Typical Riding Lesson Format

    At EQUI-VENTURE, we have a complete and thorough lesson format that includes a series of progressive Horsemanship Levels  for English and Western students.  Safety is always a top priority!  We expect a lot out of our students, because we want them to be confident, knowledgeable, and responsible while having a strong sense of pride.  We want each student to be the very best that he/she can be.  Yet, we still keep things fun and motivating.  We will always be there to help or answer any questions.  

    As each student arrives, the individual's progress is discussed.  Collecting of any payments and the status of Pre-Paid Lessons Plans are gone over with each student.  Once all of  the group has arrived, a quick meeting is done.  Homework assignments and Horsemanship Journals are collected.  Previous assignments are returned.  Tips or information on safety, horsemanship, stable management, training or equine education are given.  Reminders, newsletters and notices are passed out.  Announcements are made.  Upcoming stable activities and sign up sheets are gone over.  Any preparatory or unmounted lesson material(s) that must be covered before getting the horses is presented.  Each student is checked for safe riding attire.  Horse and tack assignments are then reviewed.

    It is the student's responsibility to set up his/her grooming area prior to getting any horse.  All tack, equipment, grooming kits, boots or bandages must be out and set up.  Muck buckets, forks, rakes and brooms should be handy but, safely out of the way.  Setting up wash and rinse buckets and/or coolers are to be done at this time as well.  All students must have on a helmet before handling or being around any horse.  How to prepare for riding is taught in the Tying & Grooming classes and the Tacking & Untacking classes in our required Equi-Basics Course.

    Each student is required to get his/her assigned horse from the stall or turn out area.  Only students that are over the age of sixteen are allowed to enter an area where there are loose horses.  For beginners or those under sixteen, an assistant will be assigned to help.  Any ground skill lessons covered in the day's lesson plan may be taught prior to bringing the horses into the grooming area.  Students are taught how to get and lead their horses in the Catching, Haltering and Leading classes of our required Equi-Basics Course.

    After properly securing their horses, students are required to groom the entire horse including the hooves.  Those limited by age or size may be assisted.  ALL horses are to be free of mud, dirt, manure, loose hair and stains (if possible).  Manes and tails are to be properly combed or brushed and tangle free.  Any approved medications, fly spray or conditioners can be applied.  Students are to straighten up their area and remove any manure.  Although the horses do not have to be ready for the show ring, we do want our students to take pride in how they present themselves and their mounts.  For the health and well being of our equine friends, we do expect well groomed horses.  Horses that are still dirty will be sent back to the stable for the student to finish grooming. (This, of course, is lost riding time.)  After passing our Tying & Grooming classes, students should be very capable of doing this.

    Once thorough grooming is completed, students then tack up their horses.  Any boots or bandages are put on the horses.  Students will make sure that they have any extra needed equipment and crops.  Adjustments of tack are made.  Before leaving the stable area safety checks are done.  Students then lead their horses to the designated riding area.  Students will learn how to do all of this in our Tacking & Untacking classes.

    Each mounted lesson begins in the round pen or one of the arenas, with another safety check and final adjustment of tack.  This is followed by unmounted stretching exercises for horse and rider.  A review of the previous lesson material is gone over.  The objectives of this lesson are explained to the student(s).  Ground work may be scheduled as well.  Students are allowed to mount up.  At the beginning of the riding portion of the lesson, the rider will do balancing exercises along with additional stretching and warm up exercises for both the horse and rider.  These exercises help to develop balance, timing, rhythm and control for the rider.  A demonstration is usually done to show the specific technical aspect(s) of that day's ride.  We keep lesson materials suited to the student's or group's Horsemanship Levels.  After the technical portion of the lesson, the lesson moves to the application phase where the day's concept can be applied and tested.  Then students are allowed some additional practice time.  Age and level appropriate games may be played.  A cooling down period follows for both horse and rider.   A review of today's lesson and a "comments and questions" session is also done.  This helps the instructor see how well the student(s) understood the technical portion as well as get feedback about the student(s) practical application.  Once the cool down is completed it is followed by stretching  for both horse and rider.  Only when the horse and rider are calm, relaxed and cooled down, the rider will dismount.  This is followed by additional stretches or cooling down exercises  for both.  If there are any other ground skills as part of the lesson plan, they may done at this time.  Students and horses are then excused. 

    Once back at the grooming area, riders are required to properly untack and cool out their horse.  All students will be taught how to properly cool out a horse with the required Warming Up & Cooling Out Procedures classes offered through our Equi-Basics Course.  This is extremely important and will be strictly monitored.  Once the horse is cooled out, he is to be regroomed with hooves picked out.  Any needed linaments or dressings can be applied.  The horse is then returned to his turn out area or stall. 

    Students are then required to wipe down and condition their tack.  Brushes are to be cleaned and grooming kits set back up.  All equipment is to be neatly put away in the correct places.  Then the grooming area is to be raked and/or swept.  Any hoof dirt, hair and manure is to be properly disposed of.  Students then get their homework assignments, newsletters or reminders.  Their next lesson is confirmed or scheduled.  Their payment status is reviewed.  If there is extra time scheduled in the lesson plan:  unmounted or educational, stable management or training portions of the Horsemanship Levels  may be done at this time.  After checking out with their instructor or stable assistant, students are permitted to leave. 

    As one can see, we could not possibly run a half-hour, or even an one hour lesson program.  This is why our lessons are longer than other stables.  As our mission statement implies, we teach HORSEMANSHIP, not  just riding.

Typical Unmounted Lesson Format

    Our thorough Lesson Program also includes required educational and unmounted material.  These unmounted lessons are just as important as riding lessons and are to be regarded as such.  Unmounted lessons are run very similar to the mounted ones.  The only exception is that there is no riding.  There will be ground work, stable management skills, natural horsemanship techniques, educational lectures or games, or evaluations to name a few.  Check our Horsemanship Levels  to the see the curricula covered.