D-3 PREP GUIDE

RIDING TEST EXPECTATIONS: Candidate should ride in a basic balanced position with control at the walk, trot, and canter.  Candidate should maintain a secure base of support while developing balance and a steady position over fences.

HORSE MANAGEMENT EXPECTATIONS: The candidate should be able to demonstrate simple skills without assistance, and to discuss care of mount, using common horse terms.

Revised 1/1/2009

STANDARDS OF PROFICIENCY

The United States Pony Clubs, Inc., establishes Standards of Proficiency within the framework of the international Pony Club movement as the curriculum for a program of instruction and evaluation of its members for ratings.

RATING CHECK LIST 2008

This checklist is to be used as a tool for the clubs to guage the readiness of a candidate for a rating.  The boxes should be checked off only when the candidate has successfully demonstrated competence at the necessary skill to a qualified instructor.

Alternative Testing Revised 4/1/2010

PREP GUIDE

This prep outline has been prepared to help you cover the Horse Management aspects of the D-3 Test.  The riding aspects are listed for your information and you may want to check off the skills as you accomplish them.  The Horse Management area has plenty of space provided for you to fill in the answers.  It is helpful for you to do this exercise because it not only gives you a great review format but it helps you organize your thoughts and put them on paper.  This reinforces the knowledge and helps you verbalize your thoughts in the testing section.  Please practice verbalizing your answers.

D-3 Test Sheet STUDY GUIDE

TURN OUT

Rider is to be in safe and neat attire, in accordance

with the SOP.

Mount is to be well brushed (no sweat), clean (no

dirt), with feet picked out, showing farrier care.

Mane and tail are to be brushed and eyes and

nose, lips and dock wiped off.

Tack is to be safe, especially stitching on stirrups

and girth; and clean with no jockeys or dust,

with stress-points clean, stirrup pads clean, and

bit clean. All tack must be properly adjusted.

Describe formal attire, informal attire.

Describe proper adjustment of snaffle bridle with

cavesson noseband. Describe proper

adjustment of curb chain if used on own mount.

RIDING ON THE FLAT

Demonstrate correct mounting (using mounting

block if necessary).

Adjust stirrups and girth with feet in the stirrups

while mounted at the halt.

WARM UP

Perform balancing and suppling exercises for

rider at walk and trot under direction of

examiner.

Ride without stirrups at the sitting trot.

Demonstrate a simple step back.

Discuss at least three reasons for doing

balancing/suppling exercises.

Earn a BADGE

MOVEMENTS

Ride mount on the flat demonstrating 20-meter

circles showing correct positioning of mount in

both directions at walk, at sitting and rising trot

with correct diagonals, and at the canter with

correct leads.

Demonstrate increase and decrease of speed either

alone or with others as appropriate.

Demonstrate emergency dismount at the trot in an

enclosed arena.

Rider should show a basic balanced position

through the flat work, and discuss performance

with examiner including rider’s basic balance

position, and whether or not circles were round

and natural aids were used correctly.

RIDING OVER FENCES

Ride over small gymnastic grid of trot poles

followed by a cross rail, then a vertical set at,

but not to exceed 2’6” set at appropriate

distances for mount’s stride.

Jump a simple stadium course of five to seven

obstacles, height not to exceed 2’6”, with the

majority of fences set at, but not to exceed,

2’6”

Discuss performance and reasons for any

disobedience.

RIDING IN THE OPEN

Ride safely with a group, at the walk and trot,

over varied terrain, through shallow water and

small ditches as occur in natural terrain (ditches

to be unrevetted).

Jump four to five simple cross-country obstacles,

the majority of fences at, but not to exceed

2’6”.

Discuss ways to control mount in the open.

Discuss performance with Examiner.

Speed should not exceed 240 meters per minute or

300 meters per minute, appropriate for the size

of mount.

Rider should show a secure base of support while

developing balance and a steady position over

fences

CONDITIONING & NUTRITION

Know five to seven basic rules for feeding and

explain feeding schedule to include amount of

roughage and amounts of concentrates per

ration for own mount.

Describe care of mount after strenuous work, to

include cooling out, inspection of legs,

watering and feeding.

Know vital signs of own mount at rest.

STABLE MANAGEMENT

Demonstrate and discuss how to clean and bed a

dirty/soiled stall, giving reasons for each step.

Include removal of manure and wet areas,

banking a stall, and reason for regular stall

cleaning. Discuss health and safety benefits.

(For testing, a soiled horse trailer may be used.)

Demonstrate and discuss proper methods of

hanging a water bucket and haynet/haybag, and

the dangers of improper use.

Discuss the different needs of your horse during a

day rally or clinic, and needs of an overnight

stay.

PARTS OF MOUNT /

CONFORMATION & LAMENESS

Identify at least 20 parts of the mount, to include

withers , hock, fetlock, pastern, gaskin, croup,

loins, as well as others.

Know common conformation faults of neck, back,

shoulder, head and pasterns.

Describe the characteristics of a strange mount

clearly enough for another person to recognize

it within a group. Include: color, possible

breed, markings, size, sex, and obvious

conformation characteristics.

Describe how to measure height of mount.

LAND CONSERVATION

Name three important rules when riding across

privately-owned land.

Write thank-you notes to two landowners who

support your club and tell them why you

appreciate being able to use their land. If you

ride on public land, write a thank-you note to

the manager or contact person. Discuss with

Examiner who you wrote, and what you said.

LEADING & LONGEING

Demonstrate correctly jogging mount, moving

mount forward with whip (if necessary).

Lead safely from both sides.

HEALTH CARE / VETERINARY

KNOWLEDGE / BANDAGING

Name some symptoms of a sick or injured mount

that would cause you to seek help.

Describe what critical areas are protected by

shipping bandages or boots, and give reasons

for their use.

Apply protective/splint type boots and bell boots

on own mount (with supervision), if appropriate.

Describe obvious signs of a foot needing shoeing

or trimming.

TRAVEL SAFETY

Know the basic rules for riding on public roads in

your state.

Know procedure for mounted group crossing a

public roadway.

Discuss the proper procedure for loading and

unloading a mount.

INTRODUCTION TO HORSE

SPORTS

Name five horse sports offered in USPC.

RECORD BOOK

The D-3 candidate is expected to keep careful

records of veterinary visits, and general health

of mount, to include worming and vaccination

dates. Record Book must be brought to test. A

minimum of 3 months is required.