Level 1: goals are a good foundation of safe, secure and simple basics.

1. Approach and lead a horse correctly and safely
2. Mount with control and without disturbing the horse.
3. Dismount safely with control and prepare your horse to lead.
4. Ride at a walk with good Level 1 position and control.
5. Ride at a trot around the rail with good level 1 position and control.
6. Halt from the walk and the trot on command, with control and without hurting the horse.
7. Ride turns and reverses at the walk and trot with good Level 1 control.
8. Give 5 safety rules and a reason why each is important
9. Demonstrate 3 simple grooming steps.
10. Show how to check your equipment before riding.
11. Pass written test.

Level 2: goals are to improve the use of the aids and to develop more balance.

1. Mount and adjust your stirrups to the proper length.
2. Dismount and prepare the horse to lead.
3. Do a tack check on both sides and tighten girth if needed.
4. Ride with good position and balance for Level 2 at walk and trot or jog.
   
   1. Walk, sitting trot, jumping position, posting
5. Demonstrate good Level 2 control by:
   
   1. Riding at least twice around the ring at a jog or trot without breaking the gait.
   2. Halting on command without unnecessary roughness to horse.
   3. Keeping the proper distance when riding in a group or on the trail.
   4. Riding at a jog or trot without breaking gait;
   • Simple reverses
   • Circles
   • Western pattern
6. Put the horse into a lope or canter and ride at least once around the ring with good Level 2 seat ant control.
7. Post on the correct diagonal both directions of the ring.
8. Show how to cool out a hot horses properly.
9. Demonstrate how to tie a proper quick release knot for tying a horse.
10. Understand how to clean a stall, clean the stable area and stable chores.
11. Pass written test.
12. Give 5 rules for safety when trail riding.
13. Demonstrate the following:
    • What to do if you see a hazard like a hole or wire.
    • Keeping a safe distance from other horses and staying in your place in line.
    • How to ride over or through a simple trail obstacle (like a creek, stepping poles or a muddy spot)
    • How to ride uphill and downhill
14. Jumping Requirements (Optional)
    1. Demonstrate jumping position at a walk and trot in good balance.
    2. Ride over practice poles and cavaletti in jumping position at trot.
    3. Jump a low crossrail at a trot showing
       • Good jumping position
       • Balance
       • Correct release
       • Good control

Level 3: the goals are to continue to improve on the use of aids and control.

1. Ride with good position, balance and control for Level 3 at the:
   • Walk, with and without stirrups or bareback.
   • itting trot or jog, with and without stirrups or bareback.
   • Posting trot on correct diagonal, demonstrating change of diagonals.
   • Jumping position (English) or standing (Western)
   • Canter or lope in both directions on the correct lead, identifying lead
2. Demonstrate the following aids and explain what they ask the horse to do.
   • Leading rein
   • Direct rein of opposition
   • Indirect rein
   • Neck rein or bearing rein
   • Pulley rein
   • Both leg aids used innormal position near the girth
   • One leg aid used in normal position near the girth
   • One leg aid used three or four inces behind the girth
   • Seat aid
3. Show Level 3 form and control while riding through the following movements.
   • Circle at sitting trot or jog
   • Figure 8, large or small
   • Smooth transitions
     • Walk to trot or jog
     • Walk to canter or lope
     • Trot or jog to stop
     • Canter or lope to walk
   • Serpentine or alternate riding pattern
   • Change of direction on the diagonal
   • Turnback on the rail
4. Identify the type of bit used by your horses and explain how it works.
5. Check the adjustment of your horse’s bridle and saddle and correct any problems.
6. Clean a saddle and a bridle.
7. Identify two kinds of roughage and four kinds of concentrates and assist with feeding horses.
8. Pass written test.
9. Check out your horse, tack and equipment before a trail ride.
10. Demonstrate good trail gaits at a
    • Long striding walk
    • Jog trot
    • Long striding trot
    • Canter
11. Demonstrate how to pass another rider and how to handle your horse when being passed.
12. Give 5 rules for being a responsible trail rider.
13. Jumping requirements (Optional)
    1. Demonstrate a secure jumping position with heels down, body in balance, eyes up and a correct release in elementary jumping exercise by:
       • Trotting over cross-rails and a trotting grid.
       • Cantering over a line of fences
       • Cantering over a single fence
    2. Demonstrate ability to turn horse accurately and line up with a single fence or line of fences
    3. Ride over a simple course at  a trot or canter with good form and control
    4. Jump a fence that varies from simple post and rails (brush, coop, panel, etc.)
    5. Demonstrate or tell how to handle a refusal and a runout.

Level 4: to be added in the future.