Level 1A

• Learns the rules of safety and demonstrates them in the handling and basic control of horse while on the ground and riding.
• Learns how to lead a horse, maintaining safe distances from other horses.
• Pays attention to the instructor and follows directions.
• Learns the “One-Two-Three” way of picking up the reins.
• Learns Equisthenics and basic warm-up exercises.
• Learns to tighten the girth from the ground  .
• Learns to adjust the stirrup length from the ground  .
• Learns to mount from the mounting block or via a “leg-up”.
• Learns the correct riding position.
• Learns the “Four Aids to Riding;” legs, seat, hands, and voice, and how to make the horse respond to these aids by walking forward, steering, stopping, slowing down, and halting properly. 
• Learns to keep the horse one horse distance away from the horse in front.
• Learns the posting trot with rhythm and consistency.
• Learns equine behavior, communication, and feel.
• Is introduced to trail riding possibly one time per season.
• Learns how to dismount properly, run up the stirrup irons, and lead the horse properly back to the barn.
• Feels confident enough to try and ride any of the beginner horses.
• Is present and on time for at least all but 2 riding lessons in order to be considered for advancement to the next level.

Level 1B

• Meets the goals of Level 1A
• Starts  to understand and apply the rules of safety and demonstrates them in the handling and basic control of horse while on the ground and riding.
• Knows how to lead a horse, maintaining safe distances from other horses.
• Pays attention to the instructor and follows directions.
• Knows how to tighten the girth from both on the ground and when mounted with minimal supervision from the instructor.
• Knows how to adjust the stirrup length while on the ground and when mounted with minimal supervision from the instructor.
• Knows how to mount from the mounting block or via a “leg-up”.
• Knows and applies the correct riding position.
• Knows the “Four Aids to Riding;” legs, seat, hands, and voice, and how to make the horse respond to these aids by walking forward, steering, stopping, slowing down, and halting properly. 
• Knows how to keep the horse one horse distance away from the horse in front of them without constant reinforcement from the instructor.
• Continues to learn and modify the posting trot with rhythm and consistency, and is starting to understand the concept of diagonals.
• Uses the crop properly as a reinforcement of the leg aid behind the leg rather than on the shoulder.
• Starts to understand equine behavior, communication, and feel.
• Able to ride a horse on the trails at the walk, maintaining balance, and one horse distance between horses at all times.
• Understands how to dismount properly, run up the stirrup irons, and lead the horse properly back to the barn.
• Feels confident enough to try and ride any of the beginner horses.
• Is present and on time for at least all but 2 of the Troop lessons in order to be considered for advancement to the next level.
  

Level 1C

• Meets the goals of Levels 1A-1B.
• Knows and applies the rules of safety and demonstrates them in the handling and basic control of horse while on the ground and riding.
• Knows how to lead a horse, maintaining safe distances from other horses.
• Pays attention to the instructor and follows directions.
• Knows how to tighten the girth from both on the ground and when mounted without the aid of the instructor (within reason).
• Knows how to adjust the stirrup length while on the ground and when mounted without the aid of the instructor.
• Mounts from the mounting block self-sufficiently or via a “leg-up”.
• Applies the correct riding position.
• Knows and applies the “Four Aids to Riding;” legs, seat, hands, and voice, and how to make the horse respond to these aids by walking forward, steering, stopping, slowing down, and halting properly. 
• Keep the horse one horse distance away from the horse in front of them.
• Posts the trot with rhythm and consistency, and is introduced to the concept of diagonals.
• Uses the crop properly as a reinforcement of the leg aid behind the leg rather than on the shoulder.
• Has a much better understanding of equine behavior, communication, and feel.
• Able to ride a horse on the trails at the walk, maintaining balance, and one horse distance between horses at all times.
• Dismounts properly, runs up the stirrup irons, leads the horse properly back to the barn without the aid of the instructor, and maintains one horse distance from all horses surrounding them.
• Feels confident enough to try and ride and of the beginner horses.
• Is present and on time for at least all but 2 of the Troop lessons in order to be considered for advancement to the next level.

