When

December 6, 2025 - November 30, 2030

3:15 pm - 4:15 pm

Every Saturday (12:45pm – 1:45pm)

You will need to Register Add your Rider(s) on https://bankfarmridingschool.ecpro.co.uk

You will of had to of been graded to see what level lessons you can book

and then you will be able to see what availability we have

Level Three

1. Explain prepare to Canter

(CHECK POSTIION, SHORTEN REINS SLIGHTLY, HALF HALT BUT KEEP LEG ON, SITTING TROT, ASK AS GOING IN TO THE CORNER, INSIDE BEND FOR CORRECT CANTER LEAD)

2. Explain & Use Aids to canter

(SITTING TROT –

LITTLE BIT MORE WEIGHT ON THE INSIDE SEAT BONE YOUR SEAT DRAWS UP THE HIND LEG STRONG RHYTHM -–

INSIDE LEG ON THE GIRTH ASKS FOR MILD BEND TO PREPARE THE INSIDE LEAD & HELPS WITH BALANCE-

INSIDE REIN DOES VERY LITTLE ACTS AS A NECK REIN IT SITS THERE AND PREVENTS HORSE DRIFTING OUT –

1 TO 3 HALF HALTS BEFORE TRANSITION TO BALANCE WEIGHT TO THE HIND END KEEP LEGS ON FOR IMPULSION AFTER THE HALF HALTS —

OUTSIDE LEG SLIGHTLY BACK BEHIND THE GIRTH TELLS THEM WHICH LEAD BEHIND

OUTSIDE REIN HELP TO CONTROL SPEED AND KEEP THEM OUT ON THE TRACK)

3. Figure of 8s

(2 20M CIRCLES PUT TOGETHER – NO STRAIGHT LINES)

4. Serpentines

(NO STRAIGHT LINES but when starting to learn a serpentine it is best to rid the straight line then the loop will become better with practice, LOOPS, EACH TIME CROSS OVER THE CENTER LINE SHOULD CHANGE DIAGONAL, LOOPS EQUAL) (3 LOOP, 4 LOOP, 5 LOOPS ECT)

(diagrams are 3 loops serpentine)

5. Trot 20m circles from E & B

6. Balance Canter

7. Understand & Explain Canter Lead

(HORSES FRONT INSIDE LEG SHOULD STRIKE OUT FURTHER FORWARD THAN THE OUTSIDE FRONT LEG

THEY TAKE OFF WITH THERE OUTSIDE BACK LEG AND LEAD WITH THERE INSIDE FRONT

(THEY CAN BE CORRECT WITH FRONT LEGS AND INCORRECT WITH BACK LEGS WHICH IS CALLED MANY NAMES BUT WE USE THE TERM DIS-UNITED THIS USUALLY FEELS AWFUL, BUMPY & OFF BALANCE. BACK TO TROT AND ASK AGAIN)

(IF THE HORSE IS INCORRECT IN FRONT BACK TO TROT ASK AGAIN)

8. Check Canter Lead Whilst mounted

9. Walk without stirrups

10. Trot without stirrups

11. Adjust Own Stirrups

12. Understand beats of Pace, Walk, Trot & Canter

WALK IS 4 BEAT EACH FOOT HITS THE GROUND INDEPENDENTLY

The footfall sequence is:

Left Hind – Left Front – Right Hind – Right Front.

TROT IS A 2 BEAT FEET GO IN DIAGONAL PAIRS

The footfall sequence is:

