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LEARN MORE ABOUT

Red Level

LEARN MORE ABOUT

Red Level

Red Level is the first level for most students*

This introductory level is designed to give students a safe overview of basic mounted and unmounted skills.

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

*For very young children with limited reading skills/attention spans, we suggest starting with a simplified introduction to riding and horse care found in Rainbow Level.

See learning objectives for RED LEVEL - English riding
See learning objectives for RED LEVEL - Western riding

Scroll down to learn more about teaching Red Level lessons.

Ground Buddy Red Level

What you can teach in Red Level?

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HorseSense
Horsemanship

RED LEVEL HORSESENSE

RED LEVEL HORSESENSE

The Red HorseSense Level is designed to introduce unmounted safety and horse care to beginner riders and non-riding horse enthusiasts, typically aged 8 and up.

This Level emphasizes safety for both horse and human while teaching ground handling skills, equine terminology and basic stable management.

The Red Level HorseSense Study Guide is the “textbook” for this Level, giving students detailed information for every objective. Even if your schedule doesn’t permit dedicated unmounted lessons, you can use this guide to get vital beginner’s safety information to your students.

You’ll find tips for integrating Red HorseSense objectives into your mounted lesson program in this Boss Mares post: Back to the Barn.

Hs Red

Red HorseSense topics can be taught as:

  • a rainy-day supplement to your regular mounted lessons.
  • a prerequisite before students start mounted lessons.
  • an unmounted course of study, separate from your regular lesson program, offered to homeschoolers and other groups.
  • unmounted group activities in a beginner day camp or clinic program.

LEVELS TOPICS include blankets and boots, equine behavior, feeding and nutrition, grooming, ground handling, hoof care, horse ID, mounted safety, pony parts and anatomy, stable and facility management, tack, and unmounted safety.

We consider this level of knowledge necessary for everyone who wishes to safely spend time at the barn, including:

  • Adults and children (typically age 8 and up). Less mature children may benefit from starting with Rainbow Level.
  • Beginners with ZERO horse experience - especially students just starting to ride.
  • Beginners with previous unstructured horse experience, or those with "gaps" in their equine knowledge.
  • Volunteers assisting with therapeutic programs or equine rescue organizations.
  • Anyone who wants to help you with barn chores!

RED LEVEL HORSEMANSHIP

RED LEVEL HORSEMANSHIP

Red Level starts by introducing safety concepts for handling horses on the ground and in the saddle. It takes riders through safe practices for haltering, leading, tying, grooming and hoof care, tacking up, mounting and dismounting, riding at the walk, survival skills, and learning the posting trot.

The Red 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!)

In addition to the curriculum objectives, we also have a few unwritten goals for Red Level. Read about them in this Boss Mares post: 5 Secret Goals for Teaching Red Level Horsemanship.

Red Level HM student tacking up pony

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

  • have little or no prior horse experience.
  • have some experience but are new to your program or to your style of riding.
  • are in a beginner camp program.

LEVELS TOPICS include blankets and boots, conditioning, equine behavior, flatwork skills, gaits and movement, grooming, ground handling, hoof care, horse ID, jumping skills, mounted safety, tack, and unmounted safety.

Red Level will give students a firm beginner foundation, appropriate for any type of future riding, with an emphasis on:

  • an appreciation for the horse/human relationship.
  • an understanding of basic terminology.
  • a safety-conscious approach in any equine environment.
  • a balanced seat.
  • and most importantly, confidence and a desire to continue their equine education.
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RED LEVEL HORSEMANSHIP OBJECTIVES

THE MOUNTED CURRICULUM

(scroll down to see the unmounted curriculum)

Overview of Red Horsemanship: The Red Horsemanship Level is an introductory level, designed to give students a safe overview of basic mounted and unmounted skills. It introduces safety concepts for handling horses on the ground and in the saddle, including grooming, tacking up, riding at the walk and posting trot.

  • Brush, pick hooves, saddle and bridle, with assistance only if necessary, demonstrating awareness of basic horse safety.
  • Mount and dismount independently (with mounting block if needed).
  • Perform warm-up stretches independently.
  • Perform an emergency dismount at the halt and walk.
  • Halt by disengaging horse’s hindquarters (“one-rein stop”), once on each rein.
  • Demonstrate a pulley rein and a safety seat.
  • Shorten and lengthen reins correctly.
  • Perform walk-halt transitions, maintaining balanced position.
  • Demonstrate the following maneuvers at walk:
    -- Change of direction across diagonal
    -- Half-circle reverse
    -- Half-turn
    -- Large circle
  • Drop stirrups and pick up again, without looking down, at the halt.
  • Ride in 2-point position at the walk.
  • Ride simple ground pole course (3-5 fences) at walk, demonstrating jumping position and good approaches.
  • Ride on the rail at a posting trot, once around in each direction.

