Group lessons

• Safely retrieve and return horses to pastures
• Sufficiently groom horses for riding and turnout; cold hosing in hot weather and brushing out sweat in cold weather
• Correctly remove and reapply fly gear and blankets
• Correctly tack up with English and Western tack
• Perform the circle game, pivot on the forehand, and pivot on the haunches
• Complete a Showmanship pattern
• Not frustrated and stay patient and calm when facing challenges
• Willing and able to work with any lesson horse with a positive attitude. Note: this is not to say students can’t have preferences or can’t express those preferences. However, students are expected to be able to successfully work with our whole lesson herd rather than only one or two horses. 

• Drop and pick up stirrups at the walk and trot
• Change speed within gaits at the walk and trot
• Understands half-halts
• Perform simple patterns and exercises
• Perform pivots on the forehand and the haunches
• Overall demonstrate confidence, independence, and good judgement
• Developing understanding of contact

Walk:

• Overall ride with a well-balanced, flowing seat

Trot:

• Ride with proper equitation (eyes up, shoulders back, straight back, no leaning, thumbs up, heels down, straight vertical line follows shoulder-hip-heel)
• Sit the trot without bouncing in the saddle
• Post the trot on the correct diagonal
• Two-point in the trot without balancing on the horse’s mouth
• Quiet, smooth walk/trot transitions
• Developing quiet, smooth stop/trot transitions

Canter:

• Quiet, smooth trot/canter transitions
• Ask for correct leads
• Canter two full arena laps
• Canter a half-arena circle
• Developing proper equitation
• Developing a smooth, balanced, flowing seat
• Developing recognition of leads

• Perform sidepasses and burpees
• Complete a Showmanship pattern with some accuracy
• Be willing to work with all horses, even those you find challenging
• Understand the different approaches needed by different horse personalities

• Perform a sidepass
• Perform moderately difficult patterns and exercises
• Display a “make it happen” attitude
• Developing ability to change speed within the canter

Walk: 

• Perform shoulders-in and haunches-in
• Ride on contact for the duration of the lesson
• Developing leg yields and half passes

Trot:

• Quiet, smooth stop/trot transitions
• Perform correct flexions through the trot transition
• Ride on contact for the duration of the lesson
• Be able to sit a true trot (not a jog)
• Developing shoulders-in and haunches-in

Canter:

• Ride with proper equitation
• Perform a simple lead change
• Show proper bend and set-up for the canter every time
• Developing quiet, smooth walk/canter transitions

• Perform a Showmanship pattern with moderate accuracy
• Correctly tack up with Dressage tack
• Excited or interested in complex or difficult training opportunities

• Drop and pick up stirrups at the canter
• Change speed within the canter
• Perform difficult patterns and exercises

Walk:

• Perform leg yields and half passes

Trot:

• Perform shoulders-in and haunches in
• Developing leg yields and half passes

Canter:

• Quiet, smooth walk/canter transitions
• Get the canter outside of arena corners
• Developing quiet, smooth stop/canter transitions
• Developing contact
• Developing counter canter