Left Hind + Right Front – Suspension – Right Hind + Left Front – Suspension

CANTER IS A 3 BEAT 1 PAIR OF FEET STRIKE AND THE OTHER 2 LAND INDEPENDENTLY

Right Lead Canter

Left Hind – Right Hind + Left Front – Right Front – Suspension

Left Lead Canter

Right Hind – Left Hind + Right Front – Left Front – Suspension

DON’T NEED TO KNOW GALLOP BUT IF THEY WANT TO KNOW IT IS 4 BEAT SEQUENCE

Right Lead Gallop

Left Hind – Right Hind – Left Front – Right Front – Suspension

Left Lead Gallop

Right Hind – Left Hind – Right Front – Left Front – Suspension

13. Position for Level 3

(VERTICAL LINE EAR- SHOULDER- HIP – HEEL, EYES UP AND AHEAD, STRAIGHT LINE FROM ELBOWS SOFT WITH SLIGHT BEND – HAND DOWN THE REIN TO THE HORSES MOUTH, THUMBS ON TOP POINTING TOWARDS HORSES EARS, SIT EQUALLY ARCROSS BOTH SEAT BONES, RELAX SEAT, HIPS & PELVIS, KNEE & THIGH REST LIGHTLY AGAINS SADDLE NOT GRIPPING)

14. Understand Aids (Natural & Artificial)

COMMUNICATION BETWEEN RIDERS AND HORSE)
ARTIFICIAL AIDS- MAINLY WHIPS & SPURS
NATURAL AIDS- VOICE, HANDS, LEGS, BODY, SEAT

(HANDS – COMMUNICATION THROUGH REINS TO THE BIT, SHOULD BE LIGHT FLEXIBLE- USE OF HAND AID MUST BE USED WITH SEAT, LEG AIDS- ABOVE HORSES WITHERS LEVEL WITH EACH OTHER

TURNING – GENTLE SQUEEZING THE REIN ASKS THE HORSE TO TURN HEAD IN THAT DIRECTION
HALTING –PRESSURE ON BOTH REINS WITH SEAT AND LEG PROVEDING ENERGY A HALT WILL PRODUCED

(VOICE – WORD, TONE & LENGTH OF TIME THE WORD IS HELD FOR INDICATES UPWARDS/DOWNWARDS TRANSITIONS

UPWARD TRANSITION – EMPHASIS THE LETTER WITH RISE IN TONE TOWARDS END OF WORD
DOWNWARD TRANSITION – LOWER TONE TOWRDS END OF WORD STRETCH THE WORD OUT
COLLECTION – CALM

(SEAT – COLLECTION, BALANCE, STEERING, FORWARD MOVEMENT, CONTROL, STABILITY

SEAT – CENTRAL IN SADDLE, EVEN DISTRIBUTION OF WEIGHT OFN SEAT BONES, ALTER WHEN ASK HORSE TO MOVE DIRECTION, DO NOT COLLAPSE THROUGH HIP
HIPS –LEVEL AT ALL TIMES, SUPPLE TO ALLOW MOVEMENT ABSORBED THROUGH SEAT
PELVIS – ABSORD MOVEMENT, HELPS CONTROL CENTRE OF GRAVITY, ENCOURANGES HORSE TO ACCELERATE

(LEGS – USED WITH SEAT & HAND TO COMMUNICATE – DIRECTION, GAIT, LEVEL OF ACTIVITY, UPWARD DOWNWARD TRANSITIONS, LATERAL MOVEMENTS

ON THE GIRTH – PRODUCES ENERGY/FORWARD MOVEMENT – BOTH LEGS ON THE GIRTH FORWARD/STRAIGHT, 1 LEG BEHIND THE GIRTH WILL ASK EITHER CHANGE DIRECTION OR CANTER DEPENDING ON LEVEL OF PRESSURE
LOWER LEG BEHIND THE GIRTH – ABOUT 2-3 INCHES MORE CONTROL OVER HINDQUARTERS- FORWARD, BACKWARD, DIAGONALLY OR SIDEWAYS MOVEMENTS, UPWARD TRANSITIONS EG CANTER OR LATERAL MOVEMENT EG LEG YIELD, BOTH LEGS BEHIND THE GIRTH CORRECT USE WITH SEAT AND LEGS WILL AID REIN BACK

(WHIP – INSIDE HAND USED TO BACK UP RIDERS LEG AND ENCOURAGE HORSE TO MOVE FORWARD)

(SPURS – ON THE RIDERS HEEL TO GIVE PRECISE LEG AID ONLY WORN BY EXPERIENCED RIDERS)

