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LEARN MORE ABOUT

Orange Level

LEARN MORE ABOUT

Orange Level

Orange Level is the fifth Learning Level

Orange Level has two tracks: one in the mounted Horsemanship curriculum and one in the unmounted HorseSense curriculum.

In mounted Horsemanship lessons, Orange Level asks students to perform simple flatwork and gymnastic exercises with and without stirrups, while developing confidence and balance at the canter in the arena and in the open.

Unmounted Orange HorseSense students will begin to put the horse first in their training, stable management, and health care practices, allowing them to work comfortably in most barns and as a novice horse owner or lessee with experienced mentorship.

See learning objectives for ORANGE LEVEL - English riding
See learning objectives for Orange LEVEL - Western riding

Scroll down to learn more about teaching Orange Level lessons.

Orange Hm Flatwork Foundation

What you can teach in Orange Level?

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ORANGE LEVEL HORSESENSE

ORANGE HORSESENSE

In Orange Level HorseSense, students begin to look at the big picture of equine management, learning to think like a horse and consider the long-term effects of feeding, training and health care practices.

They will also be able to relate the horsemanship principles they practice in riding lessons to their understanding of equine behavior and physiology.

The Orange Level HorseSense Study Guide is the “textbook” for this Level, giving students helpful information for every objective.

There are several Orange HS objectives that require students to do some  simple arithmetic —you’ll find tips for help students with math anxiety in this Boss Mares post: Math Phobia: Teaching the “M word” in Horseback Riding Lessons.

Orange Level student longeing a horse

The lessons taught in Orange Level HorseSense are appropriate for...

  • students who have completed Blue Level HorseSense.
  • students in mounted lessons who need to learn safe distances for polework, grids, and courses.
  • students (and parents!) who own or lease a horse - or may consider doing so.
  • participants in specialty clinics (e.g., Intro to Equine Nutrition, Equine Behavior or Longeing).
  • students in Level Up summer camps.
  • interns, working students, or anyone else who could be responsible for your horse's welfare in your absence.

LEVELS TOPICS include bandaging, breeds and breed types, conditioning, conformation, dental care, equine behavior, feeding and nutrition, grooming, ground handling, hoof care, jumping skills, vet and health care.

The knowledge gained in Orange Level allows students to make sound decisions designed to keep their horses healthy and happy:

  • Students expand their knowledge of equine behavior.
  • They learn to make conditioning plans for their horses' activities and their own fitness.
  • They practice safe and efficient longeing.
  • They understand related distances and correctly set poles and fences for gridwork and gymnastic exercises.
  • They determine the appropriate body clip for their horses.
  • They deepen their knowledge of equine digestion and feeding requirements.
  • They wrap a hoof and incorporate dental care and immunizations into their horse care routines.
  • They evaluate a horse's conformation with consideration of breed types.

ORANGE LEVEL HORSEMANSHIP

ORANGE LEVEL HORSEMANSHIP

Most students who pursue riding for a few years are able to achieve an Orange Horsemanship ribbon. They should emerge from this level with confidence and competence in basic riding skills, including a secure base of support on the flat and over simple poles and obstacles, working toward the ability to ride with a soft contact achieved through an independent seat.

This allows them to ride happily on a trained horse, and participate in lower-level shows and events.

The Orange Level Horsemanship Study Guide is the “textbook” for this Level, giving students detailed information for every objective. (Version for Western riding is in the Pipeline!)

You’ll find tips for teaching Orange Level in this Boss Mares post: 5 Secret Goals for Teaching Orange Level Horsemanship.

Orangehm

Orange Level is appropriate for teaching students in group or private riding lessons who...

  • have completed the Blue Horsemanship Level.
  • are ready to refine their riding on the flat and over fences or poles at the canter or lope.
  • preparing for schooling show classes or lower-level events.
  • have the confidence and control required to ride cross-country in a group setting.

LEVELS TOPICS include flatwork skills, gaits and movement, jumping skills, cross-country, and mounted safety.

Orange Horsemanship gives students the ability to ride with balance and accuracy on the flat and in the open:

  • Students perform flatwork exercises, with and without stirrups, maintaining light contact with an awareness of bend and balance.
  • They develop a rhythmic canter or lope through gymnastic grids of poles or fences.
  • They ride over courses of poles or jumps at a canter or lope with smooth turns, good approaches, and correct leads.
  • They confidently ride the hand gallop.
  • They jump cross-country obstacles up to 2'3" (English riding) or complete a trail ride of one hour or more (Western).
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Find Orange Level downloads in the RESOURCE CENTER

Or learn about another Level...

See BLUE LEVEL
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ORANGE LEVEL HORSEMANSHIP OBJECTIVES

THE MOUNTED CURRICULUM

(scroll down to see the unmounted curriculum)

Overview of Orange Horsemanship:  The Orange Horsemanship Level is an intermediate level, designed to give students the ability to ride with balance and accuracy on the flat and over fences. Orange Level students should achieve enough competency to safely participate in mounted activities outside of lessons, while gaining appreciation for flatwork and equitation and an increased consideration for their horse.

  • Demonstrate self-directed, progressive warm-up for flatwork and jumping.
  • Maintain light contact on the flat, demonstrating long and loose rein when asked.
  • Demonstrate the following maneuvers:
    -- Turn on the forehand
    -- Sitting trot
    -- Figure-8 at canter
    -- Serpentine at canter
  • Demonstrate ring figures at all three gaits, with awareness of bend and balance.
  • Ride ring figures at the walk, trot and canter without stirrups.
  • Be able to drop and pick up stirrups at all gaits without looking down.
  • Ride small bounce grid, with and without reins and/or stirrups.
  • Ride simple gymnastic grids up to 2’6”, including low fences without reins.
  • Jump a course (minimum 6 fences) at 2’, at the canter, with smooth turns, good approaches and correct leads.
  • Ride in the open in a group, at walk, trot and canter, maintaining control.
  • Demonstrate a galloping position at the walk, trot, and canter.
  • Jump simple cross-country obstacles, up to 2’3” at the trot and canter.
  • Ride the hand gallop.

