expanding their knowledge and those that were only C3 Examiners last year may be B Examiners this year. I do not have a list of B, H/HA or A Examiners, as only the National Office assigns Examiners to those tests.

c) Graduate Upper Level Pony Clubbers in our region that are not C3 Examiners: Most of these are from the USPC 2003 Annual Directory, Graduate B, HA, A & H, pages 103-124. There are more found in the Directory, but I am, unfortunately not familiar with their teaching. Not only can you use them to clinic, but also you can interview them on where they obtained their resources for upper level tests. Call the D.C. of their club for more information about them.

4) Other Instructors: Some of these may be pony clubbers but are not listed in the USPC Annual Directory, and others never had the opportunity to become pony clubbers. Most of these are professional trainers, so it may be helpful to give them a copy of the current Standards. Please in no way assume that these are the ONLY other instructors that can help. I have tried to remember as many as possible but it is always possible that I have inadvertently left someone off this list by mistake. Again I urge candidates to contact other successful candidates about where and who they obtained instruction from.

I also urge you to add to this list and contact our Regional Supervisor, Lynette Brown at rebel608@hotmail.com if you have found a good resource that is not on this list.