DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, PHYSICAL EDUCATION, 

RECREATION & SPORT

Spring Semester 2012

EQUESTRIAN STUDIES SYLLABUS

Course Number/Title: Equestrian Studies 1—Hunter Seat Equitation  (GPSE-____)    Elective             

Credit Hours:  1

Class Time/Place:  TBA, the class will meet for 90 Minutes at Whiting’s Neck Equestrian Center, Steeplechase Lane, Martinsburg WV 25404 (see below for directions.) 

Prerequisites: none

Instructor: Alyson Springer          Tel: 304-274-1210 

Email: whitingsneckfarm@earthlink.net    Web: www.whitingsneckfarm.com

Cost $420 per semester 

Course Description:

Whether your goal is to learn to ride, return to riding, or improve your jumping and competing skills, this course will help you become an excellent rider. The first in a series of Whiting’s Neck Equestrian Center’s (WNEC) Equestrian Studies courses, we will break down basic riding tasks into simple to understand steps with concise instructions, riding theory, and practice time in the saddle.  We will end the course with an optional in-house hunter show and opportunities for work/study and internships if you would like to expand your involvement with us after the course has ended.  We will divide the students according to ability and experience and work with your schedule of classes to find a suitable time period weekly.

The class will meet once a week for 90 minutes (to allow for an hour in the saddle ). We will study and practice rider position, aids, work on the flat, longitudinal and lateral work, and jumping.  All jumping riders will master first level techniques before moving to second level jumping. The classes will be held in our indoor arena, outdoor jumping arena, and in the fields and trails.

Course Objectives 

By the end of this course, students should understand basic horsemanship, schooling, and equitation in theory and practice.  They should be able to demonstrate equitation techniques designed to form a balanced and effective partnership between horse and rider during flatwork and over fences.  They will understand and be able to apply rider position, aids, basic schooling and warm up of the horse, longitudinal and lateral work, and beginning jumping. 

Course Policies 

Please call in advance if you are not able to come to class.  We will try to schedule for you to ride in a make up class during the week with WNEC’s regularly scheduled group lessons.  

Grading: 70% Participation, 15% Mid term and 15% Final Presentation Ride and Exam

TENTATIVE COURSE OUTLINE  

Week /SESSION TOPIC

Week one  (January 2011) Introduction and Position  Mounting, Dismounting, Stirrup Length, Basic Position Defined, Position Adjusted, Two and Three Point Position (Walk, Trot, Posting and Sitting Trot) (Canter-for Advanced students)

Week Two Position Review and Practice  Two and Three Point Position, Upper Body, and Riding without Stirrups, Independent Seat, Quiet Hands

Week Three The Riders Aids  Natural vs Artificial Aids, Clashing, Coordination, Outside vs. Inside, Use of Riders Eyes

Week Four Rider’s Aids cont.   Leg Aids, Five Rein Aids, Weight as an Aid

Week Five Work on the Flat   Schooling Ring and its Purposes, Diagonals, Leads,  the Horses Mouth, Punishment vs Reward, Horse Evasions

Week Six Longitudinal Work with the Horse   Pace, Halt, Transitions, Canter Depart, Transitions within Gaits

Week Seven  Cantering  Transitions, Slower, and Stronger.  Review and Quiz on Prior Six Weeks (Position and Aids, Theory and Practice)

Week Eight  Horse and Rider Working Laterally  Bending in Corners, Aids for bending, Circles

Week Nine Horse and Rider Beginning Jumping  Five phases of an obstacle, Maintaining Jump Position, Pace

Week Ten Horse and Rider Jumping First Level  Riding with the motion, Release (mane), Using the Eyes, Heels and Legs, Upper Body Control

Week Eleven: Jumping a Sequence of Obsticles Jumping lines with consistent forward pace, position, use of aids,  and Control  

Week Twelve:  Jumping a Sequence and Combing Lines  Introduction to Second Level Jumping, Crest Release, Coordination Leg and Release, Lines and Turns

Week Thirteen: Summation and Prep for Final Exam Demonstration Ride

ABOUT WHITINGS NECK EQUESTRIAN CENTER:

Whiting’s Neck Equestrian Center is a full service riding, training, and boarding farm located six miles from Shepherdstown in a horseshoe bend of the Potomac River. The 40 stall equestrian center has stabling for our own school horses and privately owned horses, large indoor and outdoor arenas, cross country jumping fields, miles of trails, large pastures, and a heated lounge, tackroom, and kitchen for year-round riding. For directions, see below or visit www.whitingsneckfarm.com

We offer courses in English riding—balanced seat, dressage, hunt seat equitation, and jumping.  We also teach horse training: natural horsemanship methods, retraining ex-racehorses, preparing horses for competition, and cross training. We hold horse shows throughout the year and compete locally.

WNEC instructors emphasize a classical approach to balanced seat riding.  Students are trained in proper equitation and independent aids and seat such that they can ride with maximum sensitivity and effectiveness across disciplines. Lessons are taught with a sense of fun and humor assuring that the lesson will be a pleasure, but formal enough to ensure safety and encourage progress.  WNEC staff provide a solid theoretical foundation from which you can improve your riding and horsemanship skills and meet your individual goals.  Our Shepherd University Equestrian Classes will follow a course syllabus, while making sure that you progress at your own pace and from your own skill level.  

As a student of Shepherd University, you can come visit our school horses anytime.  Our school horses are the stars of WNEC and receive the very best of care.  They are well fed and trained and receive loving care including daily turn out, roomy box stalls, grooming and bathing, vacations throughout the year, and daily treats.  

Working Student OPPORTUNITIES AT WNEC:

Would you like to spend more time around the farm? A career with horses? To learn equine or farm management? To learn to teach riding lessons? Then consider becoming a working student at WNEC.  Our Working Student Program is available to Shepherd University students who have completed at least one semester in our equestrian program and are currently enrolled with us who would like to work in exchange for additional lessons each week. The program is designed for students interested in learning and understanding horses and horsemanship, equestrian management, instruction, or training in a more involved way.  Working students help with a variety of activities at the farm based on their individual skills and goals.

Directions to Whitings Neck Equestrian Center

From Shepherdstown, WV: 

At the intersection of routes 45/480/230, take 480N towards Sharpsburg.  Drive .4 mile, turn left on Shepherds Grade Rd. Drive 1.7 miles and turn left onto Scrabble Rd.  Stay on Scrabble Rd. for 4 miles (the road will make a sharp left turn at 1.9 miles). Turn right onto Whiting’s Neck Rd. and continue to the stop sign.  Turn right onto Steeplechase Lane into Whiting’s Neck Farm Estates and follow the road around to WNEC on the left.

From Hagerstown, Md and I-81:  

Exit 20 Spring Mills Rd. (901 E). Continue  past the new WalMart to the stop sign.  Turn right onto route 11 South.  Go 1.4 miles and turn left onto Bedington Road.  Go 1.4 miles to the stop sign at Scrabble Rd.  Turn left onto Scrabble road and drive for 2 miles.  Turn left on Carlyle road.  Continue .7 mile to the stop sign and continue straight onto Steeplechase lane. Follow the road around to WNEC on the left.