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LEARN MORE ABOUT

Yellow Level

LEARN MORE ABOUT

Yellow Level

Yellow Level is the second Learning Level

Yellow Level has two tracks: one in the Horsemanship curriculum and one in the HorseSense curriculum.

Mounted lessons in Yellow Level focus on control and confidence at the walk and trot/jog.

In unmounted lessons, students continue to learn horsey terminology along with some basic horse care skills – and to understand just how much there is to learn about keeping horses safe and healthy!

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

Scroll down to learn more about teaching Yellow Level lessons.

Yellow Level horse and rider at a trot

What you can teach in Yellow Level?

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HorseSense
Horsemanship

YELLOW LEVEL HORSESENSE

YELLOW LEVEL HORSESENSE

In Yellow HorseSense lessons, students continue to learn equine terminology, developing a strong fundamental understanding of horse care basics. 

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

We want our Yellow HorseSense students to gain the necessary skills to help around the barn – and learn to recognize a situation where they should ask for help.

You’ll find tips in this Boss Mares  post: Rainy Day Unmounted Lessons.

Hs Yellow

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

  • students who have completed the introductory Red Level HorseSense.
  • anyone who wants to help you with feeding, turning out, or blanketing your horses.
  • working students who clean your riding school tack.
  • interns, working students, or anyone else who could be responsible for your horse's welfare in your absence.
  • students who are new to horse leasing or ownership.
  • students - and parents! - who are considering leasing or purchasing a horse in the future.

Yellow HorseSense prepares students for more detailed knowledge in upcoming Levels:

  • Students refine leading and grooming skills they learned in Red Level.
  • They learn to care for tack.
  • They learn how to describe and measure horses.
  • They practice applying protective boots and blankets.
  • They understand elementary feeding principles.
  • They can identify situations requiring veterinary care.

LEVELS TOPICS include blankets and boots, breeds and breed types, colors and markings, feeding and nutrition, ground handling, horse ID, tack, and vet and health care.

YELLOW LEVEL HORSEMANSHIP

YELLOW LEVEL HORSEMANSHIP

The Yellow Horsemanship Level is a beginner level, designed to build upon skills introduced in Red Level and give students the ability to ride confidently and securely at the trot or jog.

Our goal for Yellow Level students is for them to ride with reasonable accuracy and harmony at the trot, while developing a secure seat and confidence in their own ability.

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

You’ll find tips in this Boss Mares  post: 5 Goals for Teaching Yellow Horsemanship.

Enter At A

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

  • have completed the introductory Red Horsemanship Level.
  • are physically capable of grooming, tacking, and untacking a horse independently.
  • have enough control at the walk and trot/jog to ride safely and independently in the arena.
  • are motivated to work on their balance and physical fitness - especially in preparation for learning to canter!

LEVELS TOPICS include conditioning, dressage, flatwork skills, gaits and movement, jumping skills, mounted safety, riding disciplines and tack.

Yellow Level introduces elementary flatwork concepts while emphasizing the importance of acquiring a strong foundation before cantering or jumping:

  • Students practice emergency skill drills and learn to adjust their own tack.
  • They work toward riding smooth, accurate transitions and maintaining a steady trot or jog through ring figures.
  • They learn posting diagonals and sitting trot or jog.
  • They put their flatwork skills to use by riding an Introductory Level dressage test.
  • They strengthen their position by trotting over ground poles and learn how to plan and ride a course.
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Ready to start teaching Yellow Level?

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Find Yellow Level downloads in the RESOURCE CENTER

Or learn about another Level...

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YELLOW LEVEL HORSEMANSHIP OBJECTIVES

THE MOUNTED CURRICULUM

(scroll down to see the unmounted curriculum)

Overview of Yellow Horsemanship: The Yellow Horsemanship Level is a beginner level, designed to build upon skills introduced in Red Level and give students the ability to ride confidently and securely at the trot. Safety and accuracy is emphasized, as is the balanced seat required to advance to skills such as cantering and jumping.

  • Tack and untack independently, in twenty minutes or less.
  • Adjust stirrups and girth while mounted.
  • Perform an emergency dismount at the trot.
  • Demonstrate use of disengagement and pulley rein by halting horse from trot.
  • Ride smooth walk-trot transitions, maintaining balanced position.
  • Demonstrate knowledge and awareness of posting diagonals.
  • Demonstrate the following maneuvers at walk and trot:
    -- Large circle
    -- Figure-8
    -- Serpentine
    -- Half circle, half-turn and diagonal with change of posting diagonal
  • Ride USDF Intro Test A or B, showing knowledge of elementary dressage terms and figures.
  • Ride on the longe at walk and trot without stirrups and reins.
  • Drop stirrups and pick up again, without looking down, at the walk.
  • Ride posting and sitting trot without stirrups, once around arena.
  • Ride in 2-point position on the flat at walk and trot, developing ability to remain balanced independent of hands.
  • Ride grid of trot poles, demonstrating secure jumping position.
  • Ride a ground pole course at the trot with opening and closing circles, good approaches.

