CW Foundation Horse Training Checklist (DRAFT)
This Foundation Skills Checklist can be used as a guideline to assess the horse and develop a training plan. Click here to see a sample Report Card.
Light-n-Polite, Foundation Horse Training
The bones and joints are not fully developed until 5 or 6 years old. Training and riding stresses should be increased gradually to allow the development and strengthening of the muscles and joints, and to minimize the chance of permanent injury. In general:
1-2 y/o – groundwork only
3 y/o – light riding
4 y/o – full training, trail riding
5-6 y/o – physically demanding work such as jumping, eventing, endurance, etc
Recommended:
Foundation skills: (DRAFT checklist)
Basic safety
Does the horse stay out of your space when asked politely? Respond to physical and non-physical pressure? Comply calmly when you make a request? Show basic respect by not pinning ears, pushing into you, or threatening to bite, strike, kick or run over you?
Leading
When asked, does the horse stay an arm's length away and at your side or slightly behind you when leading? Does he match your pace and look to you for leadership? Does he comply readily with simple requests like “move over sideways” or “don't dive for grass”? Can you lead from beside him or behind him?
De-spook
Does the horse stay relaxed and calm when: you touch him anywhere, expose him to scary stimuli like a plastic bag, tarp, clipper, windy day, excited horses, farm machinery, unfamiliar environments, sudden movements or loud sounds? Does he respond calmly to the whip and riding crop? Can he walk through tight spaces, through water, and over obstacles? Is he calm and non-reactive on the trail? If he's nervous does he look to you for leadership, and allow you to help him relax? Does he soften to pressure, even when excited or scared? Can he drag items at the lunge, accept a clipper, take a shower?
Handle feet and body
Does he lift his feet well for a trim, cleaning, or shoeing? Will he relax and allow you to move his feet, head, or tail without resistance? Can you touch and groom him anywhere, play with his ears, lips, nose, tongue? Does he cooperate with vet work, deworming, shots, etc?
Hindquarter and shoulder control
Can the horse turn on the forehand; crossing his hind leg under, calmly and with rhythm; on the ground or in the saddle? Can he turn on the hindquarters with rhythm and relaxation, crossing his front feet with coordination? Can you limit forward or backward movement easily, while turning? Will he move his shoulders with light leg and rein cues?
Head and body control
Does the horse respond softly to lateral flexion and “head down” cues? Will he soften at the poll with a light rein request? Can you easily handle and position his head? Does he move laterally off your leg? Can you bend and counter-bend him when riding? Leg yield, shoulder in?
Lunging
Does the horse lunge on-line, without pulling, with rhythm and relaxation? On-line and at liberty, does he respond well to your requests to walk, stop, back up, turn, trot, and canter? Can he move faster or slower within each pace when asked? Does he turn to face you when asked? Can he do inside turns in the round pen, without breaking stride? Can he do outside turns? Will he come to you when asked, and move away when asked? Can he spiral in and out? Will he respond quickly and calmly when asked for more energy? Can he trot a tight circle with rhythm, relaxation, a good bend, and cross under of the hind leg?
Cavalletti, jumps & obstacles
Can the horse easily navigate cavalletti and small jumps? Can he walk through water hazards, and lunge well on hilly or uneven ground? Stand on the pedestal? Back over obstacles? Walk over tarps and through tight spaces?
Tie & ground tie
Does the horse ground tie well? Can he stand tied calmly, even if there is commotion around him? Can you safely leave him tied alone for short periods?
Stand
Does the horse stand still for saddling, and mounting? Can he line up at the mounting block? Does he remain still until asked to move?
Trailer load
Does the horse trailer load calmly and willingly? Does he ride and unload calmly?
Bit & Reins
Does the horse carry the bit calmly? Does he respond softly and well to basic aids: turns, pace control, stop, and backup cues? Does he lower his head and soften at the poll when asked? Does he respond well to cues for turning and bending and balancing? Can he ride straight? Can you ride with connection? Does he understand a head-down cue (trail riding)?
Saddle
Does the horse stand calmly for saddling? Does he carry the saddle calmly? Is he calm when you step up in the stirrups and move the saddle around and flap the stirrups? Is he calm when you put your full weight on him?
Halt and Back up
Does the horse soften his head and neck readily when asked? Does he back faster if asked? Does he back primarily from your seat & leg cue? Does he halt readily, softening his head and neck and shifting his weight to his hindquarters?
Lateral work
Does the horse move laterally with coordination and calmness, at the walk and trot?
Riding - first (not in order and incomplete):
Stand to bridle, saddle & mount
Head control: lateral flexion, soften poll, lower head
Shoulders and Hips control: turn on HQ, turn on FH
Manners (no diving for grass, harassing other horses, taking off, etc)
Follow a leading rein - respond to legs and seat
Easy walk and trot in a circle (relaxed, rhythmic, balanced) Halt - backup
Stand relaxed
De-sensitizing (ropes, bags, other horses, etc)
Control of shoulders and hindquarters at walk & trot
Turns and stops with seat and legs only
Turns with contact and neck rein if desired
Connection & softening
Canter if offered
Riding – second (not in order and incomplete):
Lateral work & counter-bending
Control of speed and rhythm within each pace
Posture and straightness
Cavalletti, rough ground, small jumps
Transitions with softness
Trail riding
Canter leads
1-2 y/o – groundwork only
3 y/o – light riding
4 y/o – full training, trail riding
5-6 y/o – physically demanding work such as jumping, eventing, endurance, etc
Recommended:
- Dry, level, enclosed space with good, consistent footing, such as a round pen, or an arena, or an outdoor fenced sand lot, or a fenced pasture with even footing and grass and weeds clipped. 80 x 100 is plenty. 50 x 50 is enough. An enclosed space is best for initial rides. Consistent level footing is helpful to encourage relaxation, balance, and rhythm.
