First Learning to Ride at BEC
Age Groups
Curriculum by Level at BEC

First Learning to Ride at BEC

When first learning to horse ride at Blinkbonnie Equestrian Centre it is necessary to have some private lessons (usually 4 – 6 lessons) where there is just one student and one instructor. This will ensure that you can safely and quickly learn the basics of horse riding. The objective of the private lessons are to ensure that you learn the following skills:

• Mounting and dismounting the horse
• Stop/Start
• Steering
• Rising trot
• Sitting trot
• A few steps of canter
• Jumping position over poles on the ground

Once you have mastered these skills then you can decide to either continue to take private lessons or you can choose to join in a group.

The advantage of further private lessons are that you can advance quickly with the one-on-one tuition. However riding in a group is a lot more fun and more social. We organize the groups so you are riding with people of a similar age and experience level.

Age Groups

Children 8 – 16yo
Adult over 16yo

Please note that we do not teach children until they are 8yo

Curriculum by Level

Beginner (includes Beginner W/T, Beginner and Beginner 2)

• Seat and Hands
• Halt
• Medium, free walk
• Working Trot – diagonals, sitting rising – 20 m circles
• Working Canter – correct lead – long side
• Transitions – halt to walk, walk to trot, trot to canter

Jumping – trotting poles and simple combinations up to 30 cms

Intermediate 1

• Halt - Square
• Medium Trot – 10m, 15m circles, 3 loop serpentines
• Medium canter – 10m, 20m circles diagonal
• Transitions – change canter lead through trot
• Leg yield / turn on forehand

Jumping – trotting poles and combinations up to 60cm

Intermediate 2

• Collected Trot – 4 loop serpentines
• Collected Canter – 3 loop serpentines, counter canter
• Transitions – halt/reinback/collected trot, change canter lead through walk, halt/reinback/canter
• Shoulder-in at trot, Travers (quarters in) at trot, half pirouette at walk

Jumping – combinations and courses up to 90cms

Advanced

• Extended, collected walk
• Extended, collected walk – 8m circle
• Extended canter – 4 loop serpentine (no lead change)
• Transitions – canter flying change
• Half pass at trot, renvers (quarters-out)

Jumping – Combinations and courses up to 90cms