Weekly Lesson Progression:

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week one -  groundwork exercises:

• round-penning exercises to establish direction, speed, change of direction, and create a draw 

• flexing using steady and driving pressure

• yielding the hindquarters and forequarters

• lunging at the walk, trot, and canter

• sending along fences and through gates

• leading beside

• backing  off minimal pressure both from the     clip and from a distance

• circle driving

• relaxing while tied

• desensitizing to training tools to include the  lead rope, stick and string, plastic bags, and other various objects.

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week two - continue improving groundwork exercises while adding riding exercises:

• flexing under saddle

• standing for mounting and dismounting

• walk, trot, canter, and change direction in    round pen

• one reign stops and stopping off the rider's    seat at the walk, trot, and canter

• cruising at the walk, trot and canter

• standing for hoof picking

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week three, and each consecutive week - builds  on the preceding week's lessons while adding  new riding exercises: 

• ​teaching the horse to follow his nose in a  straight line or in curves using the arena fence and cones.  

• diagonals and 90 degree turns

• circling cones

• rollbacks on the fence

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week four -adds new riding exercises while reviewing past lessons:

• bending transitions at the walk, trot, and      canter

• yielding the hindquarters to a stop from the walk, trot, and canter

• yield the hindquarters and back up from a    walk, trot, and canter

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week five - moves the groundwork exercises and riding lessons out of the arena and into the pastures where the exercises are now reviewed and improved upon in new and larger settings.  New exercises include:

• ​teaching the horse to stop anticipating a direction while riding a clover leaf pattern at    the walk, trot, and canter

• serpentines and crazy eights around cones      and trees at the walk, trot, and canter

• review stopping off the rider's seat and    relaxing at the standstill

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week six - takes the horse and rider off site.  All previous lessons are now reviewed on the trail while: 

• crossing ditches

• crossing water

• crossing logs

• facing scary objects like: signs, mailboxes,  traffic, local farm animals, and other obstacles    as they present themselves.

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*Note:  package progression will vary with individual horses.