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


9. 10m circles in walk

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
19. Balance for Level 4
20. Position for Level 4
21. More Changes of Reins & Other Movements




