Atlanta Riding Mounted Skills Syllabus
WHAT LEVEL RIDER ARE YOU?
Becoming a good rider involves
repetition. The skills listed for each level requires hours of practice over
and over. Riders will work on each level 12 to 24 months before moving to the
next level. Everyone progresses at a different rate. Level 1 riders must be
able to perform ring figures posting trot on correct diagonal, without stirrups
and ride 4 lessons in a row without being reminded to keep heel down before
cantering. All level 1 skills need to be strong before moving to Level 2. There are no short cuts for mastering the
material.
LEVEL 1
Mount/dismount
Correctly girth
Two point at walk and trot
Correctly adjust stirrups
Posting trot
Good use of eyes/ track
Reins adjusted correctly
Leg and hand position
Ring figures
Diagonals
Sit and post at trot without
stirrups
Drop and pick up stirrups and
walk and trot
Part of tack, parts of horse
Lengthen and shorten stride at
the walk
Intro to leg yield at the walk
Accurate upwards and down ward
transitions
Correctly use a crop
Emergency pulley rein
Intro to Canter work
- position, leads, canter on a circle (pre-novice)
Reading: beg US Pony Club 1st level Manual
Reading: 101 arena exercises
Level 2 (Novice)
Boots, bandages and leg wraps
Show grooming
Anatomy, confirmation,
lameness
Annual vet, farrier, worming,
teeth
Vital signs
Tack fitting
Correctly use a crop
Diagonals by feel
Lengthen and shorten at the
trot
Leg yield
Simple Changes
Canter from Walk
Correctly demonstrate 3 types
of releases over cavelleti
View lessons/intern.
Trot Cross Rails
Indirect rein
Gymanastics, lines
Novice Written test
Reading: Practical Horseman
Reading: Care of the Competition Horse or Grooming to Win by
Susan Harris
Reading: Man who Listens to Horses by Monty Roberts
Reading: US Pony Club Interm. Manual
LEVEL 3 Intermediate
Flying Changes
Canter without stirrups
Cross rails without stirrups
Pick up stirrups at canter
Demonstrate correct use of
outside rein
Lengthen and shorten at canter
Turn on forehand
Turn on haunches
Apply Beginner and novice
skils to a variety of horses
Cantering courses 2 ft to 2.3
Show rules
Types of bits/ride with Pelham
Lunging/side reins
Demonstrate use of crop at
base of jump
Demonstrate proper warm up for
an o/f lesson
Pass advanced written test
Correctly demonstrate all 3
types of releases over a gymnastic
Gymnastics without stirrups
Reading: Practical Horseman
Reading: 101 Jumping Exercises
Reading: George Morris Hunt Seat Eq
Reading: Don’t Shoot the Dog
Reading: Juding Hunters and Eq or any book by Anna Jan
White-Mullen
LEVEL 3 ADVANCED
Feel Leads
Courses 2.6 and up
Flying Changes
Hunter vs Jumper vs Eq courses
& design
Shoulder in/Haunches-in
Working on contact. Veritcal and Lateral flexion.
Counter Canter
Spurs
Be able to apply inter. Skills
to a variety of horses
Jump a course without stirrups
Lessons plan of mounted and
unmounted interm.
Pass all advanced skills on at
least 3 horses
Reading: us Pony Club Advanced Manual
Little Creek Farm
Barn Rules
1.
Visitor
hours are 9am to 5pm Monday through Friday.
All visitors must check in to the barn office. NO visitors are allowed on the property
Saturday, Sunday, or Holidays, except if accompanied by a boarder or rider.
2.
Because
of fire danger, smoking is prohibited anywhere on Little Creek Farm property.
3.
No
running, shouting, or throwing things in or around the barn, pastures, or
parking lot. Upon management’s receipt
of a third complaint about a disruptive or dangerous behavior, that person will
be banned from farm property.
4.
A
parent or guardian must supervise children under the age of 12 while on the
property. Underage relatives or guests
of boarders must be supervised at all times.
5.
For
the safety of humans and horses, guests may not enter pastures without escort
of an adult boarder or rider.
6.
It
is discourteous and potentially dangerous to pet or feed treats to a horse
without the owner’s permission. Please
inform your guests or other visitors that both practices are prohibited without
the owner’s permission.
7.
Parking
is prohibited in front of barn aisles, the front gate, the trash dumpster, and
within a car width of the shavings area.
