Every rider in our program will go through this structured curriculum. It is based on hundreds of years of European horsemanship traditions as well as decades of our experience.

Our curriculum exists to preserve the integrity of horsemanship. Rooted in centuries of European riding tradition, it provides a clear, intentional path that develops balance, softness, and understanding in the rider before asking more of the horse. Each level is carefully structured so that skills are learned in the correct order, preventing confusion, tension, and physical strain while building true harmony and self-carriage. The curriculum gives riders clarity, purpose, and measurable progress, while ensuring the horse’s body and mind are protected at every stage. This structure is not restrictive — it is what allows freedom, precision, and mastery to emerge naturally over time.

HUSSAR STABLES RIDING CURRICULUM

Movements in Correct Order

Riders are not to be taught elements from higher levels until they have successfully passed the appropriate test.

Softness on the horse’s back and mouth is required at every level.
Loss of softness = automatic failure, regardless of task completion.

LEVEL 0 — FOUNDATION RIDER

Skills to Learn

Ground skills

1. Grooming the horse with instructor assistance

2. Identifying basic grooming tools and their purpose

3. Tacking the horse with instructor assistance

4. Leading the horse correctly (space awareness, stopping, turning)

5. Learning to observe and describe horse behavior

   • relaxation vs tension

   • ears, neck, breathing, tail

Mounted balance work (all on lead line)
6. Sitting quietly at halt without holding the saddle
7. Shoulder rotations at halt and walk
8. Standing in 2-point while stopped
9. 2-point at walk on a straight line
10. 2-point at walk over ground poles
11. 2-point at walk on a circle (instructor in the center)
12. A few strides of trot in 2-point on a straight line
13. A few strides of trot in 2-point on a circle (instructor lunging)
14. Several full laps of trot in 2-point on a circle without bouncing on the horse’s back

Key rules at this level

• No reins

• No steering

• Balance problems are never solved by grabbing

LEVEL 1 TEST

1. Groom and tack own horse (no help)

2. Lead horse to arena safely

3. Lunge horse together with instructor inside the circle

4. Trot two full circles in 2-point on the lunge line with instructor controlling the horse

   • rider remains balanced

   • no bouncing

   • no grabbing

Passing this test makes the rider a Level 1 rider.

LEVEL 1 — INDEPENDENT BEGINNER

Skills to Learn

Ground skills

1. Independent grooming and tacking with correctness check

2. Independent leading to and from arena

3. Lunging with instructor still inside the circle but giving minimal input

Mounted skills (still primarily on lunge line)
4. Rider holds reins for the first time
5. Walk and trot in 2-point on a circle while holding reins

• reins are not used for balance under any circumstances

6. Walk and trot in 2-point over ground poles on the circle

   • rider must maintain soft hands even if balance is challenged

7. Separation of hands from upper body

8. Basics of steering while horse remains on lead line

   • student guides direction and speed

   • instructor stays neutral in the center

9. Walk → trot → walk transitions on the lunge line

   • seat is the primary aid

   • rein only supports, never pulls

   • 2-point maintained during trot

Off the lunge
10. Walking independently in figure-8 patterns around barrels
11. Focus on:
- upper body rotation
- leading the horse through the turn
- not pulling

LEVEL 2 TEST

1. Lunge horse independently at walk and trot

2. Walk and trot in 2-point with reins without balance errors

3. Perform calm walk–trot–walk transitions on the lunge

4. Walk figure-8 independently with correct steering and softness

Passing this test makes the rider a Level 2 rider.

