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
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