Riding School Curriculum

The goal of our lesson program is to help develop the whole rider. Our lessons are geared to meet the physical, mental, emotional and social needs of the rider while reinforcing positive character development, such as safety, good judgment, responsibility and accountability, critical thinking, goal setting, self assurance, consideration and respect.

NHS Riding Levels

Our program offers four riding levels, Beginner through Intermediate-Advanced. Within each riding level there are four more levels (1A, 1B, 1C, 1D) that indicate a student's proficiency and understanding of the skills taught. Each level covers basic equitation, arena and trail riding, general knowledge of horse behavior and handling, and knowledge of theory. The NHS riding program is progressive and positive, allowing students to build upon skills and progress at their own pace from one level to the next.

 Below is a summary of the skills taught and the goal for each level.  Lessons may expand from these basic outlines.

Level 1 - Beginner Rider
Level 2 - Beginning-  Intermediate Rider
Level 3 - Intermediate Rider
Level 4 - Intermediate - Advanced Rider
● Safety rules
● Mounting and dismounting
● Basic position
● Control of the horse at the walk and trot
● Sitting the trot or jog
● Posting
● Balance position
● Basic trail rules and trail rides
● Approaching, haltering, leading
● Basic grooming
● Saddling and bridling
● Parts of the horse
● Parts of the saddle and bridle
● Basic horse care
Upon completion of Level 1, a student is confident riding a well-schooled horse at the walk and trot with good position and control.
● Improving balance of horse and rider
● Beginning the canter or lope
● Introductory Western patterns and obstacles
● Introduction to jumping (English), pre-jumping exercises
● Introduction to trail obstacles and conditions
● More horse behavior
● Colors and markings
● Terminology
● Horse breeds
A confident Level 2 rider will maintain good position and control at all three gaits on a well-schooled horse.
Level 3 encourages “Thinking Riders”. Riders will start to focus on refining the use of their aids and other technical aspects of good horsemanship. They will start to identify problems on their own and make corrections. They may step up in school horse levels.
● Leads at the canter or lope
● More involved transitions
● More complex rein, leg and seat aids
● Backing
● Improving the seat at the trot, and canter
● Patterns
● Western Riders- Start training movements such as turn backs on the rail
● English Riders- Ride on contact, lines of fences, jumps and simple courses up to 2 feet.
● Nutrition and feeding
● Bits and bitting
● Artificial aids
● Care of equipment
Riders will be challenged by actually schooling horses, Riding skills are becoming second nature and the rider is helping to better the horse.
The rider will understand:
● Horse balance and collection
● Extension and working gaits
● Evaluation of their own performance and that of the horse
● Leg yielding, turns on the forehand and haunches, lead changes
● Perfecting transitions, balanced stops from the lope
● Roll backs, head sets and collection
● Health care: signs of soundness, hoof care, conformation, vaccinations, deworming