HORSEMANSHIP CLASS OVERVIEW
The goal of the this class is to introduce beginner equestrians to the skills and experience
required to start the Switch Willo Riding Academy successfully and confidently.
Tentative Schedule:
Week 1
• Barn tour and horse introduction
o Instructor / student introductions. Ice breakers.
o Barn and camp house tour
o Meet/greet small pony from lesson program; learn how to feed treats, learn how to stand around apony.
o Barn tour should include introduction to the horse assignment sheet.
Week 2
• Grooming 101
o Introduce the students to each grooming tool. Teach them how to collect their grooming supplies and bring to tack-up stall.
§ Game option: place grooming tools in yard. Ask students to find one of each tool and put into their bucket.
§ Craft option: coloring book for grooming tools.
o Meet/greet a new pony from lesson program. Re-teach how to feed treats and how to stand around a pony safely.
Week 3
• Grooming 101 Round 2
o Remind students how to collect their grooming supplies and bring to tack-up stalls.
o Meet/greet a new pony/small horse from lesson program. Remind students how to stand around a pony/horse safely.
o Teach grooming techniques – curry comb, body brush, hoof pic, tail/mane.
o Educate on why grooming is important.
Week 4
• Tack-Up 101
o Introduce students to each piece of tack: halter, bridle, saddle, saddle pads, boots. Use camphouse wood horse to introduce saddle / pads placement.
o Meet/greet a new pony/small horse from lesson program. Allow students to groom that pony/horse with supervision.
o Show students how to tack-up
§ Remind them how to feed a treat / how to stand around the pony/horse safely.
Week 5
• Tack-Up 101 Round 2
o Remind students how to collect their grooming supplies / tack and place at tack-up stalls.
o Meet/greet a new pony from lesson program.
o Allow students to groom the horse by themselves, less direct supervision.
o Re-teach tacking up a horse. Allow each student to place saddle pads/saddle on pony.
o Teach students how to put away all of their materials for the day
Week 6
• Leading a Horse 101
o Allow students to groom and fully tack-up a pony/horse.
o Instructor will teach students how to properly lead a horse.
§ This should include walking forward, turning around, halting, and backing up.
§ Recommendation: Use poles and cones for an obstacle course setting – this will also begin to introduce learning a sequence, AKA learning a course.
o Have students completely un-tack the pony/horse and properly put away all of their materials for the day.
Week 7
• Getting Ready to Ride
o Teach students how to:
§ Mount
§ Hold reins properly
§ Post
§ Two-point
§ Dismount
§ Repeat several times.
o Show fun (but educationally correct) videos of horseback riding. i.e., horse shows, clips of good riderson social media, pictures of local horse shows, etc.
o Get out a pony/horse for leading exercises to finish the day.
Week 8
• Getting Ready to Ride Round 2
o Have students show you what they learned from Getting Ready to Ride Part One while on wood horse: mount, hold reins, post, two-point, dismount.
o Allow students to groom and fully tack-up a pony/horse.
o Have each student correctly mount the pony/horse from mounting block. Have them show you how they hold the reins properly, how to post (at a halt), how to two-point, and how to properly dismount.
§ Recommendation: allow each student to sit on the pony/horse and take a minute to feel comfortable. Let them pet their neck, give them a hug, reach back with their hand to their tail. All of those actions will help them feel comfortable in their surroundings.
o Have students completely un-tack the pony/horse and properly put away all of their materials for the day.
Week 9
• Getting Ready to Ride Round 3
o Allow students to groom and fully tack-up a pony/horse.
o Have each student take a turn leading the pony/horse.
o Have each student mount and walk on the pony/horse.
§ Demonstrate proper rein holding, post at walk, two-point at walk, dismount.
Have students completely un-tack the pony/horse and properly put away all of their materials for the day.