• Meets the goals of the previous levels (all of Level 1)
• Rider at this level is to come dressed in the appropriate clothing (paddock boots and breeches or jodphers).
• Is to be self-sufficient in preparing the horse for mounting by checking the girth and tightening if necessary and adjusting the stirrups.
• Maintains one horse length between horses at all times.
• In a group, posts the trot with rhythm while maintaining the proper position.
• Learns to see the correct diagonal.
• Will attempt the sitting trot with stirrups.
• Learns basic balance while riding without stirrups at the walk.
• Able to ride a horse on the trails at the walk, while maintaining balance, and one horse distance between horses at all times.
• Willing to ride all horses at this level.
• Is present and on time for at least all but 2 of the Troop lessons in order to be considered for advancement to the next level.

Level 2B

• Meets the goals of the previous levels (Levels 1 and Level 2A)
• Rider at this level is to come dressed in the appropriate clothing (paddock boots and breeches or jodphurs).
• Is to be self-sufficient in preparing the horse for mounting by checking the girth and tightening if necessary and adjusting the stirrups.
• Maintains one horse length between horses at all times.
• In a group, posts the trot with rhythm while maintaining the proper position.
• Knows and is efficient in seeing the correct diagonal and changing it when incorrect.
• Continues to attempt the sitting trot.
• Is comfortable while riding without stirrups at the walk.
• Able to ride a horse on the trails at the walk, maintaining balance, and one horse distance between horses at all times.
• Attempts to trot on the trails.
• Willing to ride all horses at this level.
• Is present and on time for at least all but 2 of the Troop lessons in order to be considered for advancement to the next level.

• Meets the goals of the previous levels (Levels 1 and Level 2A-2B)
• Rider at this level is to come dressed in the appropriate clothing (paddock boots and breeches or jodphurs).
• Is to be self-sufficient in preparing the horse for mounting by checking the girth and tightening if necessary and adjusting the stirrups.
• Maintains one horse length between horses at all times.
• In a group, posts the trot with rhythm while maintaining the proper position.
• Learns to see the correct diagonal (2C).
• Knows the correct diagonal and how to change it when incorrect (2B, 2A).
• Maintains balance at the sitting trot with minimal bouncing.
• Learns basic balance while riding without stirrups at the walk.
• Takes two private lungeing sessions to learn the basics of canter departures and proper positioning at the canter.
• Understands basic concepts of the canter departures starts cantering a few strides at a time.
• Able to ride a horse on the trails at the walk and possibly the trot, maintaining balance, and one horse distance between horses at all times.
• Willing to ride all horses at this level.
• Is present and on time for at least all but 2 of the Troop lessons in order to be considered for advancement to the next level.

Level 3A

• Meets the goals of all previous levels.
• Introduced to tacking-up horse independently.
• Able to mount horse independently and proceeds with warming horse up at the walk on the rail.
• Rides a smooth posting trot with heels down, legs and hands quiet, body tall, and on the correct diagonal.
• Establishes upward and downward transitions and maintains the requested gait within a reasonable time.
• Learns concepts of basic half-halts.
• Able to change direction at the posting trot and change diagonals.
• Should be able to sit the trot without bouncing.
• Tries to ride simple patterns (circles, figure-8’s, changes of direction) individually and in a group at the walk and trot.
• Learns to ride independently of the group, staying spread out.
• Able to ride the walk without stirrups at the walk and attempts the sitting trot without stirrups.
• Learns and practices the canter departures  both while bending in a corner and the disequilibrium momentum canter departure.
• Learns to canter individually from the front of the line to the back.
• Learns the basics of cantering with balance on the correct lead and how to ask.
• Introduced to the two-point position.
• Learns to ride cavalettis at the posting trot.
• Is willing to ride any horse in this level in a relaxed and confident manner.
• Is present and on time for at least all but 2 of the Troop lessons in order to be considered for advancement to the next level.