ORANGE LEVEL HORSESENSE OBJECTIVES

THE UNMOUNTED CURRICULUM

(scroll up to see the mounted curriculum)

Overview of Orange HorseSense: Student will be able to demonstrate safe longeing and an understanding of gaits and distances; to evaluate basic conformation points; to plan conditioning schedules and relate horse’s work and condition to feed rations; to continue expanding knowledge of stable management and veterinary care; to begin relating equine behavior to human management practices.

  • Know elementary concepts of equine behavior theory and relate them to 1) riding and training practices, and 2) stable management practices.
  • Longe a quiet horse for exercise, showing safe technique and consideration of the horse.
  • Set walk, trot, and canter poles for a selection of three different-sized horses.
  • Build a simple gymnastic grid for an average 15.2hh horse.
  • Discuss different types and reasons for clipping.
  • Evaluate a horse’s conformation, listing both good and bad points.
  • Know basic conformation traits specific to the following breeds: Arabian, Thoroughbred, Quarter Horse, Andalusian. Relate to suitability for specific disciplines.
  • Know stable vices, causes and possible remedies.
  • Discuss equine dental structure and the need for routine dental care.
  • Know specific immunizations needed for local area and at what frequency.
  • Wrap a hoof.
  • Discuss correct measurement of feed and suitable feed rations for horses in light, moderate, and hard work; including considerations such as conditioning, injury and/or illness.
  • Identify parts of the horse’s digestive system.
  • Identify different types of grains, hays, and supplements.
  • Create an eight-week conditioning schedule to prepare a horse and rider for a strenuous activity (i.e., horse trial, show jumping competition, fox hunt, etc.).

ORANGE LEVEL HORSEMANSHIP OBJECTIVES - WESTERN

THE MOUNTED CURRICULUM

(scroll down to see the unmounted curriculum)

Overview of Orange Horsemanship:  The Orange Horsemanship Level is an intermediate level, designed to give students the ability to ride with balance and accuracy on the flat and in the open. Orange Level students should achieve enough competency to safely participate in mounted activities outside of lessons, while gaining appreciation for flatwork and equitation and an increased consideration for their horse.

  • Demonstrate self-directed, progressive warm-up routine.
  • Maintain appropriate light contact, demonstrating long rein and loose rein when asked.
  • Demonstrate the following maneuvers:
    -- Turn on the forehand
    -- Turn on the haunches
    -- Figure-8 at lope
    -- Serpentine at lope
  • Demonstrate ring figures at all three gaits, with awareness of bend and balance.
  • Ride ring figures at the walk, jog and lope without stirrups.
  • Be able to drop and pick up stirrups at all gaits without looking down.
  • Ride the hand gallop.
  • Demonstrate balanced light seat appropriate for galloping, at the walk, jog, and lope.
  • Lope over grid of 3 or more poles, with and without reins and/or stirrups.
  • Jump a course of ground poles at the lope, with smooth turns, good approaches and correct leads.
  • Jump a single 18” crossrail.
  • Ride in the open in a group, maintaining control.
  • Complete a trail ride of one hour or more.

ORANGE LEVEL HORSESENSE OBJECTIVES - WESTERN

THE UNMOUNTED CURRICULUM

(scroll up to see the mounted curriculum)

Overview of Orange HorseSense: Student will be able to demonstrate safe longeing and an understanding of gaits and distances; to evaluate basic conformation points; to plan conditioning schedules and relate horse’s work and condition to feed rations; to continue expanding knowledge of stable management and veterinary care; to begin relating equine behavior to human management practices.

  • Know elementary concepts of equine behavior theory and relate them to 1) riding and training practices, and 2) stable management practices.
  • Longe a quiet horse for exercise, showing safe technique and consideration of the horse.
  • Set walk, jog, and lope poles for a selection of three different-sized horses.
  • Design a polework exercise and discuss its training and conditioning benefits.
  • Discuss different types and reasons for clipping.
  • Evaluate a horse’s conformation, listing both good and bad points.
  • Know basic conformation traits specific to the following breeds: Arabian, Thoroughbred, Quarter Horse, Andalusian. Relate to suitability for specific disciplines.
  • Know stable vices, causes and possible remedies.
  • Discuss equine dental structure and the need for routine dental care.
  • Know specific immunizations needed for local area and at what frequency.
  • Wrap a hoof.
  • Discuss correct measurement of feed and suitable feed rations for horses in light, moderate, and hard work; including considerations such as conditioning, injury and/or illness.
  • Identify parts of the horse’s digestive system.
  • Identify different types of grains, hays, and supplements.
  • Create an eight-week conditioning schedule to prepare a horse and rider for a strenuous activity (i.e., long trail ride, hunter pace, reining competition, etc.).
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We’ve been blessed with many talented photographers over the years: students who voluntarily stood in sweltering/ freezing arenas, capturing lifelong memories of lessons, camps and shows. We’re grateful to all of them!

One former student, Delaney Witbrod, is now a professional photographer with a gift for animal portraits – see more of her fine work here. We’re also grateful for photos of Western riding donated by LLPro instructors – particularly Bit of Pleasure Horse School and Joyful Hearts Photography!

You’ll find illustrations throughout our online courses and printed materials graciously donated by our friend Rhonda Hagy. Evan Surrusco contributes additional illustrations and handles most of our photo processing. Contact us for information about their work.

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