Spruce Ridge Equicentre - English Rider Levels.

Spruce Ridge Equicentre English Rider Levels

The following rider levels are designed to ensure that the riding program follows a logical learning progression to promote fun, safety and learning. A written program ensures that
both rider and parents are aware of what skills must be learned prior to learning more challenging skills. The question of “when can I canter?” and “when can I jump?” are answered in the rider levels and the reason behind difficult skills, such as no stirrup work, becomes clear as skills necessary to prepare riders for higher levels.

It will be quite common for a rider to be learning or working on skills of several successive levels, however, a certificate will not be awarded until all skills or activities of a stated level are successfully and confidently completed. Awards are usually presented in May.

The rider level awards are recognized by a series of colours and stars. Certificates are presented upon the completion of each star.

Introductory (Green)
The award certificate is green and there are two sub-levels (represented by stars) to completion of the certificate.

Beginner (Yellow)
The award certificate is yellow and there are four stars to completion of the certificate.

Novice (Red)
The award certificate is red and there are four stars completion of the certificate

Intermediate (Blue)
The award certificate is blue and there are four stars to completion of the certificate.

Advanced
The advanced level are for riders who are working towards the higher English Rider Levels, upper level Canadian Pony Club Certificates, the Instructor or Coaching Certification or polishing their show ring skills.

Introductory (Green)

One Star

Groom with assistance
Tack up and untack with assistance
Mount and dismount with assistance
Walk around the arena unassisted
Trot on a lunge line
Be able to perform halt/walk, walk/halt, walk/trot and trot/walk transitions on the lunge line
Perform simple exercises such as touching the toes, stretching up and around the world at the halt
Ride through a simple obstacle course at a walk
Help lead the horse/pony into the arena for the lesson and out of the arena after the lesson
Know that the stirrups must be put up properly prior to leading the horse/pony

Two Stars

Be able to brush a little more confidently (still assisted)
Be able to bring the saddle, bridle and Navaho blanket from the tack room to the cross ties
Be able to mount and dismount with assistance
Walk and trot (most of the time) on two different horses around the arena
Walk and trot (most of the time) in a large circle
Change the direction across the diagonal of the arena at a walk
Be able to perform halt/walk, walk/halt, walk/trot and trot/walk transitions while off a lunge line
Ride through a simple obstacle course using a combination of walk and trot
Start to put of the stirrups, with some prompting, prior to leading the horse out of the arena after the lesson
Be able to lead the horse out to and in from the ring
Be able to understand the concept of posting for the trot
Be introduced to holding a crop

Congratulations, you are now ready to join a group lesson. Continue to have fun!!!

Beginner (Yellow)

One star

Be able to put on the Navaho blanket checking he straightness and wrinkles
Be able to put on a saddle and correctly put on the girth (elastic, if applicable, on the left hand side)
Be able to put the reins and halter over the neck in preparation for putting on the bridle
Start to try to put on a bridle
Once the bridle is on, do up the noseband and throat latch
Be able to control the horse/pony in a group lesson by starting to be aware of where the other riders are in the ring and have a concept of safe distance between horses
Start to know that the stirrups need to be adjusted at or a little below the ankle (coach to do the adjustments)
Be able to post most of the time
Be able to trot over a single trotting pole, being able to maintain pace and posting
Be able to keep the hands in the basic correct position some of the time
Know that the crop is to be used behind the riders’ leg
Be able to ride a more complex obstacle course
Be able to gather the halter and undo the noseband and throatlatch
Start to take off the bridle unassisted
Start to take off the saddle unassisted, ensuring that the saddle is lifted slights so it is not pulled over the withers
Take the saddle and bridle back to the tack room

Two stars

Be able to brush and tack up; help tack up more confidently
Be able to tell the coach to adjust the stirrups higher or lower
Be able to start helping to adjust the girth by pulling up on the girth straps
Be able to start to ride horses other than the introductory horses and ponies
Introduction of no stirrup work
Know when and where to use the crop
Be able to trot through circles and turns all the time
Be able to post all the time
Be able to trot over several trotting poles (unrelated distances) up a long side
Be able to put up the stirrups all the time prior to leading the horse/pony out of the ring
Be able to tack up more confidently

Three stars

Be able to groom unassisted
Be able to clean the feet (with assistance if required)
Be able to put on the saddle unassisted (assistance is provided if the horse is too high for the rider even while on a step stool)
Be able to put on the bridle, ensuring the correct methods and that the ears are handled gently
Be able to start adjusting own stirrups (coach to check for correctness)
Introduction of trot pace control with fast trot/slow trot exercises
Use of the crop behind the leg all the time
Introduction of the sitting trot
Introduction of riding up the quarter liens and center lines
Introduction of the jumping position over poles
Be able to take the bridle off (with assistance) putting the halter over the horses’ head. Care must be taken to let the bit slide slowly out of the horses’ mouth so the bit doesn’t catch on the teeth and scare the horse
Be able to take off the saddle. Assistance is provided if the horse is too big for the rider to take off the saddle even while standing on a stool. Care must be taken to ensure the saddle is lifted and taken off the horses back, not dragged over the horses’ withers

