TABLE OF CONTENTS. Reference- Forms & Policies 22nd District Agriculture Indemnity Form CEC Indemnity Form CEC Policies

Transcription

1 1. Safety Rules 2. Questionaire 3. Tests 4. Achievement Skills 5. Appendix Reference- Horsemanship Parts of the horse Parts of the bridle Parts of the saddle Gaits Conformation TABLE OF CONTENTS Reference- Ring Diagrams Center Line Middle Line Diagonal Line Quarter Line Half-Circle Reverse of Direction Circle Three-Loop Serpentine Shallow Broken Line Reference- Forms & Policies 22nd District Agriculture Indemnity Form CEC Indemnity Form CEC Policies In front pocket --- Forms to be signed and returned to CEC In back pocket --- Prices of all CEC services

2 Welcome We are pleased that you are joining us as a new student at Concord Equestrian Center. Mark Conley is the owner and head trainer of CEC. Under his guidance we have developed a program in our riding school that will guide you and/or your child through the fundamentals of classical balanced riding as well as horsemanship in a safe and fun manner. To make the experience more fullfilling please read through this packet as well as the suggested readings. Within this packet you will find a questionaire, tests, exercises and diagrams that will help the student approach each lesson well informed and with a sense of purpose. In addition to teaching riding we also teach horsemanship skills. These include but are not limited to; how to properly lead a horse or pony, understanding the personality of the horse or pony, grooming, tacking up and further indepth care of the animal. We hope that you have considered the time committment that it takes to pick up a new sport. To best benefit from our program we feel that sudents must take two lessons a week for the first two months of riding. One lesson a week will be focused on horse care with some riding and the second lesson will be focused on riding. As the student s horsemanship skills become more developed more time will be spent riding. Be aware that horseback riding is a physical sport. The skills a rider will learn become easier as the rider becomes stronger. Just as in any sport, repetition is important. For this reason, it is not suprising that a student will improve exponentially the more frequently they are able to ride. That being said, we encourage students and parents to openly communicate their goals and ask as many questions as come to mind. If two lessons a week is absolutely impossible for you please inform your instructor and she will adapt our program to your needs. We wish to tailor our program to the student s personality and ambitions while maintaining the integrity of what we consider to be a safe and well developed teaching program. At CEC we encourage people of all ages to participate at every level. We both those who do and do not ride to come out and watch all the competitions held at Del Mar Horsepark. Additionally we hold both beginner and advanced summer camps. Please inquire with your instructor for further information.

3 Safety Rules 1. No yelling or screaming 2. Walk don t run 3. Always walk around the front of the horse/pony, never behind the horse or through the legs 4. Never sit or kneel by the horse/pony, you may crouch or squat to clean the legs of the horse 5. Watch your fingers, always feed the horse with an open palm or give them treats in their bucket in their stall 6. Always wear closed toed shoes when working around the horses 7. No chewing gum while riding 8. Never leave your horse unattended, but if you absolutely must, remember never to attach the crossties to the bit, please place the halter back over the bridle and attach the crossties to the halter 9. When you are not riding always run the stirrups up 10. Always pass other horses left shoulder to left shoulder while riding and while leading 11. Please make others aware that you are leaving or approaching the crossties 12. Please make certain that all children working around the horse have releases signed on their behalf

4 CEC Questionaire Please take a few moments to answer these simple questions to help us tailor our program to your family. NAME (adult) For minor address(s) Do you and/or your child have any previous horse experience? If so,please explain What is your biggest concern about horses and ponies? What are the other activities that your child participates in? Are you and/or your child interested in watching the horse shows? Do you or your child want to ride as a sport or a hobby? Is owning a horse/pony a possibility in the future? If the rider is a child: What is your favorite thing about horses? What do you think is the scariest thing about a horse? What is your favorite subject in school? What is your favorite color?

5 CEC RIDING TESTS The following tests are designed to help the student track his/her progress and give direction for future development. In a nutshell, they allow us to discover just how accomplished each equestrian is becoming! The fee for each test is $55 and the test will be held at an agreed upon appointed time outside of the students regularly scheduled lessons. Best of luck!

6 LEVEL 1 Safety/Horsemanship/Basic Riding Skills Safety: Student can recite the safety rules Horsemanship skills: Student can lead the horse/pony correctly and with confidence Student understands how to groom and properly care for the horse/pony before the lesson Student understands how to tack up the horse/pony Student understands how to clean the tack after the lesson Student knows the basic parts of the bridle and saddle Basic Riding Skills: Student knows the three step to prepare to mount Student can use the mounting block and ground mount with or without a leg up Student is able to do the following at the halt and walk on the loungeline; Pick-up the reins, shorten them, and then drop and pick the reins back up Drop and pick up the stirrups Close eyes and ride with hand above head Student is able to do the following at the walk and trot on the loungeline; Two-point or half-seat position Sitting trot without hands Posting trot without hands Use crop with bridged reins Student is also correctly able to ask the horse/pony to transition from the halt to the walk, walk to trot, trot to walk and walk to halt.