LEVEL 2 — COMPETENT HORSEPERSON

Skills to Learn

Mounted flatwork

1. Posting trot introduction

   • rising from leg, not reins

2. Understanding and riding correct diagonals

3. Maintaining posting trot without upper-body tipping

4. Shortening and lengthening walk and trot

   • without pulling or pushing

5. Introduction to leg yield at walk

   • off the rail only

   • straight body, sideways response to leg

Lunging
6. Lunging at walk and trot independently
7. Correct circle size and positioning
8. Clear voice commands

Teaching
9. Teaching another rider how to groom and tack correctly

Not taught yet

• Canter

• Shoulder-in

• Obstacles

LEVEL 3 TEST

1. Ride correct posting trot with diagonals

2. Demonstrate leg yield at walk with rhythm

3. Lunge horse at walk and trot correctly

4. Explain diagonals and posting to another rider

Passing this test makes the rider a Level 3 rider.

LEVEL 3 — DEVELOPING RIDER

Skills to Learn

Flatwork

1. Leg yield at walk and trot

2. Shoulder-fore at walk

3. Correct alignment of shoulders before adding difficulty

4. Riding accurate patterns (circles, serpentines, figures)

Obstacles & environment
5. Walk obstacles with accuracy
6. Trot obstacles while maintaining rhythm
7. Introduction to small cross rails

• focus on 2-point stability, not height

Lunging
8. First introduction to canter on the lunge

• timing

• safety

• when NOT to ask

Teaching
9. Teaching a lead-line lesson to a complete beginner

LEVEL 4 TEST

1. Walk and trot obstacle course calmly

2. Jump small cross rails in balance

3. Lunge horse at walk, trot, and canter

4. Teach a safe lead-line beginner lesson

LEVEL 4 — BALANCED CANTER RIDER

Skills to Learn

1. Shoulder-fore at trot

2. Introduction to shoulder-in at walk (few steps only)

3. Canter departs from trot

4. Canter on large circles only

5. Correct lead recognition

6. Full Working Equitation course ridden in trot

7. Small vertical jumps

Teaching
8. Teaching a lunge-line lesson where student works on trot balance

LEVEL 5 TEST

1. Correct canter departs on correct lead

2. Shoulder-in at walk with softness

3. Full WE course in trot

4. Teach a lunge-line lesson independently

LEVEL 5 — APPLIED WORKING RIDER

Skills to Learn

1. Shoulder-in at walk and trot

2. Haunches-in at walk

3. Turns on the forehand

4. Canter adjustability

5. Canter between obstacles with calm transitions

Teaching
6. Teaching posting trot and diagonals clearly

LEVEL 6 TEST

1. Shoulder-in and haunches-in at walk

2. Canter between obstacles on correct lead

3. Teach posting trot with diagonal awareness

LEVEL 6 — ADVANCED WORKING RIDER

Skills to Learn

1. Shoulder-in and haunches-in at trot

2. Turns on the haunches

3. Walk half-pass

4. Prepared transitions

5. Introduction to collection concepts

Teaching
6. Teaching intermediate riders independently

LEVEL 7 TEST

1. Half-pass at walk

2. Turns on haunches with calmness

3. Teach an intermediate lesson

LEVEL 7 — REFINED RIDER

Skills to Learn

1. Half-pass at trot

2. Walk pirouettes

3. Walk → canter → walk transitions

4. Simple changes

Teaching
5. Teaching canter mechanics and transitions

LEVEL 8 TEST

1. Clean simple changes

2. Walk pirouettes

3. Teach canter mechanics

LEVEL 8 — MASTERY DEVELOPMENT

Skills to Learn

1. Flying change preparation

2. Flying changes

3. Canter half-pass preparation

4. Increased canter collection

LEVEL 9 TEST

1. Clean flying changes

2. Teach flying change preparation

LEVEL 9 — ONE-HANDED MASTERY

Skills to Learn

1. One-handed walk and trot

2. One-handed canter

3. One-handed lateral work

4. One-handed obstacle work

LEVEL 10 TEST

1. Full WE course one-handed

2. Teach advanced seat and weight aids

LEVEL 10 — COLLECTED MASTERY

Skills to Learn

1. Collected lateral work

2. Canter pirouettes

3. One-handed collected work

4. Invisible aids and refinement

Final standard:
The horse finishes the ride more relaxed, sound, and confident than when it started.