INSTRUCTOR S GUIDE TO THE USPC ACHIEVEMENT BADGE PROGRAM FOR RIDING BADGES
This program was designed to develop a sense of achievement in between ratings for members working at the D-Levels. It also gives instructors another tool to teach basic knowledge of horse care and sets a foundation for ratings. Currently this program is in the testing phase and twenty badges are available ten in horsemanship (introduced January 006, separate Instructor s Booklet available) and ten in riding skills with this booklet. Your feedback is appreciated and will help shape the program into a constructive tool to be used throughout USPC. Badges should be awarded in an enjoyable arrangement for both members and instructors, allowing the members to confidently demonstrate the knowledge they have gained. It is up to the individual clubs and centers to devise a system for the awarding of badges. The aim of this program is to steer away from a formal atmosphere of testing and allow members to express as much of their knowledge as possible in a practical manner. This booklet was created to outline the objective and goals for each badge. It also gives the page numbers of The United States Pony Club Manual of Horsemanship, D Level, where discussion on particular goals can be found. Sample riding patterns demonstrating the skills required for a badge have been included in this booklet. However, they are suggested patterns only, and they should be adapted to fit the arena/ring and the temperament of the mount involved. When all skills and goals have been successfully met, a badge may be awarded. Badges are available from the USPC Bookstore. Orders may be placed by Pony Club and Riding Center leaders at www.ponyclub.org or by calling 89/-. Horsemanship Sportsmanship Leadership Stewardship The United States Pony Clubs, Inc. 0 Iron Works Parkway Lexington, KY 0 89--7669 www.ponyclub.org
MOUNT/DISMOUNT OBJECTIVE: To be able to safely mount and dismount while maintaining control of mount. Perform a safety check, describing each step. Mount safely while maintaining control of the mount. Describe three () things NOT to do when mounting. Dismount safely while maintaining control of the mount. Safety Check: p. Mounting: p. -6 Dismounting: p. 6-7 BALANCED SEAT/ GOOD HANDS OBJECTIVE: To have and maintain a balanced seat while riding and to be able to hold the reins properly, keeping them at the correct length while maintaining control of mount without pulling on mount s mouth. Maintain a balanced seat while riding. Describe how to sit properly in the saddle. Describe the proper position for the legs, feet, head, shoulders, arms and hands. Hold the reins properly. Shorten and lengthen the reins properly while maintaining control of mount. Describe two examples of improper rein handling. Seat Position: p. 8-, 9 Holding the Reins: p. - Shorten and Lengthen Reins: p. - Improper Rein Handling: p.
6 8 WALK 7 9 OBJECTIVE: To be able to maintain control of mount at the walk while performing halts, turns, and changes in direction. Perform a simple pattern at the walk. 0 Describe how to ask a mount to walk from a halt. Describe how to ask a mount to halt from a walk. Describe how to ask a mount to turn. Describe how to ask a mount to change direction on the rail. Walking: p. Halt: p. -6 Turn: p. 6-7, 6-8 Change of Direction: p. 6-8, 8 EXAMPLE OF WALKING PATTERN:. Enter the ring at a walk; track left.. Walk down the long side.. Halt before the turn.. Resume walking.. At the end of the ring, make a circle. 6. Walk down the long side. 7. Halfway down the long side, reverse using a ½ circle. 8. Continue walking around the ring. Walk 9. Change direction through the center of the ring. 0. Walk -0 steps on the long side.. Halt.
6, 7 9 0 TROT 8 OBJECTIVE: To be able to maintain control of mount at the trot (posting or sitting) while performing halts, turns, changes in direction, and transitions to and from the walk. Describe the gait of the trot. Be able to properly ask for a trot. Perform transitions to and from the walk. Perform a simple pattern at the trot. Trotting: p. 9-0 Transitions: p. - EXAMPLE OF TROTTING PATTERN: (Downward transitions should be made through the walk.). Enter the ring at a walk; track left.. Trot down the long side.. Halfway down the long side, make a trot-towalk transition.. Before the turn, pick up the trot.. Circle at the end of the ring. 6. After completion of circle, halt. 7. Pick up the walk and proceed down the long side of the ring. 8. Halfway down the long side, reverse using a ½ circle. 9. Before the turn, pick up the trot and continue around the turn at the trot. Walk Trot 0. Half way down the long side, change direction through the center of the ring.. Trot -0 steps on the long side.. Halt.
, 7 8a DIAGONALS 6 8b OBJECTIVE: To be able to maintain control of mount at the posting trot while picking up the correct diagonal, showing change in diagonal, performing halts, turns, changes in direction, and transitions to and from the walk. Describe posting and be able to post the trot. 0 9 Walk Trot Explain why posting on the correct diagonal is important. Be able to pick up the correct diagonal and perform changes in diagonal. Perform transitions from the walk to the posting trot and from the posting trot to the walk. Perform a simple pattern at the posting trot. Posting: p. - Diagonals: p. 9-6 EXAMPLE OF POSTING TROT PATTERN: (Downward transitions should be made through the walk. Posting should be done on the correct diagonal, unless otherwise noted.). Enter the ring at a walk; track left.. Pick up a posting trot down the long side.. Circle at the end of the ring.. At completion of circle, sit the trot around the turn.. After the turn, make a trot-to-walk transition. 6. Halfway down the long side, reverse using a ½ circle. 7. Before the turn, pick up a posting trot. 8. Down the long side show two changes of posting diagonals. 9. After the turn, make a trot-to-walk transition. 0. Entering the turn, pick up a sitting trot.. After the turn, pick up a posting trot.. Halfway down the long side, change direction and posting diagonal through the center of the ring.. Circle at the end of the ring.. Halfway down the long side, halt.
