Professional Development Program

This level is designed to give the most inexperienced beginner a safe start in horsemanship.  Focusing on the most fundamental aspects, riders will get a solid foundation that ensures a safe, fun, and fulfilling experience that they can carry with them into all of their future goals. All of the skills learned in level 1 are on a longe line, where the instructor maintains control over the horse. Riding on the longe line gives the rider freedom to learn how to balance without needing to focus on managing the horse.

E-Learning Course Content

$49.99/month for unlimited PDP Membership Access

Horsemanship Skills

$70/session for private, in-person, hands-on learning

Horsemanship Skills

• Basic horse handling skills, including how to approach, lead, and stay safe around your horse
• Learn how to identify potentially unsafe situations
• Groom and tack up your horse independently
• Properly cool down your horse, clean up after yourself, and blanket appropriately for turnout

Riding Skills at the Halt

• Correct basic 3-point and 2-point positions
• How to hold, shorten, and lengthen your reins correctly
• Mount and dismount using a mounting block

Riding Skills at the Walk

• Correct basic 3-point and 2-point positions
• Finding the horse's rhythm
• Using the reins to ask gently and releasing the pressure with appropriate timing
• Walk-Halt-Walk transitions
• Steering left and right using the inside rein and outside leg

Riding Skills at the Trot

• Correct basic 3-point and 2-point positions
• Balanced riding postion in the posting trot
• Sitting trot without stirrups
• Walk-Trot-Walk transitions
• Demonstrate control of speed and tempo while trotting
• Demonstrate small, medium, and large circles in sitting and posting trot
• Shorten and lengthen your reins in posting trot
• Post the trot on the correct diagonal

Safety Skills for Off-Line Riding

• Drop your stirrups and pick them back up
• Perform an emergency stop from the walk
• Turn on the forehand (i.e. disengaging the hindquarters)
• Perform an emergency dismount at the halt
• Do's and don'ts of aiding a fallen rider

When a student passes this level, they will unlock:

• Volunteering
• Riding Independently

E-Learning Course Content

$49.99/month for unlimited PDP Membership Access

Professional Development Program

• Learn about the horse industry

• Learn about the different career choices available to you

• Learn about the history of your discipline of choice

• Learn about the governing associations of your discipline of choice and how to get involved

• Introduction to Volunteering

• Introduction to Showing

Horsemanship Skills

$70/session for private, in-person, hands-on learning

$50/session for semi-private, in-person, hands-on learning

Horsemanship Skills

• Develop a common language with the horse using appropriate patterns and timing of releases

• Learn to grow the horse’s confidence as a learner.

• Learn to recognize when the horse is pushing against pressure and gain the knowledge and skills to respond appropriately

Riding Skills at the Halt

• Learn to shift and redistribute a horse’s weight and balance

• Turn on the forehand

• Halt-Working Trot Transitions

• Mount and dismount from both sides

• Emergency dismount

Riding Skills at the Walk

• Identify when both left and right foreleg strike the ground

• Learn to maintain, without micromanaging, the horse’s tempo or impulsion at medium walk and free walk

• Learn basic arena geometry

• Learn to bend and counter-bend your horse

• Drop both of your stirrups and pick them back up

• Walk without stirrups (on longe-line) without using a saddle or grab strap for support

• Leg yield out on a circle

• 2-point positioning and proper releases over simple ground poles (Hunt Seat)

• 2-point positioning over a series of 4 ground poles (Hunt Seat)

• Learn basic rules for flat classes and basic coursing (Hunt Seat)

• Learn dressage test basics (Dressage and Western)

Riding Skills at the Trot/Jog

• Learn to maintain, without micromanaging, the horse’s tempo or impulsion at posing trot/jog

• Medium Walk - Working Trot transitions

• Practice good balance control in posting trot/jog in various patterns

• Jog without stirrups (on longe-line) without using a saddle or grab strap for support

• Learn basic arena geometry

• Learn to bend and counter-bend your horse

• Trot - Halt through medium walk transitions

• Demonstrate any position within the posting trot/jog as requested without needing to adjust leg position

• 2-loop serpentines

• 2-point positioning and proper releases over simple ground poles (Hunt Seat)

• 2-point positioning over a series of 4 ground poles (Hunt Seat)

• Learn basic rules for flat classes (Hunt Seat)

• Learn dressage test basics (Dressage and Western)

• USDF and WDAA Intro level dressage and western dressage tests (Dressage and Western)

When students pass this level, they will unlock:

• Volunteering

E-Learning Course Content

$49.99/month for unlimited PDP Membership Access

Professional Development Program

• Learn about the horse industry

• Learn about the different career choices available to you

• Get connected to other young professionals who can help you forge a path to success

• Volunteering

• Leasing

• First aid for the fallen rider

Horsemanship Skills

$80/session for private, in-person, hands-on learning

$60/session for semi-private, in-person, hands-on learning

Horsemanship Skills

• Demonstrate basic horsemanship skills while using appropriate patterns and timing of releases to develop a better partnership and a more confident horse

• Use basic horsemanship skills to motivate the horse to be present and participate