- Liberty work is not essential, but can be helpful in developing relationship and skills. Initial liberty work should only be conducted in a small, secure enclosed space. Too tall to jump. Secure gates. No hazards for the horse: no bars to get his feet tangled, no sharp edges, no obstacles to trip over or get caught on. If a suitable space is not available, on-line work is an acceptable substitute.
- Absence of distractions, such as other horses or animals in the training space itself, at least at first.
- Training a minimum of 3x / week for an hour or so. 5x a week is better for starting or re-starting.
- A quiet, broke horse to accompany on early rides out of the round pen or arena is helpful.
Foundation skills: (DRAFT checklist)
Basic safety
Does the horse stay out of your space when asked politely? Respond to physical and non-physical pressure? Comply calmly when you make a request? Show basic respect by not pinning ears, pushing into you, or threatening to bite, strike, kick or run over you?
Leading
When asked, does the horse stay an arm's length away and at your side or slightly behind you when leading? Does he match your pace and look to you for leadership? Does he comply readily with simple requests like “move over sideways” or “don't dive for grass”? Can you lead from beside him or behind him?
De-spook
Does the horse stay relaxed and calm when: you touch him anywhere, expose him to scary stimuli like a plastic bag, tarp, clipper, windy day, excited horses, farm machinery, unfamiliar environments, sudden movements or loud sounds? Does he respond calmly to the whip and riding crop? Can he walk through tight spaces, through water, and over obstacles? Is he calm and non-reactive on the trail? If he's nervous does he look to you for leadership, and allow you to help him relax? Does he soften to pressure, even when excited or scared? Can he drag items at the lunge, accept a clipper, take a shower?
Handle feet and body
Does he lift his feet well for a trim, cleaning, or shoeing? Will he relax and allow you to move his feet, head, or tail without resistance? Can you touch and groom him anywhere, play with his ears, lips, nose, tongue? Does he cooperate with vet work, deworming, shots, etc?
Hindquarter and shoulder control
Can the horse turn on the forehand; crossing his hind leg under, calmly and with rhythm; on the ground or in the saddle? Can he turn on the hindquarters with rhythm and relaxation, crossing his front feet with coordination? Can you limit forward or backward movement easily, while turning? Will he move his shoulders with light leg and rein cues?
Head and body control
Does the horse respond softly to lateral flexion and “head down” cues? Will he soften at the poll with a light rein request? Can you easily handle and position his head? Does he move laterally off your leg? Can you bend and counter-bend him when riding? Leg yield, shoulder in?
Lunging
Does the horse lunge on-line, without pulling, with rhythm and relaxation? On-line and at liberty, does he respond well to your requests to walk, stop, back up, turn, trot, and canter? Can he move faster or slower within each pace when asked? Does he turn to face you when asked? Can he do inside turns in the round pen, without breaking stride? Can he do outside turns? Will he come to you when asked, and move away when asked? Can he spiral in and out? Will he respond quickly and calmly when asked for more energy? Can he trot a tight circle with rhythm, relaxation, a good bend, and cross under of the hind leg?
Cavalletti, jumps & obstacles
Can the horse easily navigate cavalletti and small jumps? Can he walk through water hazards, and lunge well on hilly or uneven ground? Stand on the pedestal? Back over obstacles? Walk over tarps and through tight spaces?
Tie & ground tie
Does the horse ground tie well? Can he stand tied calmly, even if there is commotion around him? Can you safely leave him tied alone for short periods?
Stand
Does the horse stand still for saddling, and mounting? Can he line up at the mounting block? Does he remain still until asked to move?
Trailer load
Does the horse trailer load calmly and willingly? Does he ride and unload calmly?
Bit & Reins
Does the horse carry the bit calmly? Does he respond softly and well to basic aids: turns, pace control, stop, and backup cues? Does he lower his head and soften at the poll when asked? Does he respond well to cues for turning and bending and balancing? Can he ride straight? Can you ride with connection? Does he understand a head-down cue (trail riding)?
Saddle
Does the horse stand calmly for saddling? Does he carry the saddle calmly? Is he calm when you step up in the stirrups and move the saddle around and flap the stirrups? Is he calm when you put your full weight on him?
Halt and Back up
Does the horse soften his head and neck readily when asked? Does he back faster if asked? Does he back primarily from your seat & leg cue? Does he halt readily, softening his head and neck and shifting his weight to his hindquarters?
Lateral work
Does the horse move laterally with coordination and calmness, at the walk and trot?
Riding - first (not in order and incomplete):
Stand to bridle, saddle & mount
Head control: lateral flexion, soften poll, lower head
Shoulders and Hips control: turn on HQ, turn on FH
Manners (no diving for grass, harassing other horses, taking off, etc)
Follow a leading rein - respond to legs and seat
Easy walk and trot in a circle (relaxed, rhythmic, balanced) Halt - backup
Stand relaxed
De-sensitizing (ropes, bags, other horses, etc)
Control of shoulders and hindquarters at walk & trot
Turns and stops with seat and legs only
Turns with contact and neck rein if desired
Connection & softening
Canter if offered
Riding – second (not in order and incomplete):
Lateral work & counter-bending
Control of speed and rhythm within each pace
Posture and straightness
Cavalletti, rough ground, small jumps
Transitions with softness
Trail riding
Canter leads