RED LEVEL HORSESENSE OBJECTIVES

THE UNMOUNTED CURRICULUM

(scroll up to see the mounted curriculum)

Overview of Red HorseSense: Student will learn basic safety practices for working around horses; simple identification of tack and grooming equipment; elementary equine anatomy; and basic needs of the horse.

  • Know and discuss safety rules in barn, pasture and arena.
  • Describe safe riding attire; demonstrate how to correctly fit a helmet.
  • Catch horse in stall and pasture, with safe technique.
  • Demonstrate safe leading from near side, both in barn and through doorways/gates.
  • Tie horse safely, using an effective quick-release knot.
  • Demonstrate basic grooming to prepare a horse for a ride.
  • Know names and functions of basic grooming tools.
  • Demonstrate picking out hooves safely, with knowledge of reasons for basic hoof care.
  • Know parts of the horse, to include: withers, poll, croup, hock, fetlock, etc.
  • Know parts and functions of saddle and bridle.
  • Know how to store tack correctly, and give at least two reasons for cleaning tack and equipment.
  • Know basic rules for feeding.
  • Be able to identify good and bad hay, grain, and water.
  • Demonstrate mucking and re-bedding a stall, cleaning stall thoroughly and efficiently.

RED LEVEL HORSEMANSHIP OBJECTIVES - WESTERN

THE MOUNTED CURRICULUM

(scroll down to see the unmounted curriculum)

Overview of Red Horsemanship: The Red Horsemanship Level is an introductory level, designed to give students a safe overview of basic mounted and unmounted skills. It introduces safety concepts for handling horses on the ground and in the saddle, including grooming, tacking up, and riding at the walk and jog.

  • Brush, pick hooves, saddle and bridle, with assistance only if necessary, demonstrating awareness of basic horse safety.
  • Mount and dismount independently (with mounting block if needed).
  • Perform warm-up stretches independently.
  • Perform an emergency dismount at the halt and walk.
  • Halt by disengaging horse’s hindquarters (“one-rein stop”), once on each rein.
  • Demonstrate a pulley rein and a safety seat.
  • Shorten and lengthen reins correctly.
  • Perform walk-halt transitions, maintaining balanced position.
  • Demonstrate the following maneuvers at walk:
    -- Change of direction across diagonal
    -- Half-circle reverse
    -- Half-turn
    -- Large circle
  • Drop stirrups and pick up again, without looking down, at the halt.
  • Stand up in stirrups at the halt and walk, maintaining balance without using hands.
  • Ride simple ground pole course (3-5 fences) at walk, demonstrating smooth turns and approaches.
  • Ride on the rail at a jog, once around in each direction.

RED LEVEL HORSESENSE OBJECTIVES - WESTERN

THE UNMOUNTED CURRICULUM

(scroll up to see the mounted curriculum)

Overview of Red HorseSense: Student will learn basic safety practices for working around horses; simple identification of tack and grooming equipment; elementary equine anatomy; and basic needs of the horse.

  • Know and discuss safety rules in barn, pasture and arena.
  • Describe safe riding attire; demonstrate how to correctly fit a helmet.
  • Catch horse in stall and pasture, with safe technique.
  • Demonstrate safe leading from near side, both in barn and through doorways/gates.
  • Tie horse safely, using an effective quick-release knot.
  • Demonstrate basic grooming to prepare a horse for a ride.
  • Know names and functions of basic grooming tools.
  • Demonstrate picking out hooves safely, with knowledge of reasons for basic hoof care.
  • Know parts of the horse, to include: withers, poll, croup, hock, fetlock, etc.
  • Know parts and functions of saddle and bridle.
  • Know how to store tack correctly, and give at least two reasons for cleaning tack and equipment.
  • Know basic rules for feeding.
  • Be able to identify good and bad hay, grain, and water.
  • Demonstrate mucking and re-bedding a stall, cleaning stall thoroughly and efficiently.
Information_1.png

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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