Below is a list of typical skills taught in each lesson level.

Lead Line Lessons

Ages 4-6. 30 minutes, mostly groundwork instruction. Students will be led by instructor during riding portion. Students will learn…

GROUNDWORK

  • Basic horse awareness (how to approach & move around the horse)

  • Correct way of haltering & leading a horse

  • Cross ties

  • Proper way to move a horse over

  • Names of all grooming tools used

  • Correct grooming techniques

  • Basic saddling techniques & terms

  • Feeding treats



RIDING  

  • Mounting & dismounting

  • Bareback or riding in a saddle (will vary with each student)

  • Basic steering with reins

  • Basic body position  

  • Go, woah and back up  




Beginner One

One hour lesson, includes tacking & untacking. Riding time will increase as student becomes quicker & more comfortable with groundwork/tacking. Students will work towards independent riding (off lead/ lunge line). Students will learn… 

GROUNDWORK

  • Basic horse awareness (how to approach & move around the horse)

  • Correct way of haltering & leading a horse

  • Cross ties

  • Proper way to move a horse over

  • Correct grooming techniques

  • Picking hooves

  • Proper saddling techniques & terms

  • Bridling & unbridling 

  • Feeding a horse treats

  • Tying a quick release knot

  • How to tie a lead rope onto saddle horn (trail riding) 

  • Blanketing (varies-seasonal)

  • Fly spray/ fly masks (varies-seasonal)

 

RIDING  

  • Mounting & dismounting 

  • Balance & proper body position under saddle

  • Warm up exercises to loosen up & focus

  • Neck reining

  • Two handed riding

  • Sitting trot & basic posting trot 

  • Standing the trot

  • Steering through cones, around poles, over poles, etc

  • Looking where you want to go, not where you don’t 

  • Proper spacing between horses

  • Cooling down a horse 





Beginner Two

One hour lesson, includes tacking & untacking. Riding time will increase as student becomes quicker & more comfortable with groundwork/tacking. In addition to knowledge learned in 1st level, students will learn...

GROUNDWORK

  • How to catch a horse from the paddock/pasture

  • Horse temperament & body language 

  • How to lunge a horse or work in the round pen (varies) 

  • Work towards independent grooming & tacking 

 

RIDING  

  • Stretching out horses’ neck

  • Direct reining 

  • Leg cues 

  • Using reins & legs simultaneously 

  • Riding in a circle

  • Emergency stop & dismount 

  • Basic loping skills