the skills that you need to ride
"off-leash"

WHAT YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO DO TO GO "OFF LEASH" AND JOIN GROUP LESSONS:

BARN AREA, BEFORE YOU RIDE:
halter, lead & cross-tie horse
curry & brush, pick out hooves
saddle & bridle
put on fly spray

BARN AREA, AFTER RIDE
untack horse
clean tack
use washrack
return horse to stall

ARENA
mount & dismount
emergency stop
flying dismount

SEAT & POSITION, part 1
lean back
tight legs
heels down
hands close to saddle

SEAT & POSITION, part 2
body aligned: ears, shoulders, hips, heels
seat bones tucked
thighs, stomach tight
toes light in stirrups, higher than heels
hands correctly positioned, closed
head in head-rest

ON LUNGE
post without stirrups & hands
steer through cone pattern at trot
adjust reins, stirrups & girth
drop & pick up stirrups
generate walk-trot-walk
halt from canter

OFF LUNGE
know arena geometry
navigate basic dressage patterns