If your horse isn't an eventer, but you still want them to have some English riding basics, this is the right course for them. Graduates can go on to be lesson horses, pleasure horses, kids' riding horses, or even trail horses. It also serves as a good basis for horses who will go on to be eventers.

In order to complete the English Fundamentals Program and display your well-earned ribbon, you must complete five prompts. Don't forget to review the Artistic Guidelines in order to graduate successfully.

Prompt 1: Tack & Lunging
First and foremost, your horse has to be used to his tack. You could be saddling him or lunging him with a surcingle and saddle, with or without a rider.

Prompt 2: Yielding to Aids
Your horse should know how to yield to your aids, using your hands, feet, and voice. These aids are different from those given in Western riding. Laterals, circles, and serpentines at various gaits are all good options for this prompt. You could also use poles, cones, or other objects to assist your training.

Prompt 3: Obstacles
In addition to poles and cones, it's a good idea to train your horse to yield to your aids with more advanced obstacles while you're in the saddle. An arena-bound trail course would be a good idea for your horse. The Trail Program has a bunch of ideas for trail obstacles.

Prompt 4: Outside the Arena
It's likely you've been training your horse inside an arena, whether indoor or outdoor, where it's free of distractions. This is a good point to take your training outside. Hit the trail, or set up some cones in a pasture and try your groundwork out there.

Prompt 5: Advanced Discipline
Even if your horse isn't a jumper, using cavaletti or small obstacles - with or without your rider - is a good way to increase your horse's agility. Alternately, you could do dressage moves.

Once these have been completed, congratulations! Your horse has successfully completed this course. See How to Graduate to find out how to be officially awarded your ribbon.

Taking Your Training Further - Optional Prompts

Have you completed your mandatory training, but feel something's just a little lacking? Or maybe your horse just needs a little refresher course before the big show. Here's a whole bunch of entirely optional prompts for you to use.

[Coming Soon]