Stages of Training

1. Set your goal

When you start horseback riding, you may ask your self what goal you want to reach. If you want to become a show jumper, it may not make much sense to go to an Icelandic gait-trainer. Just like it makes no sense to study yoga if you want to become a veterinarian. So, make sure you know what you want, in order to prepare the right basic work for it.

2. Create a basic

“Basic is only basic if it is a basic for something.” (Bent Branderup)

Once you have set your goal, it is important to prepare the proper basic in the training of your horse. The structure of development for the Art of Riding is shown here:

The lowest part of the pyramid is a basic, nescessary for every horse meant to be a riding horse. This basic is:

1)  Relationship with the horse: friendship & leadership
2) External conditions such as proper food, trimming, dental, equipment, social behaviour
3)  Yielding for pressure
4)  Straightness training5)  Seat training

From this ‘basic’ basic, you can then develop into:
6)             Academic Art of Riding
7)             High School

Or any other destination you may choose! The top of the pyramid is what you make it! With the proper basics, you can be successful in any discipline of riding!
Most important is to know why you are working on a certain aspect of riding; how does it help you to reach your goal?

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