The following is a sample horse training program.

Basic Groundwork

• Desensitizing
• Yielding the hindquarters and forequarters
• Backing
• Circles with lots of change of direction
• Flexing
• Yielding to steady pressure (hindquarters,forequarters,backing,poll)
• Squeezing between objects/fence
• Pick up all 4 feet
• Leading properly

Basic Riding

• Desensitizing to tack
• Flexing with the bridle
• Standing still to mount/dismount
• Responsive to “whoa and go” cues
• Maintaining gait on a loose rein (walk, trot, and canter)
• Backing
• Staying on the rail
• Yielding the hindquarters and forequarters
• Vertical flexion
  

Stage 2 Groundwork

• Circles (walk, trot and canter with transitions)
• Backing through and over objects
• Jumping
• Sidepassing
• Using 20+ft line
• Shadowgames
• All groundwork exercises at liberty

Stage 2 Riding

• Vertical flexion (walk and trot)
• Shoulder in/out
• Hindquarter in/out
• Counterbending
• Sidepassing
• Simple lead changes
• Flying lead changes
• Rollbacks

Stage 3 Groundwork

• The groundwork exercises will focus on supporting the horses specialty.

Stage 3 Riding

• The training program will start to focus on whatever specialty the horse will be going into (Reining, Barrels, Dressage, Jumping, Trail riding, etc).