15. Balance

16. Check Girth

Level Four

1. Continue working on Balanced Cantering

2. Trotting Pole without stirrups

3. 7 phases of jumping

(TURN -APPROARCH-TAKE OFF-FLIGHT-LAND-GET-AWAY- TURN)
REMAIN BALANCED
IMPULSION
POSITION – OPEN SHOULDERS ON TURN
1. TURN – ACCURATELY – LINE UP WITH CENTRE – SIT UP – LOOK AHEAD – RIDE LEG TO HAND – KEEP BALANCED RHYTHM – IMPULSION
2. APPROACH – CENTRE OF JUMP – SIT UP – LOOK AHEAD CHANNELING HORSE FORWARD – BETWEEN HAND & LEG TO MAINTAIN STRAIGHT LINE – MAINTAIN IMPULSION & BALANCE
3. TAKE OFF – POINT WHICH HORSE GATHERS HINDLEGS UNDERNEATH ITS BODY & STARTS TO LIFT FOREHAND – LOWER LEG SECURELY WRAPPED ROUND – MAINTAIN ENERGY & FORWARDNESS – HANDS FOLLOW MOVEMENT OF HORSES HEAD NECK BUT MAINTAIN CONTACT THROUGH REIN – LOOK AHEAD
4. FLIGHT – IN THE AIR – FOREHAND WELL LIFTED, BACK WELL ROUNDED, FORELEGS & HINDLEGS TUCKED UP – FOLDED IN TO JUMPING POSITION, UPPER BODY LOWERED, SEAT SLIPPED TO BACK OF SADDLE – HANDS ALLOW STRETCH THE NECK, BACK & BODY GIVES FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT, WHILE MAINTAINING LIGHT CONTACT – LOWER LEG STAYS SECURELY WRAPPED AROUND MAINTAIN BALANCE
5. LAND – HORSE STRETCHES OUT & EXTENDS FORELEGS READY TO LAND – HORSE SHOULD LAND ON FORELEG WANTING THE CANTER LEAD ON – UPPER BODY COMES BACK UP – MAINTAIN CONTACT – LEGS REMAIN IN POSTION – LOOK AHEAD
6. GET AWAY - MOVING AWAY FROM THE JUMP TO THE NEXT – MAKE SURE HORSE IS BALANCED, PLENTY OF ENERGY & IMPULSION- CORRECT CANTER LEAD – LEGS SECURE
7. TURN – TURNS AWAY FROM ONE FENCE TO ANOTHER THIS STAGE STARTS ALL OVER AGAIN OR IF SINGLE FENCE STAY STRAIGHT

4/5. Able Ride A Demi Voltes & Reverse Demi Voltes

DEMI VOLTE – ½ 10 MENTRE CIRCLE TO THE CENTRE LINE THEN A DIAGONAL LINE BACK TO THE TRACK TO CHANGE THE REIN
REVERSE DEMI VOLTE – DIAGONAL LINE TO CENTRE LINE LETTER THEN ½ 10 METRE CIRCLE BACK TO THE TRACK TO CHANGE THE REIN

6. 2X ½ 10 metre Circles to change the rein

7. Turn on the Forehand

HALT, TO STOP FORWARD MOVEMENT APPLY STEADY PRESSURE ON REINS – SIT UP STRAIGHT
PRESSURE PLACED 3-4 INCHS BEHIND THE GIRTH WITH YOUR OUTSIDE LEG – HORSE WILL MOVE AWAY FROM THE PRESSURE, HORSES HIND LEGS WILL MOVE IN FRONT & ACROSS THE OTHER HIND LEG, THE OPPOSITE FRONT LEG TO YOUR PRESSURE LEG WILL ALSO MOVE AROUND THE OTHER FRONT LEG WILL STAY STILL
YOUR OTHER LEG (INSIDE) SHOULD BE KEPT STEADY SO TO KEEP YOUR BALANCE AND STOP THE HORSE TRYING TO TURN TOO QUICKLY
REINS TO CONTROL FRONT OF HORSE – GOOD CONTROL PREVENTS YOUR HORSE MOVING FORWARDS – OUTSIDE HAND LIFT UP AND BACK TO FLEX HORSES NECK SLIGHTLY IN THE DIRECTION OF TURN, FLEX UNTIL YOU CAN SEE CORNER OF EYE – USE OTHER REIN FOR SUPPORT TO KEEP HORSE FROM MOVING FORWARDS, OUTSIDE REIN CLOSE TO NECK
HALF HALT EACH STEP UNTIL COMPLETE TURN 180 DEGREES – POSITVIE PRAISE AFTER
TURNING RIGHT RIGHT LEG BACK – RIGHT REIN FLEX
TURNING LEFT LEFT LEG BACK – LEFT REIN FLEX