• Meets the goals of all previous levels including 3A.
• Improves on tacking-up horse independently.
• Able to mount horse independently and proceeds with warming horse up at the walk on the rail without the aid of the instructor.
• Rides a smooth posting trot with heels down, legs and hands quiet, body tall, and on the correct diagonal.
• Establishes upward and downward transitions and maintains the requested gait within a reasonable time.
• Applies the concepts of basic half-halts.
• Able to change direction at the posting trot.
• Able to recognize and change diagonals when necessary if incorrect.
• Able to sit the trot without bouncing.
• Able to ride simple patterns (circles, figure-8’s, changes of direction) individually and in a group at the walk and trot.
• Maintains independent riding, staying spread out.
• Able to ride the sitting trot without stirrups.
• Able to canter individually from the front of the line to the back and switch from full seat to half seat.
• Applies what rider has learned about the basics of cantering with balance, on the correct lead, and how to ask.
• Able to ride the walk and cavalettis in the two-point position.
• Able to ride cavalettis at the posting trot.
• Is willing to ride any horse in this level in a relaxed and confident manner.
• Is present and on time for at least all but 2 of the Troop lessons in order to be considered for advancement to the next level.

• Meets the goals of all previous levels including 3A-3B.
• Is self-sufficient in tacking-up horse independently.
• Able to mount horse independently and proceeds with warming horse up at the walk.
• Establishes upward and downward transitions and maintains the requested gait within a reasonable time.
• Improves on more advanced concepts of basic half-halts.
• Introduced to feeling the movement of the horse in order to establish the correct diagonal without looking for it.
• Sits the trot without bouncing.
• Able to ride simple patterns (circles, figure-8’s, changes of direction) individually and in a group at the walk and trot.
• Does not have to be reminded as to the distance that needs to be maintained between horses in order to maintain safety and ride independently.
• Shows improvement in sitting and posting the trot without stirrups.
• Able to canter individually from the front of the line to the back, and is introduced to cantering the whole ring.
• Understands cantering with balance on the correct lead and how to ask and properly applies these concepts.
• Able to ride cavalettis at the posting trot and is introduced to the two-point position at the trot over cavalettis.
• Is willing to ride any horse in this level in a relaxed and confident manner.
• Is present and on time for at least all but 2 of the Troop lessons in order to be considered for advancement to the next level.

• Meets the goals of all previous levels.
• Is able to tack up horse if necessary and mounts on time for the lesson.
• Is able to warm up independently at the walk without interfering with other riders in the ring.
• Rides simple patterns at the sitting and posting trot with precision.
• Rides independently of the group.
• Introduced to the posting trot without the stirrups.
• Rides the canter on the correct lead.
• Introduced to concepts of simple canter lead changes (canter-trot-canter).
• Learns and uses seat aids.
• Learns more advanced half-halt concepts.
• Learns how to canter independently and attempts canter circles.
• Has perfected two-point position and learns the proper crest release over jumps.
• Introduced to small cross-rails at the trot.
• Demonstrates confidence at this level and is willing to ride any horse up to this level.
• Is present and on time for at least all but 2 of the Troop lessons in order to be considered for advancement to the next level.

• Meets the goals of all previous levels including 4A.
• Is able to tack up horse if necessary and mounts on time for the lesson.
• Is able to warm up independently at the walk without interfering with other riders in the ring.
• Rides simple patterns at the sitting and posting trot with precision and introduces the canter into pattern work.
• Rides independently of the group at all times unless otherwise asked.
• Working progressively on the posting trot without the stirrups.
• Rides the canter on the correct lead.
• Understands and applies the concepts of simple canter lead changes (canter-trot-canter).
• Able to apply seat aids.
• Applies more advanced half-halt concepts.
• Able to canter independently of the group and attempts canter circles.
• Has perfected two-point position and applies the proper crest release over jumps.
• Introduced to small cross-rails and verticals at the canter.
• Introduced to small cross-country fences.
• Demonstrates confidence at this level and is willing to ride any horse up to this level.
• Is present and on time for at least all but 2 of the Troop lessons in order to be considered for advancement to the next level.

