Horsemanship Levels
One of our specialties here at Executive Stables is offering horse lovers of all ages riding lessons, which are called horsemanship classes. Horsemanship is the skill of handling and riding horses. It is how you acquire and accomplish through training, and the sport of riding. We invite you to start your horsemanship journey with us today!
Level One Horsemanship
- Groom horse with help
- Tack horse with help
- Describe 3 brushes and their purpose
- Be able to halt the horse at a walk
- On the lunge line be able to halt the walk horse
- On the lunge line be able to move horse in & out on the circle at the walk
- On the lunge line be able to turn horse across the circle
- On the lunge line be able to maintain a position at the walk and trot
- On the lunge line be able to sit and post the trot
- Name 5 horses in the barn
- Emergency brake at the walk
Level Two Horsemanship
- Lead and turn a horse
- Groom horse with help
- Approach horse when tied
- Tack and untack with help
- Mount, walk, stop, turn and dismount
- Adjust reins correctly
- Do exercises at the walk, with stirrups
- Walk figures (reverse, circles)
- Emergency dismount at the halt
- Identify saddle, girth, bridle, halter, lead, currycomb, brush, hoofpick, stirrups, bit, reins
- Know and practice safety rules
- Show ring safety
- Put on different splint boots and describe their purpose
Level Three Horsemanship
- Halter and tie a horse
- Back a horse from the ground
- Halt/walk/trot/walk/halt
- Posting trot
- Exercises at a walk, no stirrups
- Obstacle course at a walk
- Know 5 parts of the horse
- Know 5 parts of the saddle
- Know common horse terms
- Know and explain simple aids for walk, trot, halt, and turn
- Ride bareback at a walk
- Pick up and drop stirrups at a walk
- Name 2 types of wormer, what they are for and what season to use them
- Emergency brake at the trot
Level Four Horsemanship
- Approach a loose horse and catch it
- Quick groom by self
- Saddle horse by self
- Exercises at a trot with stirrups
- Post on correct diagonal
- Obstacle course (including trot and cavaletti)
- Emergency dismount at the trot
- Ride with control at walk and trot
- Figures at the trot
- Sitting trot
- Walk/trot/halt transitions
- Different speeds at the walk
- Know all the parts of the saddle/bridle, 10 parts of the horse
- Identify colors of horses
- Manes / braiding
Level Five Horsemanship
- Clean tack
- Tack/untack a horse
- Pick up and drop stirrups at a trot
- Change diagonals
- Ride bareback at a trot
- Different speeds at a walk and trot
- Exercises at a trot – no stirrups
- Jump 18” rails
- Ride on a quiet trail
- Adjust stirrups and girth from ground
- Canter a short distance
- Know and show what to do if a horse bucks, rears, runs backwards, or runs away
- Know 20 parts of the horse
- Describe 5 colors of a horse
- Emergency brake at the canter
Level Six Horsemanship
- Groom/get a horse ready for show
- Bathe a horse
- Hoof care, trimming, shoeing, dressings, etc.
- Describe different types of hay and what is considered bad hay
- Describe different types of stadium jumps
- Describe different types of cross country jumps
- Describe different types of disciplines / classes
- Side reins & their purposes
- Show form entries
- Herd dynamics
Level Seven Horsemanship
- Complete groom job
- Adjust a snaffle bridle
- Identify walk, trot, and canter
- Obstacle course at walk, trot, and canter
- Trail – walk/trot
- Canter – halt & turn
- Halt/walk/trot/canter/trot/walk/turn
- Ride a dressage test
- Adjust stirrups and girth from saddle
- Feel horse’s leg movements at walk and trot
- Back a horse
- Jump 2’
- Know prevention / cure for colic and saddle sores
- Know all parts of horse
- Know 10 colors and markings
- Vaccinations/coggins
- When to call the vet
Level Eight Horsemanship
- Identify common feeds
- Feed and water horse
- Recognize a lame horse
- Turn on forehand from ground
- All transitions to and from a canter
- Pick up and drop stirrups at a canter
- Exercises with stirrups at a canter
- Obtain correct lead
- Different speeds at canter
- Jump a 2’ course
- Ride different horse
- Trail – traffic, bridges, water, branches, hills, gates
- Ride a dressage test
- Do half-halts & explain
- Know 10 breeds, two in detail
- Know and apply road and trail safety
- Read (call) a dressage test
Level Nine Horsemanship
- Care for a horse after hard work
- Know saddle types and how to fit them
- Blanket a horse
- Lunge a horse
- Feel horse’s legs at a canter
- Obstacle course outside – all gaits
- Canter figures
- Change of lead through trot
- Turn on the forehand
- Dressage test
- Jump 2’6” course
- Prevention and treatment for thrush
- Know types of bits
- Describe walk and trot
- Muck out a stall
Level Ten Horsemanship
- Know conformation and faults
- Tack up western and English
- Clean a barn
- Take care of a horse
- Know about worming, shots, and teeth
- Emergency dismount at a canter
- Hand-gallop and all transitions
- Ride 3 speeds on trail
- Half pass/side pass
- Dressage test
- Know 20 breeds
- Know 4 breeds in detail
- Know the difference between collected and extended gaits
Level Eleven Horsemanship
- Ground drive
- Put on and fit snaffle, curb, double bridle, martingales
- Prepare a horse & load it into the trailer
- Ride with double reins
- Exercises at canter – no stirrups
- Bareback at canter
- Jump 2’6” cross country
- Jump 3’ course in ring
- Turn on haunches
- Shoulder-in and shoulder-out
- Gallop
- Know common illnesses and unsoundnesses
- Describe canter, counter canter, pace
- Learn about hooves and shoeing
- Know how to use spurs
- Drive a horse