 Know and discuss safety rules in barn, pasture and arena.
 Describe safe riding attire; demonstrate how to correctly fit a helmet.
 Catch horse in stall and pasture, with safe technique.
 Demonstrate safe leading from near side, both in barn and through doorways/gates.
 Tie horse safely, using an effective quick-release knot.
 Demonstrate basic grooming to prepare a horse for a ride.
 Know names and functions of basic grooming tools.
 Demonstrate picking out hooves safely, with knowledge of reasons for basic hoof care.
 Know parts of the horse, to include: withers, poll, croup, hock, fetlock, etc.
 Know parts and functions of saddle and bridle.
 Know how to store tack correctly, and give at least two reasons for cleaning tack and equipment.
 Know basic rules for feeding.
 Be able to identify good and bad hay, grain, and water.
 Demonstrate mucking and re-bedding a stall, cleaning stall thoroughly and efficiently.

 Tack and untack independently, in twenty minutes or less.
 Demonstrate how to adjust stirrups and cinch.
 Perform an emergency dismount at the jog.
 Demonstrate use of disengagement and pulley rein by halting horse from jog.
 Ride smooth transitions between the walk, jog, and halt, maintaining balanced position.
 Demonstrate consistent posting rhythm at the jog.
 Demonstrate the following maneuvers at walk and jog:
 Large circle
 Figure-8
 Serpentine
 Half circle, half-turn and change of direction across diagonal
 Ride WDAA Intro Test 1, showing knowledge of elementary dressage terms and figures.
 Ride on the longe at walk and jog without stirrups and reins.
 Drop stirrups and pick up again, without looking down, at the walk.
 Ride at the jog without stirrups, once around arena.
 Stand in stirrups at the jog, developing ability to remain balanced independent of hands.
 Ride grid of three or more poles, demonstrating ability to stay with the horse’s motion at walk and jog.
 Ride a ground pole course at the jog with opening and closing circles, good approaches.

 Demonstrate ability to safely catch horse in both stall and field.
 Prepare for a lesson independently in fifteen minutes or less.
 Discuss procedure for warm up, cool down; with consideration of weather, footing, fitness level of horse.
 Ride the lope on the rail, in both directions.
 Demonstrate the following maneuvers:
 Reinback
 Rating speed at walk and jog
 Large circle at lope
 Change of direction at the lope with simple change of lead
 Demonstrate awareness of posting diagonals, including change of diagonal when changing rein.
 Demonstrate awareness of leads.
 Ride the jog for a minimum of five minutes without stirrups.
 Drop stirrups and pick up again, without looking down, at the jog.
 Lope over a single ground pole.
 Jog over a grid of poles with reins knotted and arms outstretched.
 Ride barrel pattern at the jog, both sitting and posting.
 Ride bareback confidently at the walk and jog, balancing independently of hands.

 Know and demonstrate a minimum of four exercises that can be used to improve the seat.
 Ride ring figures at the jog, sitting and posting with correct diagonals.
 Demonstrate knowledge of aids used for asking horse to correctly bend.
 Ride accurate transitions between the jog and lope.
 Ride a 20m circle at the walk, jog, and lope, with correct diagonals and leads.
 Ride WDAA Basic Test 1 with accurate transitions and ring figures.
 Ride at the walk, jog, and lope without stirrups.
 Lope over grid of two or more poles, maintaining rhythm.
 Lope over a related distance of ground poles.
 Ride barrel pattern at the lope, with simple change of lead.
 Ride a trail course of 6 or more obstacles.
 Demonstrate an effective use of disengagement and pulley rein by stopping horse from lope.
 Ride in the open, up and down hills and over fences and natural obstacles at the walk and jog.

 Demonstrate self-directed, progressive warm-up routine.
 Maintain appropriate light contact, demonstrating long rein and loose rein when asked.
 Demonstrate the following maneuvers:
 Turn on the forehand
 Turn on the haunches
 Figure-8 at lope
 Serpentine at lope

 Demonstrate ring figures at all three gaits, with awareness of bend and balance.
 Ride ring figures at the walk, jog and lope without stirrups.
 Be able to drop and pick up stirrups at all gaits without looking down.
 Ride the hand gallop.
 Demonstrate balanced light seat appropriate for galloping, at the walk, jog, and lope.
 Lope over grid of 3 or more poles, with and without reins and/or stirrups.
 Jump a course of ground poles at the lope, with smooth turns, good approaches and correct leads.
 Jump a single 18” crossrail.
 Ride in the open in a group, maintaining control.
 Complete a trail ride of one hour or more.

 Ride on the longe line at all three gaits, without stirrups/ reins, performing balancing and suppling exercises.
 Identify posting diagonals and leads through feel.
 Demonstrate the following maneuvers:
 20m, 15m and 10m circles at walk and jog
 Simple change of lead on a straight line
 Leg yield, from quarter line to rail, at walk and jog
 Sidepass
 Ride direct transitions between the jog, halt and reinback.
 Demonstrate a walk to lope transition, returning to walk with three or fewer steps of jog.
 Ride lope to halt in three or fewer steps.
 Ride WDAA Basic Test 3, demonstrating accuracy, forward rhythm, light contact, correct bend on circles and through
corners.
 Set poles for walk, jog and lope, demonstrating knowledge of stride length and distances.
 Jump a small fence, 18” maximum, with and without stirrups and/or reins.
 Lope a course of 6 or more ground poles without stirrups.
 Maintain a galloping position at the walk, jog and lope, for a minimum of five minutes.
 Ride at the gallop in the open with control and a secure position.
 Negotiate trail obstacles, to include:
 Opening and closing gate
 Water crossing
 Ditch
 Bridge

 Discuss basic dressage theory, showing knowledge of the training pyramid and use of natural aids.
 Discuss appropriate use of artificial aids and training devices.
 Demonstrate a self-directed, progressive schooling session, with consideration of mount’s strengths and weaknesses.
 Ride various ring figures at walk, jog and lope, demonstrating rhythm, relaxation, bend and connection. Horse should
work through the back with acceptance of light aids.
 Ride accurate, balanced transitions, including halts and transitions between the walk and lope.
 Demonstrate the following maneuvers:
 Turn on the haunches
 Leg yield
 Shoulder-in
 Haunches-in
 Countercanter
 Ride a simple change of lead through the walk or a flying change of lead, appropriate to the horse.
 Demonstrate lengthening and shortening stride, developing medium and collected gaits.
 Ride and evaluate an unfamiliar horse, to include work at all three gaits and through basic ring figures.
 Demonstrate proficiency riding with one hand, to include:
 Horsemanship pattern
 Trail course of 8 or more obstacles, including sidepass
 Speed event pattern with changes of lead as required
 Design a polework exercise and discuss conditioning benefits.
 Ride across varying terrain at all three gaits, demonstrating balance of horse and rider while negotiating hills and
banks.
 Participate in at least one of the following activities:
 Working cattle
 Introductory reining pattern
 Trail ride of four or more hours, on a horse demonstrating appropriate conditioning