Horizons East has set up the chart below in order to help each rider understand what abilities are required. In order to progress through the different Riding Levels, the student should ride a minimum of 2 times per week in order to perform the tasks listed.
Riding Levels
| Introductory | Intermediate | Competitive |
|---|---|---|
| Balance on horse | 2-Point | Flying Lead Changes |
| Walk | Crossrails | Stride Control |
| Steering Control | Sitting Trot | Jump a Course |
| Poles | Limited Jumping | Sidepass |
| Posting Trot | Limited Cantering | Quick Transitions |
| Correct Diagonals | Poles | Collection |
| Lunge-Line | Limited no stirrups for conditioning | Advanced no stirrups for conditioning |
| Grooming & Care | Grooming & Care | Show Preparation |
- Each rider will be taught proper grooming & care skills according to each level.
- For children 4 – 5 years old, we have a toddler class. This is a class with an instructor walking in hand on a lunge-line. The child will get an introduction to tack, parts of the horse & basic grooming. This class is walk only. When the rider is ready to trot they graduate to 1/2 lessons.
- For advancement, a higher performance horse/pony can be rented per lesson for ‘upgrade rides.’ Ask your instructor for more information. These are scheduled by appointment only. Monthly leasing is also available for the consistency of working with the same horse each time.
- For everyone’s safety, all riders must be able to drop and retrieve stirrup irons while horse/pony is in motion before cantering or jumping.