8 7 HALF-SEAT/JUMPING POSITION 6 OBJECTIVE: To be able to maintain control of mount while positioning oneself in and out of a half-seat and maintaining a jumping position at the walk and trot. Describe the half-seat/jumping position. Demonstrate the half-seat/jumping position at the walk and trot on the rail and over ground poles. 0 Half-seat Position: p. 0-, -6 Jumping Position: p. 67-68 9 EXAMPLE OF HALF-SEAT PATTERN: (Downward transitions should be made through the walk. Posting should be done on the correct diagonal.). Enter the ring at a walk; track left.. Walk down the long side.. Halfway down the long side, assume halfseat position over poles.. Before turn pick up a trot.. Three-quarters of the way down long side, assume half-seat position over poles and around turn. 6. After turn return to saddle. 7. Halfway down the long side, assume halfseat position over poles. Walk Trot 8. After turn, assume half-seat position, and change direction through the center of the ring. 9. Before the turn, return to saddle and make a trot-to-walk transition. 0. After turn, assume half-seat over poles.. Before turn pick up a trot.. Halfway down the long side, assume halfseat over poles.. Before turn, halt.
CANTER OBJECTIVE: To be able to maintain control of mount at the canter while performing transitions to and from the trot, walk, and halt. Describe the canter. Describe and be able to properly ask for the canter. Maintain a proper seat and control of the mount at the canter. Be able to properly and safely come back from a canter to a trot, a walk and halt. Perform a simple pattern at the canter. 6 7 Canter: p. 6 Canter Aids: p. 6-6 Riding the Canter: p. 6-6, 6-66 Transitions from the Canter: p. 6 EXAMPLE OF A CANTER PATTERN: (Downward transitions should be made through the trot and walk. All transitions to the canter should be made through a sitting trot. Posting should be done on correct diagonal.). Enter the ring at a walk; track left.. On the long side, pick up the canter and canter once around the ring.. Make a canter-to-walk transition.. Before the turn, pick up a trot. Walk Trot Canter. After the turn, change direction through the center of the ring. 6. Before the turn, pick up the canter and canter once around the ring. 7. After the turn, halt. 6
6 CANTER LEADS OBJECTIVE: To be able to maintain control of mount at the canter, while performing changes of leads, and transitions to and from the trot, walk, and halt. Describe canter leads. Explain the importance of a mount being on the correct lead and be able to properly pick up the correct lead. Perform a simple pattern at the canter. Lead: p. 6 Correct Lead: p. 6-6 EXAMPLE OF CANTER PATTERN WITH LEADS: (Downward transitions may be made through the trot and walk. All transitions to the canter should be made through a sitting trot. Posting should be done on correct diagonal.). Enter the ring at a walk; track left.. On the long side, pick up the canter on the correct lead.. Circle at the end of the ring.. After the turn, make a canter-to-trot transition and go down the long side.. After the turn, pick up the canter on the correct lead, go down the long side. 6. After the turn, change direction and canter lead (through a walk or trot) through the center of the ring. 7. After the turn, make a canter-to-walk transition and walk around the ring. 7 Walk Trot Canter 8. Pick up a trot. 9. After the turn, pick up the canter on the correct lead. 0. Circle at the end of the ring.. After the turn, change direction and lead (through a walk or trot) through the center of the ring.. Before the turn, halt. 8 0 9 7
JUMPING OBJECTIVE: To be able to demonstrate a basic understanding of safe jumping equipment, simple jump set-up, and jumping position and be able to maintain correct position and control of mount while jumping. List seven rules for safe and fun jumping. Describe and demonstrate correct jumping position. Describe safe set-up of a jump. Jump a simple course at the trot and/or canter. Jumping Rules: p. 66-67, 09-0 Jumping Position: p. 67-7, Jump Set-Up: p. 7-7 JUMPING COURSE EXAMPLE: Describe to the instructor which direction the jumps should be approached. Perform the course at a trot and/or canter. 8
RIDING IN THE OPEN OBJECTIVE: To be able to ride with confidence outside the ring in an open space while maintaining control of mount and showing good manners when riding in a group. Exhibit calm demeanor when/if mount shies or gets nervous and be able to reassure mount. Be able to ride up and down hills and over natural terrain in a safe and secure manner. List five () common courtesy rules for riding in a group and exhibit these manners. List seven (7) common courtesy rules for riding on public or privately owned land and, if applicable, exhibit these manners. Describe how to use the pulley rein and circling to control a mount that is getting too strong. Riding in the Open: p. 79-8, 6-7 Riding in a Group: p. 8-8, - Riding on Public or Private Land: p. 8-8 Pulley Rein: p. Circling for Control: p. 9
MEMBER S RESULT SHEET DATE ACHIEVED MOUNT/ BAL. SEAT/ HALF-SEAT/ CANTER RIDING NAME OF MEMBER DISMOUNT GOOD HANDS WALK TROT DIAGONALS JUMPING POS. CANTER LEADS JUMPING IN OPEN..... 6. 7. 8. 9. 0...... 6. 7. 8. 9. 0.