I’d like to think this is still the case. I’m back in PC as an adult and the young women gearing towards their C-3 are all excellent riders, but the landscape of ownership has certainly changed.
From what I remember of the C-3 rating none of the gals were on made horses. It was quite the assortment of breeds and talents, actually. The main emphasis was on objectively analyzing everything. And being able to demonstrate a game plan for improvement.
I’ve attended four C3 or higher ratings, plus multiple prep clinics in recent years, and the vast majority of candidates were riding their own horses who they did everything on. Ours was even a games pony in addition to eventing, dressage, SJ, tetrathlon, etc!
In my opinion, a current C3 is still as competent as a rider as they were in the '80s, which is when I was one. Even if you show up on a horse that makes you look good, you still have to explain yourself, and demonstrate an equal level of riding on whatever horses you are assigned as switch rides. There’s no faking your way through.
That is possibly partly due to many Pony Club members coming from riding centers where they do not own their own horses. Many centers would not have suitable school horses for National level ratings (or if they did, may not be willing to allow the member to bring them). My center struggles to have horses for members even wanting to get their C1s/C2s in a jumping discipline due to the jump heights. Not because the member or even the horse is not capable of jumping over 2’6", but because we aren’t willing to put the strain on our school horses and potentially make them unavailable for use in lessons. Our “rule” is if you want to go over D-level you need to at minimum half lease a horse, and we definitely don’t have any school horses appropriate for the National Level certs, so someone wanting to pursue those would need to lease for sure.
That was my issue. I didn’t own a horse, and the best I could do was a lease on a horse that had never done Pony Club and had been cowboyed around by his owner, so he was probably a terrible candidate for the rating. Unfortunately, he was all that was available - no one wanted to lease out their horse for jumping at that height, so it was either him or nothing.
It makes me sad to read that so many people struggle with the certification process because of horse limitations. I certainly understand.
If anyone in MA is going for their certs this summer and can’t find a horse for the rating, just give me a PM and we can connect. If I can’t loan my own, I’ll help find one - the Pony Club network is vast 
. I have a gelding that could be borrowed for up to C-3 rating and my mare could be ready by this summer.
-Lauren
Congrats XCMachine on wanting to take the HB & C3! I am a National Examiner and one of the current co-chairs of the USPC national testing committee and happened to see your questions so figured I’d answer the best I can. I love that you’re asking these questions!
First of all, it sounds like you’re in a great region- its quite active which is nice because you’ll have coaches and friends who are hopefully familiar with the process. Sometimes these first national testings can feel much different than the local level tests you’ve had up until this point.
The national office publishes the data each year for the national certifications but we won’t have it until late February when we have our National Examiner seminar. Honestly, don’t get too wrapped up in what the pass rates are- all that matters is if YOU are demonstrating the standard.
The HB is incredibly user friendly and has a nearly 100% pass rate. That is because of the way it is structured. First of all, plan to have all your written work (lesson plans, record book) evaluated by an NE prior to the certification- either ask one you know (or email it me if you’d like) or you can go use the National Certification Feedback Program on the USPC website.
When I am prepping candidates I always tell them to aim to knock the written work out of the park because its one of the things you have 100% control over (no guarantees that our brains will remember the life cycle of a roundworm when you’re being grilled at a test- haha!). The more eyes you can put on the written work prior to the test, the better. Work exactly off the standard and the supplemental documents that correspond to each item and you’ll have exactly the same checklist that we are using when we evaluate them. The other nice thing is that you’ll turn in your written work at the briefing and the examiners will go over it that evening and will give it back to you with notes about any minor corrections they need to see. You have until the end of the testing to make the needed changes. Secondly, at the HB, you’re allowed to “does not meet standards” on up to 5 blocks and still be eligible for a “retest” which means you would just have to retest those blocks. Often times the retests can be done virtually which makes them very simple to schedule.
What are the historically trickiest sections of the HB?
In regards to watching a test before taking it: That is a great idea because you’ll be more comfortable with it when its your turn to take it but its not a necessity and plenty of people aren’t able to do that. Ways to experience a national certification before you take it (even its a B or A test) are to offer to be a “barn friendly” at an HB or HA where you help hold horses for the candidates while they are testing- this gives you a front row seat to the test. Offer to jump crew at a riding test.
Ok, the C3. Since we have 3 tracks now: Dressage, Eventing, and Show Jumping, we have now made the levels roughly equate to a competition level. For instance, the C1 Eventing is roughly equivalent to Beginner Novice, the C2 would be equiv. to Novice, the C3 Training level, the B Prelim, and the A Intermediate.
So what does this mean? It does NOT mean that you need to be competing at that level but it DOES mean that you have to be able to demonstrate the skills and answer the “questions” whether on the flat or jumping, that you would see at that level. For instance, the C3 you need to be able to jump a SJ course at 3’3" that includes a triple combination, and demonstrate Training test A , and be able to answer Training level XC type questions (while also demonstrating the Riding Test Expectation" which for the C3 Eventing is:
The candiate must maintain a basic balanced position with a secure base of support, appropriate to each phase of Eventing. While riding with confidence and control the candidate should demonstrate the development of an independent seat and coordinated use of the aids on the flat, and over fences. The candidate demonstrates elements of the Training Scale to include riding the mount in balance with rhythm, relaxation/suppleness, connection/contact, maintaining free forward movement with smooth transitions. In discussions, the candidate should evaluate the aids used and their effectiveness in relation to the Training Scale. All fences to 3’3". These expectations are applied to each block of the test.
That Riding Test Expectation is the crux of the test and you’re just asked to demonstrate it over Training level flat/jumping questions, as well as discuss it.
