Information About Equine Canada's New English Learn to Rider Program
The English Learn to Rider Program was developed for those individuals who wish to learn safe horsemanship skills and practices on a national standard under the guidance of a certified Equine Canada English Coach. The purpose of this program is to provide new riders with a safe and knowledgeable introduction to English riding.
The Learn to Ride Program is currently in a transition phase from the old Level 1-3 to the new Rider 1-10 until March 31, 2007. Riders/Examiners may still test under the old Rider 1-3 Program until March 31, 2007.
Once the transition phase has been completed, equivalencies will granted for the current system within the new system:
Previous Rider Level 1 is equivalent to a New Rider Level 2.
Previous Rider Level 2 is equivalent to a New Rider Level 6.
Previous Rider Level 3 is equivalent to a New Rider Level 8.
| Under the new Equine Canada system, New Rider Level 2 is required for CTRAI and CTRII levels of CanTRA certification. This is equivalent to the Previous Rider Level 1. |
| Previous Rider Levels (1-3) |
New Rider Levels (1-10) |
MANUALS: Equine Canada is in the process of replacing the current English Learn to Rider program levels 1-10. The content of these revised manuals will remain the same with only a few changes so anyone wishing to proceed with testing under the old program will still find these manuals a useful resource. As we deplete our stock, you could receive either an old manual or revised manual when your order is processed. Please see attached Manual Order Form. Forms may also be found on the OEF website www.horse.on.ca.
Please read below for more details or contact Equine Canada at www.equestrian.ca or toll free at 1-866-282-8395.
PREVIOUS LEARN TO RIDE PROGRAM
Previous Rider Level 1 (required for CanTRA certification)
Candidate will:
- Achieve a balanced position
- Demonstrate basic correct aids
- At this level, contact with the horse’s mouth should be light
- Not be expected to affect the horse’s “way of going”
- Mount/dismount
- Learn gaits
- Learn 2pt & 3pt positions
- Learn transitions: halt – walk – halt; walk – trot; walk / trot – canter-trot
- Learn figures in trot: change of rein on diagonal; 20m circle in trot (or larger); 3 loop serpentine
- Gain knowledge of diagonals
- Canter (large/on rail)
- Gain knowledge of leads
- Be taught stable management including anatomy of the horse, colours, markings, grooming, hoof care, bedding, feeding, horse handling, tying a horse and tack
|
Previous Rider Level 2
Candidate will:
- Achieve a more balanced and more effective position
- Demonstrate correct, more coordinated and less visible aids
- Begin to have notions of straightness and impulsion
- Be aware and beginning to improve the horse’s balance
- At this level, contact with the horse’s mouth should be light, with the rider working to achieve continuous contact with the mouth
- Learn position
- Learn school figures: change of lead on diagonal through trot; 3 loop serpentine in rising trot; 20m circle trot (sitting); 20m circle canter (sitting); half circle 10m
- Complete a flat test
- Complete a gymnastics course
- Gain knowledge on equipment
- Be taught stable management including evolution, breeds, skeleton, conformation, faults, the equine foot, horse balance, nature of the horse, body language, the digestive system, turn out, stable bandages, soundness, preventative medicine, first aid
|
Previous Rider Level 3
Candidate will:
- Demonstrate a correct position
- Pay attention to the horse’s balance and rhythm
- Ride the horse “from leg to hand” in a round frame with continuous contact with the horse’s mouth
- Demonstrate refined control and accuracy through various paces, transitions, school figures and a set flat test
- Demonstrate a secure jumping position
- Demonstrate control at faster paces, through turns, striding and judging take-offs over an equitation type course of jumps up to 2’9” in height
- Be taught stable management including anatomy and physiology, unsoundnesses & blemishes, the foot & shoeing, teeth & aging, identification, preventative medicine, feeding, the horse & winter
- Tack & equipment & bits
- Lunging a trained horse
- Transportation
|
NEW LEARN TO RIDE PROGRAM
New Rider Level 1 (required for CanTRA certification)
Candidate will:
- mount & dismount
- demonstrate basic position at walk & trot
- transitions: halt walk halt; walk trot walk
- schooling movements: turning down centerline at walk; change rein across the diagonal
- demonstrate safe distance when riding in a group
- develop safety and confidence when leading and handling horses
- Stable Management: including parts of the horse and colours, proper handling and grooming procedure, basic parts of the saddle and bridle, tacking up with assistance, understanding horses' behaviours
|
New Rider Level 2 (required for CanTRA certification)
Candidate will:
- Further develop and practice skills from Rider 1 working towards developing better control, straightness and independence from the group
- adjust girth and stirrups while mounted
- progressive transitions: halt walk; walk trot
- general position at walk and trot with and without stirrups; drop and regain stirrups at trot
- demonstrate rising trot and sitting trot, and ability to identify correct diagonals
- canter introduced; learn to identify correct leads when on the ground
- perform simple transitions from trot to canter
- learn schooling figures: 20 m circles at trot (introduction to tangent points)
- learn 2-point position at trot
- ride a simple course of poles on the ground in 2-point position
- Stable Management: including facial and leg markings, what a horse eats, his habits and daily routines, knowledge of reasons why to groom and the benefits to the horse's health, farrier visits, parts of the saddle and a snaffle bridle, be able to tack up without assistance, learn how to clean tack and why it is important, demonstrate a quick release knot
|
New Rider Level 3
Candidate will:
- further develop and practice skills from Rider 1 & 2 developing a more balanced and independent seat, understanding bend and straightness, correct use of whip
- identify different tack worn by your horse and its purpose i.e. martingales, boots, etc.