Four stars

Be able to pick out the horses’ feet with minimal assistance
Be able to put on the saddle with minimal assistance
Be able to put the reins over the horses’ head, the halter around the neck and start to put on the bridle with minimal assistance. Be able to do up the noseband and throatlatch.
Be able to adjust won stirrups
Be able to ride a big difference between a fast trot and slow trot.
Be able to keep the horses straight while riding up centre and quarter lines
Introduction of the jumping position over ½ xs
Be more confident of trotting without stirrups
Introduction of posting diagonals
Start to ride into the corners properly instead of just following the track around the outside of the ring
Be able to untack the horse correctly without assistance

Congratulations!! You have now developed the solid basics required to move on to jumping and cantering as you can ride the horse where you want to go (and not just follow the track), you can control the horses’ pace at the trot and you have started to work without stirrups. Working without stirrups is very important because when you canter and jump- you will lose your stirrups. Stay tuned for the next phase of you riding. If interested, you would be ready to start the English Rider Levels. Remember, self study is involved!

Novice (Red)

One star

Be able to groom and tack up on your own (assistance is only given if you are too short for your horse and a step stool doesn’t give you enough height)
Be able to adjust your own stirrups
Continue working on trotting for longer periods of time with no stirrups
Continue to work on pace control at the trot
Continue to work on posting diagonals
Introduction of a course of ½ x and poles (outside liens, diagonal, poles on the short side). The course should include pace control elements, fast trot, working trot, slow trot. Emphasis is on control for straight lines to and after the jumps, eye control, planning, maintaining jumping positions before and after the jump with a release etc.
Rider should be able to go correctly into the corners of the arena almost all of the time at the trot and walk
Introduction of shortening the stirrups one or tow holes for the jumping position
Be able to hold the 2 point position for at least ½ way around the indoor arena at a trot. You can hold the main for support but you must be able to keep your weight into your heels and keep your heels down.

Two stars

Rider should be able to several times around the arena at a trot without stirrups
Rider should be able to show good control over a course of ½ x’s and poles
Posting diagonals should be confirmed
Introduction of x’s
Introduction of courses of x’s and ½ x’s. While riding the course, the rider must g eagle to keep their heels down, knees relaxed and give a release over the fence. The rider needs to be looking and planning where they are going.

Three stars

Continue to work with not stirrups at the trot
Introduction of canter both around the track and on large circles at the ends of the ring
Introduction of cantering over ½’x and x’s
Introduction of small gymnastic jumping exercises
Introduction of saluting for dressage tests
Introduction of riding basic walk/trot dressage tests

Four stars

Continue cantering on the track and circles anywhere in the ring
Continue working on cantering over ½ x’s and x’s
Introduction of small verticals
Continue with small gymnastic exercises
Introduction of walk/trot/canter dressage tests

Congratulations!!!! You have now reached the stage of your riding where you have developed the basics in the walk, trot, canter and jumping. You are a confident rider on a variety of horses and you are ready for additional challenges.

Intermediate (Blue)

One star

Introduction of small jumping courses with x’s, small verticals and a small gymnastic exercise (maximum height is 18”)
Introduction of leads
Introduction of oxers
Simple change of leads through trot and across diagonals
Canter circles
Introduction of cantering without stirrups
Introduce stopping on a line after a fence

Two stars

Introduction of leg to hand concept where the horse goes forward into contact
Jumps start to be raised
Continue cantering without stirrups
Continue working on stopping on a line after a jump
Courses of small oxers, vertical and combination
Introduction of leg yield
Introduction of turn on the forehand

Three stars

Work on lengthening and shortening the stride of the canter
Continue with leg yielding
Continue with the turn on the forehand
Continue with no stirrup work at the canter
Introduction of jumping without stirrups

Four stars

Development of confidence in jumping without stirrups
Easily able to shorten and lengthen the stride of the canter
Continue with higher jumps

Advanced

Ontario Equestrian Federation English Rider Levels 4 and above
Instructor Certificate
Coach 1 Certificate
Upper Level Pony Club Certificates

Mentoring and instruction in the practical aspects of these qualifications is available. Self study will be the primary learning tool for theory.

Riding is an enjoyable way to improve • self confidence • self discipline • self control • team work