8. 15m circles in walk (A&C)

9. 10m circles in walk (A&C)

10. Lighten seat

INVOLVES STANDING ON YOUR OWN 2 FEET WHILE WORKING YOUR HORSE – BALANCE YOURSELF, NO LEANING, HOLDING ON CROUCHING DOWN ON NECK – CLEARANCE BETWEEN BOTTOM AND SADDLE – ALLOWS HORSE TO MOVE MORE FREELY – IMPROVES BALANCE, FITNESS AND COORDINATION- FEET CORRECTLY POSITIONED IN STIRRUP, ALLOWS ANKLES, KNEES & HIPS BECOME MORE EFFECTIVE SHOCK ABSORBERS – ENGAGE YOUR CORE (TUMMY MUSCLES) – STRAIGHT BACK – HANDS & ARMS INDEPENDENT KEEP CONTACT

11. Jumping Position

THIS INVOLVES THE RIDER CENTERED OVER HIS/HER FEET – STIRRUP LEATHERS 90 DEGREE ANGLE TO THE GROUND, CONTINUING A LINE UPWARDS FROM THE STIRRUP LEATHERS- THE HEAD, SHOULDERS & KNEES FALL IN FRONT OF THE LINE – HIPS FALL BEHIND IT

LEG HANG DOWNSIDE EVEN CONTACT ALONG WHOLE LENGTH – INNER THIGH, KNEE & CALF – WEIGHT ALONG BACK OF LEG INTO HEEL FLEXIBLE ANKLE
SEAT, HIPS & THIGHS –WEIGHT TOWARDS PELVIS, ENOUGH WEIGHT IN STIRRUP TO SUSPEND IN THE AIR OVER THE SADDLE – HIPS NOT TOO FAR FORWARD IT CHANGES THE BALANCE –HIPS, FLEXIBLE, MOVE BACKWARDS, BETWEEN FENCES THE THIGHS TAKE UP WEIGHT OF RIDER NOT THE SEAT BONES
UPPER BODY, SHOULDERS, HEAD, TRUNK – LOOK UP IN DIRECTION YOU ARE GOING – BACK FLAT – OPEN CHEST – SHOULDERS OPEN
RELEASE – GRAB MANE OR SLIDE HANDS UP CREST AS TAKE OFF

12. Single Fence Jumping

13. Be able to check & adjust girth while mounted

14. Understand & Explain Impulsion

MOVEMENT OF HOESE – FORWARD AND CONTROLLED POWER – EFFECTIVE USE OF POWER IN THE HIND QUARTERS – TO ACHIEVE A HORSE MUST NOT USE SPEED BUT USE MUSCLUAR CONTROL – HORSE RELAXED BACK WILL ALLOW HINDQUARTERS TO COME WELL UNDER ITS BODY AND THIS IS CALLED “ENGAGED”.

15. Understand Half halt & when Used

(A SPONGE EFFECT ON THE REIN(S))

16. Trotting Poles

17. Canter Poles

18. Raised Trotting Poles

TO BUILD UP MUSCLE ON TOP LINE SHOULDERS AND BACK – MORE FLEXIBLE – ENCOURAGES LEGS TO LIFT OVER JUMPS

Level 3/4 Group Lesson