Information for Pony Club Members
Local Level Certifications
D-1: Member demonstrates basic skills on the ground and on the horse. All members begin with this comprehensive test.
D-2: The candidate should be able to demonstrate simple skills, with assistance if necessary, and should understand the basic reasons for the everyday routines of caring for his or her own horse.
D-3: The member grows in skills and knowledge and becomes more independent. The candidate should be able to demonstrate simple skills without assistance, and to discuss care of the mount, using common horse terms.
C-1: The member shows a developing awareness of cause and effect in the care of their horse. They must ride with control, using natural aids, and should begin riding their mount freely forward in balance and rhythm while developing a light contact.
C-2: The member shows a solid awareness of cause and effect in horse management skills. A C-2 rider shows confidence and control, demonstrates a secure balanced position and progression toward an independent seat with coordinated use of aids. They begin to initiate free forward movement, establishing balance and rhythm while developing a light contact.
D-1: Member demonstrates basic skills on the ground and on the horse. All members begin with this comprehensive test.
D-2: The candidate should be able to demonstrate simple skills, with assistance if necessary, and should understand the basic reasons for the everyday routines of caring for his or her own horse.
D-3: The member grows in skills and knowledge and becomes more independent. The candidate should be able to demonstrate simple skills without assistance, and to discuss care of the mount, using common horse terms.
C-1: The member shows a developing awareness of cause and effect in the care of their horse. They must ride with control, using natural aids, and should begin riding their mount freely forward in balance and rhythm while developing a light contact.
C-2: The member shows a solid awareness of cause and effect in horse management skills. A C-2 rider shows confidence and control, demonstrates a secure balanced position and progression toward an independent seat with coordinated use of aids. They begin to initiate free forward movement, establishing balance and rhythm while developing a light contact.
National Level Certifications
H-B (Horse Management)
The H-B Certification covers Horse Management knowledge and skills that demonstrate increasing awareness, education, and competence in the care and handling of horses and in teaching those abilities to others. It reflects the theory and study as well as the practical aspects of unmounted horse management that can be expected of a high school level curriculum.
H-HM/H/H-A (Horse Management)
The H-HM/H/H-A Certification requires the knowledge, experience, and maturity to evaluate and care for a mount’s needs efficiently in a variety of circumstances; to competently ground train horses; and to teach riding and horse care to others. It reflects the theory and study as well as the practical aspects of unmounted horse management that can be expected of a college level curriculum.
C-3
The C-3 Certification reflects a basis of competence in riding, ground schooling, and horse care that will make possible a lifetime of pleasure with horses. The certification has both demonstration and discussion components. It is the first of the riding certifications to evaluate a member’s ability to seamlessly transfer their riding skills from their own horse to an unfamiliar horse.
B
The B Certification is for active Pony Club members who are interested in acquiring further knowledge and proficiency in riding. The B candidate is able to ride experienced mounts, both their own and others, with confidence and control. 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.
A
The A Certification is the highest riding certification available to USPC members. 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 A understands and demonstrates a variety of training techniques and discusses their training techniques as a trainer.
H-B (Horse Management)
The H-B Certification covers Horse Management knowledge and skills that demonstrate increasing awareness, education, and competence in the care and handling of horses and in teaching those abilities to others. It reflects the theory and study as well as the practical aspects of unmounted horse management that can be expected of a high school level curriculum.
H-HM/H/H-A (Horse Management)
The H-HM/H/H-A Certification requires the knowledge, experience, and maturity to evaluate and care for a mount’s needs efficiently in a variety of circumstances; to competently ground train horses; and to teach riding and horse care to others. It reflects the theory and study as well as the practical aspects of unmounted horse management that can be expected of a college level curriculum.
C-3
The C-3 Certification reflects a basis of competence in riding, ground schooling, and horse care that will make possible a lifetime of pleasure with horses. The certification has both demonstration and discussion components. It is the first of the riding certifications to evaluate a member’s ability to seamlessly transfer their riding skills from their own horse to an unfamiliar horse.
B
The B Certification is for active Pony Club members who are interested in acquiring further knowledge and proficiency in riding. The B candidate is able to ride experienced mounts, both their own and others, with confidence and control. 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.
A
The A Certification is the highest riding certification available to USPC members. 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 A understands and demonstrates a variety of training techniques and discusses their training techniques as a trainer.
