Loudoun Hunt Pony Club (LHPC) will comply with the following procedures for a member to participate in Ratings. In compliance with the United States Pony Club (USPC) policy, LHPC will offer a minimum of two club Ratings per year, usually one in the spring and one in the fall. Testing dates will be determined by the District Commissioner (DC). There should be at least two candidates for each level being tested. Only active members will be considered for Ratings.

All candidates must be familiar with the Standards of Proficiency for the level they are requesting.

All candidates should take their Rating on their regular mount. It is the responsibility of the candidate and his/her parent(s) or guardian to bring an appropriate mount(s) to the testing. The conditioned mount(s) must be capable of completing the flat, longeing (if applicable for the level) and jumping phases at the heights indicated at the appropriate rating level. Candidates must be tested on and pass all sections of the test and in the appropriate area/arena/open terrain before being awarded the new rating.

Parents and pony club members should not contact other clubs to arrange for inclusion in a rating being held outside their home club. When and if necessary, the club DCs will contact other clubs for possible rating dates. Candidates must have their DC's permission to participate in any testing. Notification

Notification

1. If a member wishes to be considered for the upcoming Rating, they must notify the DC in writing of their intent to participate and intended Rating level. Please use the Intent to Rate Application (available on the LHPC website) under Ratings.
2. The DC will notify all members via e-mail at least 30 days before the scheduled rating date.
3. A new member Rating shall comply with USPC guidelines, which encourage the first Rating to be as soon as the member meets the standards. In accordance with USPC recommendations, new members may initially rate at two levels, starting from D1 (i.e., D1 and D2). The D1 and D2 Rating must be done separately but may be done on the same day. Subsequent Ratings must be one level per Rating.

Examiner Qualifications

1. D1 & D2 ratings: The examiner is selected by the DC from a listing of approved examiners prepared by the Regional Instruction Coordinator.
2. D3, C1, & C2: The independent examiner shall be selected by the DC from a listing of approved examiners prepared by the Regional Instruction Coordinator. The examiner shall not have provided instruction, during the previous six months, to any of the candidates being rated.
3. The H-B, C3, H/H-A, B and A tests (including the specialty ratings) are facilitated at the National level.

Rating Flowcharts (Rating Qualifications Sheets)

1. LHPC uses the Rating Flowcharts as a tool to assist candidates in preparing for Ratings. Rating Flowcharts must be completely signed off and submitted to the DC prior to the scheduled Rating.
2. Horse Management portions of the D sheets may be signed off by
   1. an instructor,
   2. the unmounted lesson coordinator,
   3. a USPC member C3 and above and,
   4. C1s/C2s that have taught that portion of the flowchart at either camp or ground school
3. Mounted portions of the flowcharts must be signed off by your Pony Club instructor or your club DCs. For C2 and above it is highly recommended that at least two instructors sign off on the mounted portions so that the candidate's skills are more broadly evaluated; however, this does not mean that each mounted section needs to be signed off by more than one.

Attire