• Introduction to longeing

Riding Skills at the Halt

• Halt and Rein Back using the restraining seat aid

• Turn on the forehand

• Turn on the haunches

Riding Skills at the Walk

• Identify when both left and right hind leg strikes the ground

• Learn to shift and redistribute the horse’s weight and balance

• Working turn on the forehand

• Leg-yield

• Single-loop serpentines

• Learn to predict the quality of a free walk

• Medium Crest releases (Hunter Seat)

Riding Skills at the Trot/Jog

• Learn how to not lose connection to the horse’s rhythm or tempo in sitting trot/jog (on longe-line)

• Learn how to not lose connection to the horse’s rhythm or tempo in a walk to sitting trot/jog transition (on longe-line)

• Sit the trot, no stirrups (on longe-line)

• Identify when both left and right foreleg strikes the ground

• Working trot

• 10 m circles in a corner

• Learn to predict the quality of a stretchy circle

• Single-loop serpentines

• Working Trot - Halt - Working Trot transitions

• Leg Yield out on a circle

• Sitting Trot

• Flat Tests basic (Hunt Seat)

• Ground Poles Courses (Hunt Seat)

• USDF Training Level Dressage Tests (Dressage)

• WDAA Basic Level Western Dressage Tests (Western)

Riding Skills at the Canter/Lope

• Cantering/loping skills

• Learn how to not lose connection to the horse’s rhythm or tempo while cantering/loping (on longe-line)

• Learn how to not lose connection to the horse’s rhythm or tempo in a sitting trot/jog to canter/lope transition (on longe-line)

• Sitting the canter without stirrups (on longe-line)

• Working Trot/Jog to Working Canter/Lope transitions

• Canter/Lope Leads

• Simple changes of lead through the trot/jog

• Flat Classes (Hunt Seat)

• USDF Training Level Test 3 (Dressage)

• WDAA Basic Level Test 4 (Western)

When students pass this level, they unlock:

• Leasing a school horse

E-Learning Course Content

$49.99/month for unlimited PDP Membership Access

Professional Development Program

• Learn about the horse industry

• Learn about the different career choices available to you

• Get connected to other young professionals who can help you forge a path to success

• Mentorship skills

Horsemanship Skills

$80/session for private, in-person, hands-on learning

$60/session for semi-private, in-person, hands-on learning

Horsemanship Skills

• Create purposeful tasks that help the horse to build more confidence in different environments

• Identify core issues surrounding any tasks

• Use appropriate tools, timingm, speed, and exercises to achieve certain tasks

• Longeing

Riding Skills at the Halt

• Rein back

• Turn on the haunches

• Turn on the forehand

• Mounting and dismounting from the ground

Riding Skills at the Walk

• Identify when the left and right hind legs leave the ground

• Medium walk to free walk transitions

• 3 loop serpentines

• Emergency dismount to either side

Riding Skills at the Trot/Jog

• Identify when the left and right hind leg strike the ground

• Learn to move and redistribute the horse’s weight and balance

• 10m circles

• 15m circles

• Working trot/jog to stretchy trot/jog transitions

• Lengthen stride on a straight line

• Identify when the inside hind leg is in the air through a change of direction

• 3 loop serpentines

• Leg yield

• Working trot/jog to halt to working trot/jog transitions

• Learn to instill responsibility in the horse on a circle

• Be able to drop both stirrups and pick them back up at the sitting trot

• Posting trot no stirrups (Hunt Seat)

• Cross rail courses (Hunt Seat)

Riding Skills at the Canter/Lope

• Identify when the left and right foreleg strike the ground

• Learn to move and redistribute the horse’s weight and balance

• 15 m circles

• Simple lead changes through the jog/trot

• USDF First Level Test 1 (Dressage)

• WDAA Level 1 Test 2 (Western Dressage)

• Flat Test (Hunt Seat)

• Cross rail courses (Hunt Seat)

When students pass this level, they unlock:

• Mentorship

E-Learning Course Content

$49.99/month for unlimited PDP Membership Access

Professional Development Program

• Learn about the horse industry

• Learn about the different career choices available to you

• Get connected to other young professionals who can help you forge a path to success

• Mentorship

• Trail Riding

Horsemanship Skills

$80/session for private, in-person, hands-on learning

$60/session for semi-private, in-person, hands-on learning

Horsemanship Skills

• Learn to guide a horse through more difficult obstacles and effective communication at a greater distance

• Identify characteristics of an unconfident horses

• Introduction to long lining

• Bareback riding

Riding Skills at the Halt

• Turn on the haunches

• Side pass

Riding Skills at the Walk

• Emergency dismount to both sides

Riding Skills at the Trot/Jog

• Identify when the left and right hind legs leave the ground

• 3 loop serpentines

• Lengthen stride on a 20m circle

• Continue to learn to instill responsibility in the horse on a circle

Riding Skills at the Canter/Lope

• 15m circles

• Lengthen stride on a straight line and on a 20m circle

• Medium walk to working canter/lope to working walk transitions

• Counter canter loops

• Drop either one of your stirrups and pick it back up

• Flat Classes (Hunt Seat)

• Cross rail courses (Hunt Seat)

• USDF First Level Test 3 (Dressage)