Please inform your guests and other visitors.
8.
A 10 mph speed limit extends from property
housing to the barn.
9.
Never use flash cameras. Flash can startle horses.
10. A telephone is available for your convenience,
but please keep calls brief. Dial 9 to
place a call. Call waiting MUST be
answered.
11.
Dogs
must be on a leash at all times, as stated in Dekalb County Code 19-31. This WILL be enforced. Dogs are NOT permitted in any of the arenas
or pastures. Aggressive dogs will be
banned from the barn at management’s discretion.
12.
Please
clean up after yourself, dogs, and horses - this includes inside and outside
aisles and in the parking lot. Pick up
all coffee cups, water bottles, and/or other trash, whether it is yours or not. Trash and recycling receptacles are available
throughout the property. Keep out barn
and property clean and tidy!
13.
Report
all horse or human injuries, inappropriate conduct, or unusual activity to barn
management immediately. If management is
not available, use the barn landline phone to dial 911.
14.
Please
TURN OFF all lights and fans when you are finished with them.
15.
No
tack boxes, blanket boxes, or anything else is allowed in front of stalls. Tack trunks placed around the arena must be
cleaned on a regular basis. Please check
with management about placement of your trunk.
All tack trunks must be approved by management.
16.
All
supplements to be stored in feed room must be in boarder-owned plastic
containers approved by management.
17. All stalls must be cleaned 7 days
a week. On weekends and holidays, if you
are unable to clean your horse’s stall, please arrange for someone to do so.
18.
Horses
must be wearing a halter and lead line or bridle when being led.
19.
Do
not leave your horse unattended to graze around the barn.
20. If you are turning out your horse
yourself, turnout time is NO EARLIER than 8:30am.
Special provisions will be made for horses that are not compatible with
the herd.
21.
Please
clean wash stalls immediately after use.
Do not wait until after you have ridden to pick up poop. Make sure drains are clear when you have
finished.
22. Do not turn on water until wash
stall is spotless. Dirt, hair, etc. clog
drains. If water is not draining,
discontinue use of the hose until the clog is cleared. Remove all water that collects outside wash
stall.
23. Your horse must be in the
crossties facing out with the crossties properly hooked to the halter. DO NOT hook the crossties in front of the
horse’s chest.
24. Never leave a horse unattended in
a wash stall.
25. Do not feed your horse hay in the
wash stall or wash stall area.
Little Creek Farm
Arena Rules and
Riding Etiquette
1.
SCOOP
THE POOP! Our new indoor riding surface has to be
maintained to keep its integrity. DO NOT
wait until the end of your ride to clean up after your horse. Those on the ground in the ring or nearby can
assist with this policy. All poop must
also be immediately picked up from wash stalls and aisles.
2.
NO
turnout by any boarders for any reason in the indoor arena. Loose horses damage
the arena surface. Note that management
may utilize the indoor arena for turnout in extenuating circumstances as they
see fit.
3.
Open
all gates toward outside of the arena.
Always close and latch the gates behind you when entering or leaving the
arena.
4.
Mount
and dismount in the center of the ring. Do not mount, dismount, or stop to chat
along the outside track of any arena. Do
not mount or dismount in the aisles.
5.
Look
both ways before entering the arena to make sure no one is coming down the
track. Horses ALWAYS have the right of way.
6.
Boots/shoes
with prominent heels or closed toe shoes in combination with safety stirrups
are required.
7.
AN
ASTM/SEI approved helmet must be worn at
all times when mounted.
8.
When
riding in any arena, LOOK UP, BE ATTENTIVE AND CONSIDERATE. Discontinue riding or groundwork if your
horse is being unruly and the arena is crowded.
Peak riding time is 3:00pm to 6:00pm.
9.
During
peak times, only one horse may be lunged at a time. Please observe a 10-minute time limit when
others are waiting. At other times, no
lunging if more than 3 horses are present.
Exception can be made for trainers giving lessons to beginners, in which
case students should be kept on a 10-15m circle at the end of the ring. No free lunging allowed.
10. Please
observe the directional rules:
1.
Pass
left shoulder to left shoulder if riding in opposite directions
2.
If
going in the same direction, pass to the inside
3.
Persons
riding in a circle or jumping should always take the inside track
4.
Maintain
a horse length when passing
5.
Call
any circle or lateral work. Please be
considerate if the arena is crowded. When in doubt, call to other riders where
you are going.