YELLOW LEVEL HORSESENSE OBJECTIVES

THE UNMOUNTED CURRICULUM

(scroll up to see the mounted curriculum)

Overview of Yellow HorseSense: Student will refine leading and grooming skills; will learn to care for tack; to describe and measure horses; to apply protective boots and blankets; to identify elementary feeding principles and situations requiring veterinary care.

  • Jog horse in hand, with safe technique, as though jogging for soundness.
  • Blanket and remove blanket from horse safely.
  • Correctly apply splint boots, bell boots, and shipping boots. Know what each is used for and which vital areas are protected.
  • Clean and condition a saddle, bridle, and girth, knowing reasons for each step.
  • Reassemble saddle and bridle without assistance.
  • Care for a horse after a workout, to include:
    -- Cooling out
    -- Thorough grooming and post-ride inspection
    -- Appropriate feeding and watering
  • Know normal TPR range for a horse, and discuss how to take TPR.
  • Know basic colors and markings.
  • Know basic types and breeds of the horse.
  • Know how to measure a horse for height.
  • Know reasons for basic feeding principles, to include discussion of roughage and concentrates.
  • Know signs of colic and action to take.
  • Know which injuries can be handled with minor treatment and which need veterinary attention.

YELLOW LEVEL HORSEMANSHIP OBJECTIVES - WESTERN

THE MOUNTED CURRICULUM

(scroll down to see the unmounted curriculum)

Overview of Yellow Horsemanship: The Yellow Horsemanship Level is a beginner level, designed to build upon skills introduced in Red Level and give students the ability to ride confidently and securely at the jog. Safety and accuracy is emphasized, as is the balanced seat required to advance to skills such as riding at the lope.

  • Tack and untack independently, in twenty minutes or less.
  • Demonstrate how to adjust stirrups and cinch.
  • Perform an emergency dismount at the jog.
  • Demonstrate use of disengagement and pulley rein by halting horse from jog.
  • Ride smooth transitions between the walk, jog, and halt, maintaining balanced position.
  • Demonstrate consistent posting rhythm at the jog.
  • Demonstrate the following maneuvers at walk and jog:
    -- Large circle
    -- Figure-8
    -- Serpentine
    -- Half circle, half-turn and change of direction across diagonal
  • Ride WDAA Intro Test 1, showing knowledge of elementary dressage terms and figures.
  • Ride on the longe at walk and jog without stirrups and reins.
  • Drop stirrups and pick up again, without looking down, at the walk.
  • Ride at the jog without stirrups, once around arena.
  • Stand in stirrups at the jog, developing ability to remain balanced independent of hands.
  • Ride grid of three or more poles, demonstrating ability to stay with the horse’s motion at walk and jog.
  • Ride a ground pole course at the jog with opening and closing circles, good approaches.

YELLOW LEVEL HORSESENSE OBJECTIVES - WESTERN

THE UNMOUNTED CURRICULUM

(scroll up to see the mounted curriculum)

Overview of Yellow HorseSense: Student will refine leading and grooming skills; will learn to care for tack; to describe and measure horses; to apply protective boots and blankets; to identify elementary feeding principles and situations requiring veterinary care.

  • Jog horse in hand, with safe technique, as though jogging for soundness.
  • Blanket and remove blanket from horse safely.
  • Correctly apply splint boots, bell boots, and shipping boots. Know what each is used for and which vital areas are protected.
  • Clean and condition a saddle, bridle, and cinch, knowing reasons for each step.
  • Reassemble bridle without assistance.
  • Care for a horse after a workout, to include:
    -- Cooling out
    -- Thorough grooming and post-ride inspection
    -- Appropriate feeding and watering
  • Know normal TPR range for a horse, and discuss how to take TPR.
  • Know basic colors and markings.
  • Know basic types and breeds of the horse.
  • Know how to measure a horse for height.
  • Know reasons for basic feeding principles, to include discussion of roughage and concentrates.
  • Know signs of colic and action to take.
  • Know which injuries can be handled with minor treatment and which need veterinary attention.
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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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