Riding Program

Each of the levels were designed to be the fastest, simplest, and easiest way for you to learn how to ride a horse.  It is best to learn how to ride the horse before you chose a specific discipline so you can master the feel of the horse’s bio-mechanics.  Whether you want to focus on English disciplines or Western disciplines,you will achieve your goals in a shorter period of time by following the program levels.

Save money by purchasing a Sarah Sander’s level-package.  Package prices and lessons vary from level to level.   Contact us for more details!

The advancement test is $50.  Once a you have passed, you will move up to the next riding level!  You will receive your level certificate of completion.

Basic Handle Riding Levels

Green Level Rider will be competent with:

  • Catch and halter horse without assistance
  • Basics parts of the horse
  • Grooming and saddling without assistance
  • Can walk and post trot while guiding comfortably in the arena

Yellow Level Rider will be competent with:

  • Can perform Basic Rollbacks comfortably at the trot
  • Has started cantering in the arena
  • Can ride 2 point comfortably at the walk and trot

Orange Level Rider will be competent with:

  • Can circle at the canter comfortably
  • Has started cantering in 2 point
  • Can trot over poles
  • Trail riden at a walk/Trot

Blue Level Rider will be competent with:

  • Can perform Basic Rollbacks at the canter
  • Can circle in 2 point at the canter
  • Can perform the “Balanced Stop”
  • Can jump a crossrail

Bronze Level Rider will be competent with:

  • Can perform “Turn on the Forehand”
  • Can perform “Intermediate Rollbacks”
  • Can perform “Drop to Trot Lead Changes”
  • Started spiral down spins
  • Can jump 18″
  • Started general cattle handling

Silver Level Rider will be competent with:

  • Can perform “Advanced Rollbacks”
  • Can perform “Natural Flying Lead Changes”
  • Can leg yield down center line at the trot
  • Can spin from trot or canter comfortably
  • Can jump 2′-2’6″ (Optional)
  • Can “Drift”

Gold Level Rider will be competent with:

  • Can leg yield at the canter down center line
  • Can jump 2’9″-3’6″ (Optional)
  • Can “Drift” comfortably at the canter

Burgundy will be competent with:

  • Can jump 4’course (Optional)
  • Can perform “Same Lead Rolls”
  • Can perform “Inside Roll out to Opposite Lead”
  • Lead changes on a straight line

Dressage (Balanced Riding)

Blue Level Rider will be competent with:

  • Can “drift” at the trot
  • Transition from walk to trot, trot to walk
  • Trot centerline and long diagonals
  • Leg yield down center line at the trot
  • Trot 20-meter circle
  • Correct bend

Bronze Level Rider will be competent with:

  • Transition from trot to canter, canter to trot
  • Canter down centerline and long diagonals
  • Canter a 20-meter circle
  • Show grooming and prep

Silver Level Rider will be competent with:

  • Half pass at the trot
  • Can “drift” at the canter
  • Trot work for lengthen & collect gaits

Gold Level Rider will be competent with:

  • Can extend the walk, trot, canter
  • Lead changes on the diagonal
  • Stretching at the working trot

Burgundy Level Rider will be competent with:

  • Lead changes on a straight line
  • Learn how to perform a Pirouette
  • Has competed at 4 local shows or
  • Has completed at least 4 certified Dressage tests correctly

Reining

Blue Level Rider will be competent with:

  • Perform “Turn on the Forehand”
  •  “Dirft” at the trot
  • Perform “Drop to Trot Lead Changes”
  • Perform “Intermediate Rollbacks”

Bronze Level Rider will be competent with:

  • Perform the “Balanced Stop”
  • “Drift” at the canter

Silver Level Rider will be competent with:

  • Perform “Advanced Rollbacks”
  • “Drift” into a spin from trot
  • Show grooming & prep

Gold Level Rider will be competent with:

  • Perform the “Trotting Spin”
  • Perform “Natural Flying Lead Changes”

Burgundy Level Rider will be competent with:

  • Has competed at 4 local shows or
  • Has completed at least 4 certified Reining patterns correctly

Hunter/Jumper

Blue Level Rider will be competent with:

  • Guide over trotting poles
  • 2 point at the walk & trot

Bronze Level Rider will be competent with:

  • Guide over cantering poles
  • Jump crossrails
  • 2 point at the canter
  • Show grooming & prep

Silver Level Rider will be competent with:

  • Jump 18′-2’6″ courses
  • Correct lead after jump

Gold Level Rider will be competent with:

  • Jump 2’9″-3’6″ courses
  • Has jumped cross country fences

Burgundy Level Rider will be competent with:

  • Jump 4′

Endurance

Blue Level Rider will be competent with:

  • Trail ride at trot and canter for 2+ hours

Bronze Level Rider will be competent with:

  • Trot up and down hill comfortably
  • Judge maximum speed for footing

Silver Level Rider will be competent with:

  •  Walk/Trot/Canter up and down small hills
  • Jump logs & small streams
  •  Comfortably gallop on the flat

Gold Level Rider will be competent with:

  • Complete edurance training ride at Greensfelder at the trot/canter
  • Manuever drops and steep downhill terrain
  • Successfully finish a 25 mile ride

Burgundy Level Rider will be competent with:

  • Successfully completed four 50 mile endurance rides