- general position at walk, trot and canter with and without stirrups; drop and regain stirrups at canter
- identify correct canter leads
- further develop progressive transitions: walk trot; trot canter
- learn schooling figures: show ring reverse, short diagonal rein change, 20 m circle at canter
- ride flat test showing accuracy and control
- ride a simple gymnastic line in 2-point position
- ride a simple course in 2-point position
- Stable management: including assembling & disassembling snaffle bridle, properly hang up bridle in a figure-8, basic stall construction, hang up a hay net, parts of the hoof and hoof care, put on and remove a horse blanket, proper mane and tail care, cooling out procedures after riding, barn safety rules
- Complete the Rider 3 Flat Test as described on the Ontario Equestrian Federation website, www.horse.on.ca
|
New Rider Level 4
Candidate will:
- further develop and practice skills from Rider 1 to 3 demonstrating use of independent aids at walk, trot and canter
- explain the term “cross canter”
- demonstrate proper presentation for a hunter line class
- perform an independent warm up
- perform a change of lead through trot across diagonal
- perform transitions from trot to canter on a straight line
- learn schooling figures: 15 m circles at canter
- ride flat test showing accuracy
- ride a gymnastic line approached through trot, demonstrating control and straightness
- rider a simple course, be able to identify number of strides
- maximum height of fences 2'0”
- approach a single fence at a canter
- Stable Management: including identifying different snaffle bits, feeding routine, basic feeding rules, types and amounts of feed, proper turnout for shows, how to measure a horse's height, types of bandages, basic vet and first aid, TPR rates, annual vaccinations, worming, stall dimensions and fittings, natural and artificial aids
- Complete the Rider 4 Flat Test as described on the Ontario Equestrian Federation website, www.horse.on.ca
|
New Rider Level 5
Candidate will:
- further develop and practice skills from Rider 1 to 4 demonstrating use of independent aids at all paces with an without stirrups
- identify different rein aids
- learn schooling figures and movements: 3-loop serpentine at trot, half-turn on the forehand
- transitions ~ walk to canter, canter to walk
- ride flat test demonstrating accuracy and confidence in ride
- ride a gymnastic line, demonstrate mane release, proper position and presentation
- jump a cross-rail without stirrups
- canter a line of 2 fences with a related distance
- identify the terms: bascule, deep, long and chip; the phases of a jump
- maximum height of fences 2'3”
- lunge a horse at work and trot only, focusing on safety and use of body language
- Stable Management: including pressure points that a snaffle acts upon, identify different feeds, good vs. poor feeds, importance of water in horse's diet, identify skin diseases, lameness and their causes, how to take TPR, teeth care, foot and shoeing, the function of the frog, proper cool-out procedures, horse identification e.g. EC passport application
- Complete the Rider 5 Flat Test as described on the Ontario Equestrian Federation website, www.horse.on.ca
|
New Rider Level 6
Candidate will:
- further develop and practice skills from Rider 1 to 5 demonstrating use of independent aids and a balanced position at walk, trot and canter with and without stirrups
- discuss the terms: lateral and longitudinal flexion, overbent
- demonstrate practical use of different rein aids
- learn schooling movements: ¼ turn on the haunches
- perform simple change of lead through walk on diagonal
- ride flat test demonstrating accuracy and confidence in ride
- ride a gymnastic line with and without stirrups demonstrating proper position and control
- ride a course demonstrating proper position, control, straightness, rhythm and correct leads
- maximum height of fences 2'6”
- Stable Management: including proper fitting of saddles, martingales, breastplates and protective boots, discuss actions of bits (snaffle vs. curb bits), identify signs of a healthy horse, types of wounds, how identify a lame leg on a horse, identify items in a first aid kit, how to properly pick out a stall, demonstrate how to pull a mane, bran mash
- Complete the Rider 6 Flat Test as described on the Ontario Equestrian Federation website, www.horse.on.ca
|
New Rider Level 7
Candidate will:
- further develop and practice skills from Rider 1 to 6 demonstrating a proper warm-up and use of independent aids with a balanced position
- define: engagement and lateral movements
- lengthen and shorten stride at trot
- perform ½ turn on the haunches
- perform a 3-loop serpentine at the canter with a change of lead through trot
- ride a flat test and provide a self-critique showing comprehension and knowledge of performance
- demonstrate different releases over gymnastics
- understand distances for gymnastic elements trot poles, bounces, vertical to vertical, vertical to oxer
- ride a course and provide a self-critique showing comprehension and knowledge of performance
- maximum height of fences 2'9”
- lunge a horse with side reins
- Stable Management: including fitting a bridle, name snaffle bits, apply stable bandage, know when to call the vet, discuss leg lameness (splint & navicular), treatment of wounds, colic, types of shoes plus clips, corks and pads, corrective shoes, shoeing procedures
- Complete the Rider 7 Flat Test as described on the Ontario Equestrian Federation website, www.horse.on.ca
|
New Rider Level 8
Candidate will:
- further develop and practice skills from Rider 1 to 7 providing a critique showing comprehension and knowledge of performance
- lengthen and shorten stride at canter
- learn schooling movements: leg yield
- ability to ride forward at all paces
- ride a flat test and provide self-critique
- ride a gymnastic line
- set-up and ride a course to own horse's ability ~ demonstrate ability to adapt and maintain position
- provide a self-critique of over fences ride
- Stable Management: including describing the purpose of different nosebands, signs of dehydration, identify leg lameness, explain tying up, conformation: good/bad, define “good bone”, teeth and aging, apply shipping bandages
- Complete the Rider 8 Flat Test as described on the Ontario Equestrian Federation website, www.horse.on.ca
|
New Rider Level 9-10
|
Rider 9 and 10 are currently in development. The expectation is that Rider 9 will be equivalent to the riding and stable management requirements of Coach 1, and Rider 10 will be equivalent to the riding and stable management requirements of Coach 2.
|
|
