Dana McDaniel - Horse Training

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.

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 (pre-novice)

Reading: beg US Pony Club 1^st level Manual

Reading: 101 arena exercises

Level 2 (Novice)

Quick release knot

Pick hooves

Boots, bandages and leg wraps

Show grooming

Anatomy, confirmation, lameness

Annual vet, farrier, worming, teeth

Re-test on girthing

Vital signs

Tack fitting

Retest on crop

Diagonals by feel

Lengthen and shorten at the trot

Leg yield

Canter on a circle

Identify canter leads

Canter from Walk

Correctly demonstrate 3 types of releases over cavelleti

View lessons/intern.

Trot Cross Rails (adv novice)

Gymanastics, lines (adv novice)

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

Simple Changes

Canter without stirrups

Cross rails without stirrups

Pick up stirrups at canter

Re-test crop

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

Influence your horse’s frame. Working horse across top-line into contact. Demonstrate vertical 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