7 LEVEL 2 Horsemanship/Basic Riding Skills 2 Horsemanship skills: Student can identify 10 parts of the horse/pony Student has bathed a horse/pony in one of their lessons Student understands proper care of the hooves, can identify thrush and apply hoof oil Student has taken apart and put together a bridle as part of a lesson Student can lead the horse/pony through an obstacle course Basic Riding Skills: Student can identify correct diagonal Student can identify center line, middle line, diagonal line and quarter line Student can perform simple figures at the walk and trot; Half circle reverse Circle Serpentine Change of direction accross a diagonal line Student can trot several times around the arena w/o stirrups, posting and sitting Student can correctly trot a set of poles both posting and in half-seat

8 LEVEL 3 Horsemanship/Basic Riding Skills Horsemanship skills: Student understands the footfalls of the horse at the walk, trot and canter Student knows the length of a normal horse or pony trot step Student knows the length of a normal horse or pony stride Student can identify different types of bits and their uses Student can identify parts of the leg Basic Riding Skills: Student can canter without stirrups Student can perform a correct half-seat walk, trot and canter Student can count steps or strides trot and canter over poles Student understands and can perform simple lead changes Student can perform simple course work trot/canter Student can correctly perform clock exercise at the walk and trot and is working at canter

9 EXERCISES The following are lists of the types of exercises we will use to build your skill set.

10 AT THE STAND STILL- These exercises are used to gauge and establish the riders comfort on top of the horse as well as to teach some basic skills, ie how to properly pick up the reins. Often done in the order noted below. EXERCISES Pick up and shorten reins Pick up and drop stirrups Lift hands above head, in front of body and out at sides Stand up in stirrups Stand up in stirrups, toes down Stand up in stirrups, toes up Reach up and touch mount s ears Reach back and touch mount s tail Touch each hand to opposite foot Half-seat, knuckles on neck Half-seat, hands on hips Half seat, hands out by sides Pick up and shorten reins Pick up and drop stirrups

11 LOUNGELINE EXERCISES --- All exercises, unless otherwise noted, may be performed at the walk, trot and canter. These exercises can be modified to be used off the lungeline as well. EXERCISE Ride with eyes closed Lift hands above head, in front of body, and out at sides At the walk, stand up in stirrups, point toes down/point toes up Reach up and touch mount s ears Reach back and touch mount s tail Touch each hand to opposite foot Half-seat, knuckles on neck Half-seat, hands on hips Half seat, hands out by sides Feel the hind legs, identify inside hind moving forward/pushing off Sitting trot holding the saddle Sitting trot with one hand on hip, or above the head Sitting trot with both hands on hips Sitting trot with both hand above the head Posting trot holding the saddle Posting trot with one hand on hip, or above the head Posting trot with both hands on hips Posting trot with both hands above the head Pick up the correct diagonal by feeling and check the outside shoulder to confirm Down, Down, Up Up, Up, Down Canter holding saddle Canter one hand on hip Canter both hands on hips Ride with out stirrups holding saddle-all gaits Ride withut stirrups one hand on hip--all gaits Ride without stirrups both hand on hips-all gaits

12 FLAT EXERCISES- These exercises will help the rider learn how to ride both sides of the horses body, combining the aids of the leg, seat, and hand with the eye to perfect the shape of each figure. EXERCISE Half-Circle Reverse Circle Serpentine Up/Down the middle line Across the center line Up/Down the quarter line on either side Across the diagonal line F-H Across the diagonal line M-K Shallow broken line JUMPING EXERCISES - These exercises combine the skills learned through the flat exercises with counting thereby learning where the horse is in relation to the obstacle at all times. EXERCISE Clock exercise with poles Single pole on quarter line Multiple poles on quarter line Count steps in between poles Single pole on diagonal line Multiple poles on diagonal line Count stride between poles

13 POSITION EXERCISES- These exercises help the rider focus on the smaller details with regard to position that will thus allow the rider to perform the flat and jumping exercises with greater precision and ease. SKILL Can keep heels down Can keep thumbs up Sits straight in the saddle Looks straight ahead Can look ahead through a turn Can use a proper opening rein Can use the outside rein Can use each leg seperately HORSEMANSHIP- In additon to riding, these are skills that we feel are essential to every rider s tool kit. KNOWLEDGE SKILLS Part of horse Parts of bridle Parts of saddle Knows how to groom Knows how to clean tack properly How to identify and treat minor cuts and abrasions Different types of bits and the uses of each How to put on shin boots How to wrap the legs with both polos and standing wraps Knows length of trot step for horse & pony Knows length of stride for horse & pony

14 APPENDIX Reference- Horsemanship Parts of the horse Parts of the bridle Parts of the saddle Gaits Conformation Ring Diagrams- Figures Center Line Middle Line Diagonal Line Quarter Line Half-Circle Reverse of Direction Circle Three-Loop Serpentine Shallow Broken Line Reference- Forms & Policies 22nd District Agriculture Indemnity Form CEC Indemnity Form CEC Policies

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20 A F K B CENTER LINE E M H C

21 A F K B MIDDLE LINE E M H C

22 A F K B DIAGONAL LINE E M H C

23 A F K B QUARTER LINE E M H C

24 A F K B HALF CIRCLE REVERSE IN DIRECTION E M H C

25 A F K B CIRCLE AT A E M H C

26 A F K B THREE LOOP SERPENTINE E M H C

27 A F K B SHALLOW BROKEN LINE E M H C

28 A F K B E M H C