• Meets goals of all previous levels.
• Maintains correct position and control at the walk, posting trot, sitting trot, and canter.
• Knows and understands the correct aids for the walk, trot, canter, and the halt.
• Begins to feel diagonals and leads rather that look for them.
• Learns and applies concepts of bending a horse at all gaits.
• Learns and applies concepts of asking a horse to get soft, on the bit, and to use it’s hind-quarters properly.
• Learns to lengthen and collect a horse at all gaits.
• Learns to refine the canter depart from the sitting trot.
• Learns to canter a 20 meter circle.
• Begins to learn counting striding between jumps.
• Learns to ride a line of jumps: more than one jump in a row.
• Learns the different types of cross country (small) obstacles and how to handle them.
• Able to walk, trot (sitting and posting), and attempts the canter without stirrups.
• Knows and applies the correct aids for simple lead changes.
• Learns concepts of flying lead changes.
• Willingly rides all horses at this level.
• Is present and on time for at least all but 2 of the Troop lessons in order to be considered for advancement to the next level.

• Meets goals of all previous levels including 5A.
• Maintains correct position and control at the walk, posting trot, sitting trot, and canter.
• Knows and understands the correct aids for the walk, trot, canter, and the halt.
• Able to feel diagonals and establish them correctly immediately.
• Progressively works on feeling the correct lead rather than looking for it.
• Applies concepts of bending a horse at all gaits.
• Applies concepts of asking a horse to get soft, on the bit, and to use it’s hind-quarters properly.
• Able to lengthen and collect a horse at the walk and trot.
• Has refined the canter depart from the sitting trot.
• Learns to refine the canter depart from the walk.
• Able to canter a 20 meter circle.
• Has a strong understanding and improves on counting striding between jumps.
• Able to ride a line of jumps: more than one jump in a row.
• Learns to ride more than one line in a row (remedial/beginner course work).
• Able to walk, trot (sitting and posting), and canter without stirrups.
• Learns and applies the principles of  cross-country and interval training.
• Begins to attempt flying lead changes.
• Willingly rides all horses at this level.
• Is present and on time for at least all but 2 of the Troop lessons in order to be considered for advancement to the next level.

• Meets all of the goals of previous levels.
• Able to ride all advanced horses at the farm.
• Able to bend a horse at all gaits.
• Able to get a horse on the bit, and to use it’s hind-quarters properly.
• Able to lengthen and collect a horse at all gaits.
• Able to refine the canter depart from the sitting trot.
• Able refine the canter depart from the walk.
• Able to canter a 20 meter circle.
• Able to count striding between jumps.
• Able to ride a line of jumps: more than one jump in a row.
• Working progressively on riding to more than one line in a row.
• Begins to apply the correct aids for flying lead changes.
• Learns the concepts of regulating strides between jumps, judge distances and take off spots, and make adjustments accordingly.
• Shows marked improvement in ability to maintain an even rhythm in a course of jumps.
• Can determine whether or not on the correct diagonal and lead without looking.
• Introduced to jumping small cross rails without stirrups from the trot approach.
• Practices jumping a full course of small jumps while maintaining the correct lead, via simple lead changes.
• Understands  and applies the principles of  cross-country and interval training.
• Willing to ride all advanced horses at this level.
• Is present and on time for at least all but 2 of the Troop lessons in order to be considered for advancement to the next level.

• Meets all of the goals of previous levels including 6A.
• Able to ride all advanced horses at the farm.
• Able to bend a horse at all gaits.
• Able to get a horse soft, on the bit, and to use it’s hind-quarters properly.
• Able to lengthen and collect a horse at all gaits.
• Has refined the canter depart from the sitting trot.
• Has refined the canter depart from the walk.
• Able to canter a 20 meter circle.
• Shows marked improvement in counting striding between jumps.
• Able to ride more than one line in a row.
• Knows and applies the correct aids for flying lead changes.
• Can regulate strides between jumps, judge distances and take off spots, and make adjustments accordingly.
• Shows marked improvement in ability to maintain an even rhythm in a course of jumps.
• Can determine whether or not on the correct diagonal and lead without looking.
• Improves on jumping without stirrups from the trot approach.
• Introduced to jumping without stirrups from the canter approach.
• Able to jump a full course of small jumps while maintaining the correct lead, via simple lead changes.
• Willing to ride all advanced horses at this level.
• Is present and on time for at least all but 2 of the Troop lessons in order to be considered for advancement to the next level.