Course Outline

Training the young horse - Initial Education:

· Desirable qualities of the prospective trainer
· Psychology of the young horse
· Psychology of the training progression
· Mechanism of the gaits and principles of movement
· General progression of the initial training programme
· Principles of work on the longe line and free longeing
· Methods of training : reward and persistence
· Initial training equipment.

Preparatory work: Giving the horse Confidence (Gound work)

· Teaching the horse to lead, turn, halt and back up on request
· Grooming and picking up the feet
· Teaching the horse to stand tied and cross tied
· Longeing, free and on the line, voice commands
· Use of trotting poles and small cavaletti
· Familiarizing the horse to saddle and bridle, blanketing, bandaging
· Introducing the horse to the rider’s weight and movements
· Mounting and dismounting.
· Basic stable manners.

Introducing the horse to the basic aids

The basic aids are: weight, seat, legs and hands

Work in an enclosed area

· Mounting from the ground and from a mounting block
· The first mounted lessons off the longe, travelling straight
· Teaching the cues for walk, halt, trot, canter, direction changes, back up
· Introduction to the presence of other horses and riders

Work cross country and over varied terrain

· Teaching confidence and obedience within a group and alone
· Outside work : when, speeds, frequency, balance
· Introduction to small natural obstacles encountered cross country, and cavaletti