Ages Required
We accept any age for our lessons, as we feel that horseback riding is an excellent learning experience at every stage of life.

Our Horses
We have a variety of horses, all with unique dispositions and riding styles! We encourage our students to ride all the horses of Wildwood, and learn how to handle them all. The more horses you ride the greater experience you obtain!

For those just starting out we have horses that are very easy to control, so the rider can focus more on themselves than on the horse. Likewise, for those who are comfortable with riding and are looking for a challenge, we have horses to fit that need!

The Levels
Our lessons are structured around eight horsemanship levels that are designed to build knowledge, experience and confidence in dealing with horses.

Level 1:
1. Leading & properly handling a horse from the ground
2. Mounting & dismounting correctly
3. Posture
4. Basic neck reining
5. Guiding & reining horse (stop, start, turn) – on and off the rail
6. Stop horse using reins, voice & seat
7. Basic “roll back” at a walk to change direction – properly executed
8. Walk, jog & lope on command – delivering proper cues
9. Ride with stirrups – proper leg position
10. Hand written quiz
11. Grooming horse

Level 2:
1. Ride with rhythm – with & without stirrups
2. Proper neck reining techniques – guiding horse with reins
3. Basic posting – rising from hips and using horse’s movement to bounce with
4. Change of direction through moving across the diagonal
5. Maintain a walk, jog or lope for extended periods of time – without losing momentum (around field/arena non-stop)
6. Smooth stop transition from walk & trot
7. Back up horse – proper leg & hand position
8. Perform consistent circles at walk, trot & lope
9. Understand “leads” & know how to identify the correct lead from the ground
10. Exercise program with saddle
11. Hand written quiz – 2nd level
12. Grooming & hoof care

Level 3:
1. Basic direct reining – correctly holding reins & guiding horse with both inside and outside rein
2. Beginner leg yields – moving horse off leg
3. Posting – posting properly on the correct diagonal
4. Correctly identify leads from horse’s back & know how to cue the proper lead
5. Excellent posture & steady soft hands throughout all gaits
6. Riding in straight lines off the rail
7. Figure eights – walk & trot
8. Execute patterns on command that involve direction changes & gait transitions
9. Smooth stop transition from lope – maintaining proper seat position
10. Rollbacks at a trot
11. Basic bareback, on & off with help
12. Hand written quiz – 3rd level
13. Tacking up horses properly

Level 4:
1. Direct reining continued – controlling horse’s head
2. Lateral bending – using both hands & legs to achieve bend
3. Circles & figure eights – maintaining an inside bend & maintaining no bend
4. Leg yielding in a circle – alternately making circle smaller & bigger
5. Ride a variety of horses & control them properly – both stubborn & hyper horses
6. Lead a trail ride – maintaining a safe speed at all times
7. Bareback – walk, trot & lope maintaining proper posture
8. Exercise program without saddle
9. Handwritten quiz – level 4
10. Treating minor skin ailments & wounds

Level 5:
1. Direct reining continued – using reins to balance horse
2. Lateral bending – bending to the outside in a circle
3. Posting – rising with the correct diagonal depending on the horse’s bend
4. Figure eights – maintain one bend throughout figure eight pattern
5. Bending at the poll – properly drive horse into the bit with seat & legs traveling in a straight line
6. Turn on the haunches & forehand – use front or hind end as a turning focal point & cue properly, keeping horse’s head straight
7. Proper rider posture & head position when asking for turns on haunches or forehand
8. Counter-cantering – properly executing a figure eight without changing leads, and remaining balanced while counter-cantering a circle
9. Rollbacks at a lope
10. Handwritten quiz – level 5
11. Basic health – proper feeding regiments & feeding schedules

Level 6:
1. Direct reining – keeping horse off of rein pressure & maintaining a “light” horse
2. Bending – both at poll & laterally simultaneously
3. Framing – keeping a horse in a frame without having constant rein contact
4. Sidepassing – effectively cuing a sidepass and keeping horse’s head straight
5. Simple lead changes – loping a figure eight, breaking stride in the center to change leads
6. Controlling the horse’s hip – effectively cuing a horse to travel in travers & renvers (forward motion with haunches to inside or outside)
7. Walk to lope transitions
8. Lunging – successfully communicating with your horse through body language
9. Handwritten quiz – level 6
10. Health continued – proper health schedules including deworming, farrier, yearly shots

Level 7:
1. Neck reining revisited – properly cuing the neck rein using legs & one hand
2. Circles & figure eights – ride on a loose rein, guiding with seat and legs at a walk and trot
3. Frame a horse with one hand
4. Sidepassing – cue a horse to sidepass while maintaining an inside bend
5. Turn on the forehand – maintain an inside bend, keeping the horse upright
6. Turn on the haunches – perform on a loose rein at moderate speed (2 full turns both directions)
7. Lope a circle keeping the horses haunches pushed to the inside of the circle
8. Flying lead change – lope a figure eight with a flying lead change in the center
9. Handwritten quiz – level 7
10. Conformation – understand & be able to identify desirable body characteristics and know why they are desired

Level 8:
1. Neck reining advanced – be able to ride solely with one hand, using minimal or no hand movement to guide the horse
2. Properly cue a horse with minimal hand movement to transition through all gaits
3. Flying lead changes on a straight away
4. Spin on haunches – perform at maximum speed with loose rein (4 turns in each direction)
5. Effectively perform & sit to sliding stops
6. Learn either Reining or Barrel Racing – compete at a local show
7. Arrange & prepare you and your horse for the show by yourself
8. Know & obey rules for showing – attire and conduct
9. Arrange trailering
10. Conduct yourself professionally and responsibly at the show, and properly care for your horse at the show

Barrel Racing Lessons
Looking to specialize in a form of western riding? How about learning how to barrel race? At Wildwood we have many different barrel horses for people of all ages and skill levels. Whether you want to barrel race for a hobby or you want to compete on the one of the Ontario barrel racing circuits, Wildwood is the perfect place to further your western riding pleasure! To learn more about the sport of barrel racing visit our "Barrel Racing" information page.

Prices
Our lessons include 1/2 hour of instruction, followed by 1/2 hour of trail riding to test your skills for only $50/person. **GST included.