Horse Basics Trail Buddy Certificate
Prerequisite: Horse Basics Senior Public School or equivalent (walk/trot under saddle)
Would you like to be invited on a trail ride with your friends? Would you like to be invited back? You will be if you and your horse are well behaved! To become a trail buddy, you and your horse must demonstrate basic skills that will allow you to enjoy the trail safely. These include a review of safe ground handling, what to bring on your ride, trail etiquette, how to keep your horse under control, and how to deal with situations that may arise. To earn your certificate you will be expected to walk and trot in a controlled manner on the trail and negotiate a series of obstacles that are typical for a trail ride.
Horse Basics Trail Boss Certificate
Pre-requisite: Horse Basics Trail Buddy Certificate or equivalent
Are you ready to hit the trail with your friends? Are you and your horse prepared to take a leadership role? There will always be a variety of skill levels on any trail ride, but as you and your horse become seasoned, wouldn’t it be good to be able to offer to help others along the way?
That’s what being a Horse Basics Trail Boss is about – demonstrating leadership skills on the trail. You and your horse will be asked to perform several tasks that are expected of a trail boss in an open area or on the trail, such as organizing the ride, planning for emergencies, or ponying another horse, for example. This certificate can take up to a year or more to achieve, depending on your ability, your horse’s suitability, and your commitment. It’s an enjoyable investment in one of the most popular recreational activities out there: trail riding.
Horse Basics Dressage Buddy Certificate
Pre-requisite: Horse Basics Senior Public School or equivalent (walk/trot under saddle)
The beauty and elegance of dressage all begins with the basics: relaxed, forward and rhythmic gaits that are a pleasure to ride. Basic dressage just another word for basic training which will form the foundation of your riding career, whether it be to higher levels of dressage or western riding.
This certificate will introduce you and your horse to the basics of dressage and prepare you to ride a walk/trot entry-level test. You’ll learn how to use a lettered arena to perform the test, how to break down your ride into manageable segments, and how to ride each segment to create a memorable performance.
The best part of it is, if you aren’t inclined to show you can perform ‘the test’ at home under whatever tack you like: English, Western, it doesn’t matter. What matters is your performance. Your walk/trot test will be ridden either at a show of your choice or performed privately for an independent judge, with all elements requiring a passing grade to achieve your certificate. It’s a great way to give you and your horse a solid start to a riding career whether you’re going further in the show ring or out on the trail.