New to Horses
A person registering at this level will have no horse experience at all, or only have had the occasional commercial trail ride. No knowledge of how to catch, handle, groom, tack, or actively ride a horse. Ages accepted from age 7 and up.**
Note: at this time, we are unable to accomodate riders over 230 lbs for mounted lessons. If you wish to participate over that weight limit, we are happy to teach you all about horses in unmounted lessons. There is so much more to horses than riding.
A rider may be simultaneously at New to Horses and Rider 101 level. Once all badges are earned, a New to Horses student would be considered automatically to be at the Rider 101 level and able to work toward a Bronze medal.
Students at this level can expect to learn:
Proper, safe horse handling skills including catching, haltering, tying (several types), grooming, tacking Longeing (walk/trot/canter)
Mounting from a block and from the ground
Basics of steering
Halt to walk/walk to halt transitions
Riding at a walk on the longeline
The beginnings of independent walk work
Proper equitation in the saddle
Safe dismounting
**The student must have the physical ability to handle and ride a horse. This means being able to stand and walk independently, stand on one foot, move quickly out of the way in case of a sudden movement by the horse, have good balance both while on the ground and while mounted, be able to hear and understand verbal instructions given by the teacher, be able to see well enough to guide the horse, and have the fitness to stand in the stirrups and mount as well as lift a saddle. Horseback riding is a physical activity requiring a moderate level of fitness at the minimum. An obese or unfit rider will be harder for the horse to carry and effectively balance, as well as have difficulty balancing themselves in the saddle. Every effort will be made to accommodate unfit riders in unmounted activities, but be aware that fitness level may impact your ability to participate in mounted lessons.**