Curriculum

Summer camp is about fun and games, but when you come to horse camp, you expect to learn horsemanship.  With its 25 years of experience in teaching riders of all ages, Reddemeade provides the best in riding instruction.

Our beginning students are taught:

• Control 1 - correct position and control of the horse at the walk
• Introduction to the Trot - its rhythms and actions. Overcoming the bounce!
• Control 2 - steering, balance and rhythm at the posting trot
• Introduction to the Canter - for students who are ready, a chance to experience the rhythm and motion of the canter
• Elementary mounted games

And, as skills improve:

• Trail Riding - the rules, etiquette and safety precautions of riding out on the trails
• Introduction to Jumping - correct position and aids used in jumping
• Elementary Dressage - demonstrations by our staff on trained dressage horses and an introduction to simple dressage movements

The curriculum for more advanced students includes (as appropriate):

• Control and position at the canter
• Basic dressage movements and tests
• Jumping grids and courses of fences
• Introduction to cross-country riding and jumping
• Advanced mounted games

All students receive instruction on basic horsemanship and barn management:

• Basic safety, mounted and unmounted
• Grooming, tacking and preparing the horse for riding
• Basic horse management - feeding, grooming and bathing
• Basic barn management - tack maintenance, stall maintenance, stall and pasture safety and keeping the barn area neat and orderly
• Show preparation - clipping, trimming, braiding and wrapping
• Equine health - basic first aid, diagnosing lameness, recognizing signs of illness, routine vaccinations, worming and bandaging
• Breeds, Colors, and Markings- how to distinguish and identify different horses
• Tack- all the different types of tack and equipment we use with our horses
• Disciplines- different styles of riding, focusing primarily on Dressage and Eventing
• Jumping- setting up proper jumps, including proper spacing between them