HorseSense Learning Levels
Foundations Equestrian offers to its clients HorseSense Learning Levels, a program that outlines checklists of skills that get progressively more in-depth as you proceed in your horsemanship experience. Read the FAQs below for more info about the program and how we use it!
What is HorseSense Learning Levels?
HorseSense Learning Levels is a program that outlines the necessary skills needed at each level of your equine education. The included curriculum helps us instructors with lesson planning, and the provided checklists allow us (and you!) to keep track of the skills you have gained and will need going forward. Check out the cork board by the main entrance for general descriptions of each level, and the tack room door for itemized checklists for each of the first 3 (and a half) levels- Red, Yellow, Green, and Rainbow Level, for our youngest riders!
Why use a levels program?
A levels program keeps us on track and makes sure everything is covered, creating the solid foundation of horsemanship skills we’ve always been so well known for! Splitting these skills into levels gives you a goal to strive for and a roadmap for your experience here!
How do I benefit from a levels program?
Knowing our goals and expectations as instructors allows you to set your own realistic goals. You’ll also know what things you can learn outside of lessons and what questions to ask your instructor.
Completing levels also unlocks privileges- once you pass both Yellow levels, you are allowed to help with lessons, lease a horse, and/or join the show team; once you pass Green HorseSense, you are allowed to board a horse here! The best part? Every time you complete a level, you’ll earn a medal!
How do I pass a level?
Riding skills, termed Horsemanship, will be taught and checked off in lessons. You’ll receive your Horsemanship medal during the lesson in which you check off your final skill for that level!
Unmounted skills, termed HorseSense, are taught in our monthly clinics as well as randomly in weekly lessons. Periodically we’ll hold Level Up Clinics for a small fee during which we’ll play games and do hands-on activities that show us you have HorseSense! We’ll have a ceremony at the end of the clinic when we’ll award medals signifying your leveling up. Study guides for each level are available for purchase for $10 each but are also included in the cost of a Level Up Clinic when you sign up. Written tests are also available for $60, including the study guide. Those are not as fun 😆
HorseCentered skills, taught in make-up lessons, emphasize the rider’s relationship with the horse. These levels will soon be added to the Level Up Clinics.
When you start your lessons, you’ll receive a booklet containing all of the checklists. This is for your reference only, and you are free to use it how you like!
What if leveling up doesn’t interest me?
It’s not mandatory! We’ll still keep track of your progress, but you don’t have to Level Up if you don’t want to.
Can I just focus on the Horsemanship levels (riding) and skip the HorseSense and HorseCentered levels?
You can, but we don't recommend missing out on it! Although riding is an amazing, freeing, fun, challenging, therapeutic… (I could go on all day!) part of horsemanship, properly caring for them and nurturing your relationship are equally important. These animals are our partners and rely on us, even if we only see them once a week, to help take care of them. So although only the riding skills may interest you, you’ll be exposed to all aspects of horsemanship, and I STRONGLY encourage you to soak up all you can about these wonderful creatures and try for all the levels you can!
