Levels
LEVEL 1
In the saddle:
☻Do a proper mount (with mounting block)
☻Proper dismount without help (hold horse)
☻Able to walk and stop
☻Do a 5-meter circle at the walk, both directions
☻2-point at the walk
☻Serpentines through cones at a walk
☻Post walk around the arena
☻Trot the straight wall in balanced form
☻Hold reins properly
☻Shorten reins properly at walk
On the ground:
☻Run up stirrups
☻Identify grooming tools (Curry, hard/soft brush, hoof pick)
☻Curry and brush horse
☻Lead horse correctly
☻Identify- Mane, forelock, tail, hoof, muzzle
Level 2
In the saddle:
☻Able to post trot all the way around the ring
☻Proper mounting block placement
☻Able to back horse 5 steps
☻Able to maintain position in downward transitions
☻Drop and pick up stirrups at walk
☻Able to lengthen walk with driving seat
☻Demonstrate resisting seat
☻Walk the long wall without stirrups
☻Emergency dismount at halt
☻Able to do half circle at walk to change directions
☻Able to shorten reins at trot
☻2 point at trot (hands on neck)
☻Figure 8 at a walk
☻Keeping hands level and down during transitions
☻Trot without grab strap
On the ground:
☻Able to walk horse safely (stop, walk, turn)
☻Able to halter horse without help
☻Identify-Withers, frog, elbow, poll
☻Able to adjust stirrups to proper length
Level 3
In the saddle:
☻Understand and walk a 20-meter circle
☻Circle at posting trot without stopping
☻Sitting trot once around ring in proper form
☻2-point at trot (hands may be on neck)
☻Drop and pick up stirrups at trot
☻Rate horse between fast and slow trot
☻Use seat in downward transitions
☻Able to change diagonals in proper form
☻Demonstrate driving seat using seat and legs
☻Reverse at trot without breaking gait
☻Mount independently with short reins
☻Trot to halt transitions with proper hands
☻Able to use both reins while turning smoothly
On the ground:
☻Able to put on side pull without help
☻Identify- Girth, tree, leathers
☻Identify- reins, crown, browband, noseband, bit
Level 4
In the saddle:
☻Able to drop stirrups for long wall at trot
☻Recognize & pick up correct diagonal 5x
☻Canter on the line
☻Able to extend trot
☻Emergency dismount at walk
☻Consistent correct leg position
☻Demonstrate one rein stop at walk
☻Able to keep hands level while trotting 20m circle
☻2-point without leaning on neck
☻Trot 5 ground poles while posting
☻Demonstrate direct, indirect, and open rein
On the ground:
☻Able to bridle horse correctly without help
☻Able to saddle horse without help
☻Able to tell when a horse is hot & properly cool them
☻ Able to FIT a side pull to the horse
Level 5
In the saddle:
☻Able to canter straight side
☻Riding correctly in a bit, consistently
☻Perform simple pattern
☻Trot 6 poles in half seat
☻Understand and explain use of half halt
☻Able to apply half halt at walk
☻Trot once around arena posting trot w/o stirrups
☻Go from posting trot -> 2 pt -> posting trot
☻Demonstrate one rein stop at trot
☻Know when and why we use a one rein stop
☻Know and demonstrate 3 basic leg positions
☻Demo following, driving, and resisting seat at trot
☻Able to trot 20m circle with rhythm and roundness
☻Adjust girth and stirrups while mounted
☻Consistent correct contact with bit
On the ground:
☻What is thrush?
☻What is colic?
☻Taking vital signs
Level 6
In the saddle:
☻Able to apply half halt at the trot
☻Able to get a headset
☻Correct shallow loops w/bends and diagonals
☻Understand and demo a bend around a circle
☻Canter all the way around ring in good form
☻Able to shorten reins at the canter
☻Figure 8 at the trot w/diagonal changes
☻Able to extend and collect the trot
☻Able to do smooth transitions at the canter
☻Able to “stack” reins and ride one handed
On the ground:
☻Demo lunging a horse correctly- all gaits
☻Identify 4 different bits (one leverage)
Level 7
In the saddle:
☻Demonstrate leg yield using correct aids
☻Able to identify leads at canter
☻Able to canter with speed control
☻Able to do half halts at the canter with response
☻Bends and counter bends at trot
☻Turn on forehand - 180*
☻Turn horse using outside aids
☻Ride basic dressage test
☻Ride the snowman pattern at trot
☻Serpentine with bends and diagonal changes
☻Demonstrate trot-canter-trot transitions
On the ground:
☻How many inches is a “hand”
☻Explain the difference between 4 different bits
Level 8
In the saddle:
☻Able to feel diagonals and feel leads
☻Canter a figure 8 with simple lead changes
☻Demo flexion vs bending
☻When to use flexion
☻Turn on haunches
☻Canter in a group
☻Able to canter center line and quarter lines
☻Demo the characteristic of quality gait
☻Spiral in and spiral out at the trot
☻Able to keep a headset walk/trot during transitions
☻Demo stair step exercise
On the ground:
☻What are 3 things the seat controls?
☻Demo how to correctly fit a saddle
☻Explain half pad vs riser pad
Level 9
In the saddle:
☻Able to do shoulder in at walk and trot
☻Turn on forehand and haunches in middle of arena
☻Canter centerline with simple lead change
☻Keep a headset at the canter on 2 different horses
☻Canter without stirrups twice around arena
☻Circle and a half at the canter, simple changes
☻Able to ride bareback walk/trot
On the ground:
☻Know the difference between lame and stiff
☻Identify lameness
☻Put together a bridle correctly
☻Name- male horse, castrated male, and female
Level 10
In the saddle:
☻Leg yields at trot to and from centerline
☻Able to ride entire lesson without stirrups
☻Invisibly set head, and keep through transitions
☻Back a horse through L poles
☻Canter a figure 8 with flying change
☻Able to do haunches in
☻Able to side-pass over entire L rail
☻Ride with 2 reins using double bridle or pellum
☻Canter bareback twice around arena
☻Demo zigzag of leg yields
On the ground:
☻Able to ground drive
☻Able to long line in center
☻Able to bring horse in from turnout
☻Know how to load a horse into a trailer (ramp & step up)