Riding Level Descriptions

Never Ridden
You have never been on a horse before, or have only had a handful of experiences. You are starting from the very beginning and will learn basic horse handling, grooming, mounting, and how to communicate with your horse at the walk.

Beginner
You are comfortable at the walk and learning to trot. You understand basic horse care and can groom and tack with guidance. You are developing balance and body awareness in the saddle, and beginning to use your aids independently.

Advanced Beginner
You can walk and trot confidently and are working on developing a steady posting rhythm. You are learning to canter and refining your position and aids. You can handle basic grooming and tacking independently and are comfortable riding different lesson horses.

Intermediate
You have a secure seat at all three gaits and can maintain balance through transitions. You are refining your aids for precision and working on more advanced flatwork exercises. You may be starting to jump small courses or working on discipline-specific skills.

Advanced Intermediate
You ride with an independent seat and effective aids across all gaits. You are comfortable jumping courses (2'6" and up) or performing discipline-specific work at a competitive level. You can ride a variety of horses and adapt your riding to their individual needs.