🐎 Rocking Horse Ranch — Stride Level Checklist

🌱 Level: Lead Line

Students at this level demonstrate basic comfort and readiness to participate in structured lessons.

Requirements:

• Lead the horse independently

• Comfortable steering the horse independently

• Able to follow simple 3-step instructions

• Attention span appropriate for a full one-hour lesson

OR

• Riding experience of 6+ months

🐎 Level: Beginner

Students develop foundational horsemanship skills, safety awareness, and basic riding control.

Horsemanship & Barn Skills

• Basic understanding of grooming

• Name common grooming tools

• Name horse tack used for lessons

• Tack up horse independently (saddle may be assisted)

• Lead and back horse from the ground

• Hose horse with assistance

• Put away tack correctly:

  • Hang halter and bridle properly

  • Tie the latigo and hang the cinch

• Demonstrate barn awareness & etiquette

Riding Knowledge & Skills

• Name the 4 natural aids

• Name the 4 gaits of the horse

• Walk independently

• Halt correctly

• Steer with control

• Walk without stirrups

• Perform the 3 ways to ride the trot (at the walk, no reins)

Safety Skills

• Emergency dismount at the walk

• One-rein stop at the walk

Progression Requirement

✔ Completed 4 group lessons at this level

🐎 Level: Intermediate 1 & 2

Students build independence, consistency at the trot, and deeper horsemanship knowledge.

Intermediate 1 Skills

• Hose horse independently

• Name parts of the horse

• Bridle with assistance

• Properly apply fly spray

• Halter a horse correctly

• Arena awareness & etiquette

• Sitting and posting trot

• Properly tighten & loosen reins while riding

• Back up horse while mounted

• Understand basic horse terms (colors, mare, gelding, foal, etc.)

Intermediate 2 Skills

• Perform safety check independently

• Mount independently

• Adjust stirrups independently

• Post on the correct diagonal

• 2-point / standing trot

• Trot without stirrups

• Emergency dismount at the trot

• One-rein stop at the trot

• Catch horse from pasture independently

• Lead horse through gate safely without letting others in

• Identify signs of lameness

• Basic tack care:

  • Oil a saddle

  • Reassemble a bridle

Progression Requirement

✔ Completed 4 group lessons at this level

🐎 Level: Advanced

Riders demonstrate independence, strong horsemanship knowledge, and confident riding at all gaits.

Horsemanship Knowledge

• Bridle horse independently

• Identify horse breeds and their characteristics

• Understand collection and headset

• Understand horse body language

• Recognize signs of colic, distress, or discomfort

• Know feeding routines

Riding Skills

• Ride with split reins

• Change diagonals independently

• Identify correct lead at the canter

• Ask for correct lead independently

• Half seat / 2-point at the canter

• Canter without stirrups

• Demonstrate neck reining

• Perform leg yields

Safety & Care Skills

• Emergency dismount at the canter

• One-rein stop at the canter

• Basic equine first aid:

  • Hydrotherapy — when and why

  • Wrapping legs

  • Cleaning wounds

  • Recognizing abscesses

Progression Requirement

✔ Completed 4 group lessons at this level