• WDAA Level 1 Test 4 (Western Dressage)

When students pass this level, they unlock:

• Apprenticeship

E-Learning Course Content

$49.99/month for unlimited PDP Membership Access

Professional Development Program

• Learn about the horse industry

• Learn about the different career choices available to you

• Get connected to other young professionals who can help you forge a path to success

• Apprentice Instruction skills

Horsemanship Skills

$80/session for private, in-person, hands-on learning

$60/session for semi-private, in-person, hands-on learning

Horsemanship Skills

• Learn to guide a horse through more difficult obstacles and effective communication at a greater distance

• Identify characteristics of an unconfident horses

• Long-Lining

• Bridless Riding

Riding Skills at the Halt

• Turn on the forehand to turn on the haunches

• Turn on the haunches to turn on the forehand

Riding Skills at the Walk

• Working turn on the forehand to working turn on the haunches

• Working turn on the haunches to working turn on the forehand

Riding Skills at the Trot/Jog

• Collected Trot/Jog

• Medium Trot/Jog

• Collected Trot/Jog to Medium Trot/Jog to Collected Trot/Jog

• Shoulder-in

• Instill responsibility in a horse on a figure 8

• Emergency dismount either side

• Posting trot/jog no stirrups on a figure 8

• Pick up correct posting diagonal without looking (Hunt Seat)

Riding Skills at the Canter/Lope

• Identify when both left and right hind legs strike the ground

• 10m circles

• Collected Canter/Lope

• Medium Canter/Lope

• Simple Lead changes through the walk

• Counter Canter/Lope

• Drop both stirrups and pick them back up

• Flat Classes (Hunt Seat)

• 1’6” - 2’0 courses (Hunt Seat)

• USDF Second Level Test 1 (Dressage)

• WDAA Level 2 Test 1 (Western Dressage)

When students pass this level, they unlock:

• Junior Instructor

E-Learning Course Content

$49.99/month for unlimited PDP Membership Access

Professional Development Program

• Learn about the horse industry

• Learn about the different career choices available to you

• Get connected to other young professionals who can help you forge a path to success

• Junior Instructor skills

Horsemanship Skills

$100/session for private, in-person, hands-on learning

$80/session for semi-private, in-person, hands-on learning

Horsemanship Skills

• Learn to meet the horse with appropriate amound of pressure, speed, and release to match the horse’s needs

• Learn to read horse’s at an advanced level

• Bridless Riding

• Introduction to Liberty

Riding Skills at the Halt

• Halt to reign back to halt to rein back to halt to rein back on a loose rein

• Turn on forehand

Riding Skills at the Walk

• Instill responsibility of a horse on a straight line

Riding Skills at the Trot/Jog

• Shoulder-in

• Travers/haunches in

• Renvers

• Shoulder-in to renvers

• Renvers to shoulder-in

• Emergency dismount to both sides

Riding Skills at the Canter/Lope

• Identify when both left and right hind legs leave the ground

• Shoulder-fore

• Counter lope 

• Instill responsibility of a horse on a circle with a loose rein

• Flat Class (Hunt Seat)

• 2’3” to 2’9” Courses (Hunt Seat)

• USDF Second Level Test 3 (Dressage)

• WDAA Level 2 Test 4 (Western Dressage)

When students pass this level, they unlock:

• Senior Instructor

E-Learning Course Content

$49.99/month for unlimited PDP Membership Access

Professional Development Program

• Learn about the horse industry

• Learn about the different career choices available to you

• Get connected to other young professionals who can help you forge a path to success

• Senior Instructor skills

Horsemanship Skills

$100/session for private, in-person, hands-on learning

$80/session for private, in-person, hands-on learning

Horsemanship Skills

• Deep understanding of horse behavior and learning to communicate using the most subtle of cues and body language

• Refine your role as the best leader and partner you can be, fostering the most cooperative, trust-based relationship possible with your horse

• Develop professional-level skills in horsemanship

• Continue to advance in your liberty skills

• Learn to teach horses creative and fun tricks

• Advance in your bridless skills

Riding Skills at the Walk

• Collected Walk

• Extended Walk

• Turn on the haunches

• Walk to rein back to walk to rein back to walk to rein back

Riding Skills at the Trot/Jog

• Shoulder-in to half pass to shoulder-in

• Extended trot/jog

• Half pass to collected trot/jog

• Rein back to collected trot/jog

Riding Skills at the Canter/Lope

• Extended canter/lope

• Flying change of lead

• Half pass at canter/lope

• Collected canter/lope to halt transition

• 20m circle

• 15m circle

• Rein back to collected canter/lope

• Working turn on the haunches to working pirouette

• Keep a horse responsible on a figure 8 with either a simple or flying change of lead

• Emergency Dismount

• Flat Test (Hunt Seat)

• 3’0” to 3’6” Courses (Hunt Seat)

• USDF Third Level Teat 1 (Dressage)

• WDAA Level 3 Test 2 (Western)

Other Skills

• Correctly assemble a double bridle, and properly adjust it to fit a horse (Dressage)

• Correctly assemble a two-rein bridle, and properly adjust it to fit a horse (Western