26.
Never
jump alone in the indoor or outdoor arena.
NO jumping is allowed in the indoor arena if there is more than one
horse in the arena.
12. Please remove and neatly stack all
jumps, props, and poles after use in the indoor arena. Poles used in the outdoor arena on the 20
meter circle or near the track need to be relocated after use. To maintain
integrity of footing, DO NOT drag jumping equipment in indoor arena.
13. Children who are not riding are not permitted
in the arena. In addition, no one is
permitted to climb or sit on the two end gates, or climb on the tack boxes
alongside the arena.
14. If you plan to ride alone on the
property, notify someone at the barn where you are going and an estimated time of return.
Atlanta
Riding Academy
Policies
Attire: Paddock boots with half chaps or tall boots. Riding Helmet. No sleeveless shirts. Do not
chew gum. Hair should be tied back and neat under helmet.
Cancellations: There is a $25 charge if
you cancel less than 48 hours before your appointment. There is a waiting list.
Last minute cancellations mean an appointment went unfilled that someone may
have wanted.
Weather: We only ride after 6pm when it is above 90 degrees. The schedule changes
seasonally for the comfort of humans and horses. If conditions are too adverse
to drive, then lessons will be canceled. Hours are also set to minimize
interference with turn-out time and feed time and coordinate with
after-school/after-work schedules of most clients. Generally, the earliest
afternoon lesson is 4pm (6pm summer).
Lessons: Beginners, please arrive 10
minutes before your lesson time. All others please arrive 20 minutes before
your lesson time. Beginner
lessons are private when possible. Novice and up are 2-4 people. All
riders must know trot diagonals, demonstrate correct leg position, and be able
to trot ring figures without stirrups before cantering. Lesson content is adjusted based on
conditions. This includes cold/windy days that affect the energy levels of the
horse, crowded rings (ring time is shared with another instructor and
boarders), footing, feed time etc. Payment
is due at time of services.
Scheduling: Hours at the Academy change
according to season. A new schedule is made prior to the beginning of each
month. Riders are booked in order of seniority. Riders who have been at the
Academy more than 2 years are given priority booking followed by those riding
weekly for at least one year. The schedule is then sent to the newest riders.
Weekend appointments book quickly. (Weekends are not available spring and fall
because of horse shows). Level 1 riders are booked weekdays.
Showing & Leasing: Twice a year the Academy hosts a horse show for all
clients. In addition, the Academy attends local shows spring and fall open to
riders Level 2 and up. Horses are leased when available. Riders must have
intermediate skills and have been clients for a min of one year. Little Creek
will also be home to a high school riding team.
Skills: The Atlanta Riding Academy and Jump Club Inc offers an Equestrian Skills Ratings
Program to recognize excellence among Academy riders. Riders are also
encouraged to read books and magazines in between lessons and view lessons.
Riders with at least one year experience ages 12 and up should consider
volunteering as an assistant for further learning opportunities.
The Little
Creek Conservancy. The Conservancy is a non-profit dedicated to preserving
Little Creek as a horse farm. Riders are strongly encouraged to become members.
Barn Rules: Make sure you clean all manure is aisle, wash stall and
indoor ring. Only use halters labeled for Atlanta Riding. Follow all posted
barn rules and ring rules. A rider will put on probation for rule violations.
Guests: Guests who come to view your lesson must follow all
barn rules while on the property. Please make sure your guests know the rules. When mares are turned out in the pasture,
access is restricted to the lesson client only for safety and liability
reasons. PLEASE ASK BEFORE YOUR GUESTS ENTER PASTURE AREAS.
Rider
Expectations and Responsibilities: Riding
and working with horses takes tremendous discipline and dedication. Academy
students are expected to seek excellence and practice good horsemanship at all times.
Time for tacking and cool down is included in your lesson. Please help keep
wash stalls swept Please take care in
maintaining the tack. If tack is dirty, rags and leather cleaner are always on
hand Becoming an accomplished rider can take decades. Some lessons will be more
challenging than others. Ring conditions, weather conditions, and the mood of
both the rider and the horse can all be factors that affect lessons. All riders
also need to understand the risks associated with riding. It is a sport not
unlike down hill skiing in terms of the level of coordination and physical
condition required to excel in riding hunter jumpers. All riders will
eventually have a fall. You must decide for yourself if that is a risk you
are willing to assume.
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