Find the official USPC Flowcharts at http://www.ponyclub.org/forms.php under FLOWCHARTS

How Do I implement the Flow Charts into my club?

Each child receives a copy of the modified flow chart (see form USPC Regional Flowchart Check Off List) at the beginning of the year to be kept in their PC binder is they don’t already have one.  It can be utilized for each rating preparation from D1 all the way to C2 level.  This should be kept with HM and other notes in the binder for easy reference.  The binder should be brought to every mounted or un-mounted meeting so that kids can take advantage of begin checked off whenever possible.

Who checks pony clubbers off?

Parents are a vital part of this flow chart structure.  They must be certified by the DC or Jt. DC for whichever part of HM they chose to be a check for.  Once the parent has chosen a section of horse management, sign them up on the checker sheet, and have two checkers for each section.  These sheets should be given to each PC’er and kept with their sign off sheet for easy access to phone numbers.  Older PC’ers can be used for the un-mounted portion, but be advised that an adult must be present during the check off, and it could cause favoritism problems.  Family members can’t check each other!

Once a parent has picked a HM section, they must be certified (meaning they have read through the section in the Pony Club manual they will be checking off).  This can be done in a short period of time, and the parent receives a certificate once the DC feels they are familiar with the section – the parent can have the book with them for reference when they are checking a child off.  Any parent can sign up for as many sections as they’d like.

To check a box, i.e. Nutrition for a D3, the child must contact the “checker” and arrange for a verbal session to recite the requirements stated on the rating sheet.  The arrangement can be made for an already designated meeting!  Each section shouldn’t take more than 15 minutes or so.  Once the child has shown that they are knowledgeable for that particular section, the parent must clearly initial the section and date it (i.e. 05-15-03).  It is a good idea to keep a record of initials on file to help eliminate cheating!

The time frame for getting the sections marked off is exactly three months from the scheduled date of the rating!  No exceptions!  And everything must be checked off four weeks prior to the rating – no exceptions – not even one day.  When exceptions are made, chaos will inevitably follow!

Example:  The scheduled rating date is June 30th.  That means everything must be signed off by June 1st, and can start being signed off April 1st.  Basically the PC’er has eight weeks to fulfill their obligation including the riding portion.  The DC must clearly state the starting and ending dates for check off so there are no questions, but it is completely up to the child to arrange for their sheet to be checked off.  If all sections are signed off by the 8th week, the child can rate.  If even one section is missing, they are not allowed to rate, no exceptions!

Only a pony club qualified instructor may sign off the riding portion of the flow charts.  This is defined by an instructor who has learned what is expected of the basic balanced position at the D & C levels, and understands the expectations defined in the standards.  You may use whoever you feel is going to be fair, as long as they have read the flow charts/rating sheet, and they are a competent instructor.

If there are certain instructors in your club who you would like to use but aren’t generally used in Pony Club, get them familiar with the standards, perhaps have them sit in on lessons with regular PC instructors.  DC’s should feel very confident in their instructor choices as this could have a direct reflection in the outcome of ratings!  Outside PC instructors can be used whenever necessary, as well as outside functions such as camps or clinics.  Just let the instructor know before the clinic/camp starts so they know what to look for when watching the child ride.  Any mounted instruction can be used as a check off as long as the DC agrees with it.  On your website or phone list there should be at least 2-3 instructors that can be called to check off the riding portion of the flow charts.  This is not up to the DC to arrange – but is up to the child/parent.

If the child completes all or part of the sections and then decides not to rate, or can’t rate for any other reason, they must start over completely.  This sounds harsh, but it helps eliminate wishy-washy decisions.  You might also consider charging a small non-refundable fee ($25) to help cover examiner fees. 

Once a section of the flow chart is completed, a fun way to acknowledge each successful section is with lots of color.  A variety of unique ideas could be used, but the best we’ve found is to put colored electrical tape on the child’s crop, reins, lead rope, etc.  One piece of tape can be used for the whole riding section to keep it simple.  This tape lets everyone know this child has been studying and is ready to rate!  After each rating is complete, remove the tape and start over for the next time.  You can be as creative as you like!  (A word of caution – the tape leaves a sticky film on leather, so perhaps crops are the best choice.)

Not only does this system help better prepare kids for ratings, but it also helps eliminate guesswork for DC’s.  Of course this system is not fool proof, but it is a wonderful tool that National has provided us, and it can be better utilized by adapting this system to mark off the flow charts.  Sticking to your guns on the timeframe is imperative – once you make one exception, you’ll make many.

If you have questions or concerns, please email Denise Beronio at us3day@hotmail.com

 Last updated: 5/19/07