In regards to borrowing a horse- go for it! It’s totally acceptable and as examiners we don’t have any opinion about it- we just want to see you being able to demonstrate that Riding Test Expectation. You can bring as many (or as few) horses as you’d like. I have seen candidates bring a horse that is more straightforward to longe compared to the horse they ride and its totally fine ESPECIALLY if it makes it safer and easier for you to demonstrate that standard. I’ve seen candidates bring a different horse for the gymnastic/grid portion of the jumping. Just remember that any horse you bring needs to be available for other candidates to switch onto (and if it is not, you are responsible for providing a capable and appropriate one that CAN be switched onto).
The riding tests are long and I wish that we could shorten them up somehow but the best way to make them go quickly is to be the most prepared that you can be so that you can pop through the grid a time or two at teach version of the grid as its built, just jump your SJ course once, and be confident jumping the mini XC course (5-8 fences, the majority at Training level height/complexity). Keep in mind that the switches adds an element of exertion too. The more prepared you are the less we have to keep asking you to show us things, so the less drilling and tedious it is.
In regards to what some others have lamented about it being a shame that a lack of a horse is a bummer of a reason to not be able to certify, I totally agree. I came up doing my upper level certifications on borrowed horses and as a result, later in life, loaned out my Prelim drafty X to candidates and he got his C3 about 6 times, his B 3 times, his A twice, and his HA 5 times. 
Also, guess what? No need to do a shipping wrap- those got axed in the 2024 standards and only show up at the HA now as a specialty bandage!! 
Remember that for the C3, you can retest one block of the HM (which in this case would be the Presentation, Bandaging or Longeing) and one block of the Riding. Also, know that you can take it in pieces now that we have created “Phase Testing.” So you could go just for the C3 Phase 1 which would be the HM I listed above and the Flat and go back sometime later and finish out Phase 2 which is the Jumping. I think that is such a user friendly change that USPC has made and really appreciate that structure because it lets you to piece it together in a way that works for you, your horse(s), and your life circumstances.
Its a tricky thing bc we have to be able to see the candidates showcase the Training level components, and just like at a regular horse trial, you have to bring a horse that can perform at that level. I love the generous offer that beowulf had!
Again, I commend you for wanting to take it- it takes courage to put yourself out for evaluation but I think our riding always levels up because of the prep process. I tell my candidates to aim to be 30% overprepared so that on their worst day they’re still solidly in that “Meets Standards” range.
And one final thing… while the examiners are charged with upholding the standard, no one wants you to pass as much as the examiner, I promise! We love being able to watch a test, or a round and go “yep! Looks like a C3 to me!” It pains us to have to tell someone that they are not meeting the standard, but if everyone passed just because they showed up, the standard would be meaningless. 
Since the addition of specialty ratings (dressage, and SJ) and the subsequent renaming of the Traditional to Eventing, the certification levels had to align more with competition levels which for better or worse upped the ante for the type of horse needed. 
I had no idea about Phase Testing - that’s amazing. Can you walk us through how that would work if you have time (is the Phase option available at other levels, like B or A)?
I’d like to someday finish and get my B. But the amount of prepwork is DAUNTING.
Yes!! Isn’t it a nice feature? Another more candidate friendly change that has happened recently is that you can take the A riding prior to the HA now except for you don’t get any recognition or certificate for the A riding until you finish out the HA!
What level did you “graduate” as and I can help you more. And yes! It does apply for the B and the A!
(It actually applies to the D2 all the way to the A Riding)
For the Phase testing: essentially once you’ve passed the Flat, it belongs to you and can never be taken away from you. There were instances in the past, especially prior to riding retests becoming a feature at the national level certifications, where a candidate would pass the flat, DNMS a jump section, then attempt the certification again and DNMS a flat section and it was pretty candidate-unfriendly. Now, once you’ve passed it, its yours! You can choose to take the rating in pieces (the Flat phase always has to be passed first) or you can go in with the intention of doing the whole certification and if you run into trouble jumping but have passed the flat, you still walk away as a Whatever level Phase 1.
Wow, I wish this was available when I did my rating. It was all or none - you could retake a portion of the HM, but not riding. It effectively ended my tenure with Pony Club, as it was at the end of summer, I was off to college, and I had no horse of my own to retake the entirety of the rating on the next year. Left a very sour taste in my mouth, which was a shame.
Your story sounds very similar to mine, FrittSkritt. I did not pass the riding portion of my C3 (This would of been 1988 or 1989.) and was off to college in a couple of weeks. The examiners (well, one of them) was very condescending, which turned me off. The whole experience made me feel differently about Pony Club.
Any chance you were New York/Upper Connecticut region as well? Probably had the same examiner, who’d been around for ages. 
No, Northeast Region, Maine.
I was, and had a similar experience during my B.
As @Duramax pointed out, things have certainly moved on. The PC is a lot less rigid and a lot less stuffy but still teaches the essential skills and knowledge. Wish I were young again!
Now they let the old people do it too.
I’ve thought about joining (think there’s one starting up closer to me) but I think a lot of the lesson stuff happens during the week?
You should check it out!
I’ve thought about going back to finish out what still feels a bit like unfinished business, but I’m not sure I’m in a place where my life permits it. Also, to go on the dressage track now, I think I’d have to backtrack quite a bit (there was only one track when I was in PC).
Honestly, when I took my H-A I was spending 40+ hours a week on PC. Now I have a child, a husband, a full time + job, and I’m competing my horse in the amateur grand prix classes. Maybe it’s a when I retire sort of thing.
There was one in every region - I had one in BC, Canada. Horrible testers & tests turned so many great kids off of Pony Club, what a shame. I was stubborn so I persevered, and got my A just to prove them wrong
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