We love seeing our riders grow in confidence, skills and move up to the next level of progress.
Progress notes for both children & adults can be recorded in "My Riding Progress" notebooks which can be picked up from the office so that riders can start documenting their learning.
Levels of Progress
Level 0 BASIC
BASIC Child Start to Ride (CB) & Adult - Start to Ride (AB) BASIC
Learning: position & technique; sitting and rising trot on lead rein
Promoted when: secure seat and not holding saddle in trot and growing in confidence and pony awareness
Test: when Coach invites you verbally to next level; please confirm with Office
Level 1 NOVICE
Child Novice (CB1) & Adult - Start to Ride PLUS (AB+)
Learning: mount and dismount; adjust own stirrups and girth; walk, trot with and without stirrups; usually on lead rein; ride shapes and transitions; start cantering
Promoted when: cantering with some confidence and capable of getting horse to move by themselves without instructor's help
Test & Trial: may need some private lessons for canter confidence transition; Invitation by Coach to try next level group lesson before confirmation; competition entry encouraged
Level 2
Independent Rider (CB2) & Adult - Start to Ride PLUS (AB+)
Learning: trot & canter independently with and without stirrups; canter without holding the saddle; pole work and learning the 5 phases of jumping.
Promoted when: ready to apply technique to more challenging/greener horses
Test & Trial: may need some private lessons for next horse level transition; Invitation by Coach to try next level group lesson before confirmation; expectation to manage horse tacking/untacking; Riding Advance academy eligibility. Competition entry expected
Level 3
Child - Confident Rider (CB3) & Adult - Intermediate (AB1)
Learning: trot & canter independently with and without stirrups; canter without holding the saddle; pole work and learning the 5 phases of jumping. CB3s will be riding more demanding horses and situations and adjusting their riding to the horse's way of going, improving their jumping technique/grid work
Promoted when: ready to apply technique to more challenging/greener horses
Test & Trial: Invitation by Coach to try next level group lesson & demanding horses before confirmation; Riding Advance academy eligibility. Competition entry expected
Level 4
Child - Balanced Rider (CB4) & Adult - Advanced (AB2)
Learning: ride in to a contact; lateral work; understand what is happening beneath you
Test & Trial: Riding Advance academy eligibility. Competition entry expected