Advanced Horse Riding Group Lesson Plan

Lesson Focus

Advanced flatwork accuracy, developed canter work, rider position, non-stirrup work and advanced jumping exercises

Rider Level: Advanced
Duration: 30 minutes
Group: Advanced group riders
Arena: Enclosed riding arena
Equipment: Cones, arena markers, poles, raised poles, jumping wings and poles, uprights, oxers, doubles, bounce fences, gridwork, mounting block, suitable riding hats and footwear

Learning Objectives

 

Aims of the lessons, riders should be able to:

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• Maintain a balanced, controlled and adjustable canter.

• Ride accurate school movements including serpentines and figure-of-eight exercises.

• Maintain rhythm, balance and straightness through changes of direction.

• Ride transitions accurately at designated markers.

• Demonstrate different riding positions, including sitting, forward seat and jumping position.

• Develop an independent and balanced seat through non-stirrup work.

• Ride advanced pole exercises with accuracy and rhythm.

• Ride doubles and related distances while maintaining an appropriate rhythm.

• Ride bounce fences and gridwork with balance and control.

• Complete a more demanding jumping course containing multiple fences.

• Progress to higher jumps where appropriate.

• Demonstrate accurate, effective and independent riding throughout the lesson.

 

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In these lessons a variety of the following will be include not all exercises in a single lesson.

 

1. Introduction and Safety – start

Instructor

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• Check riders are correctly mounted and wearing correctly fitted riding hats.

• Check girths, stirrups and tack.

• Assess horse and rider combinations before commencing advanced exercises.

• Explain the lesson structure and advanced jumping exercises.

• Establish clear arena rules for cantering and jumping.

• Explain how riders will use the arena when completing school movements.

• Discuss the sequence and purpose of the gridwork, doubles and bounce exercises.

• Remind riders that increased difficulty should not compromise rhythm, balance or control.

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Riders

• Maintain an independent and effective riding position.

• Maintain appropriate spacing.

• Ride accurately and plan each movement before beginning it.

• Maintain control of their horse at all times.

• Follow arena etiquette and instructor instructions.

 

2. Warm-Up – Walk, Trot and Accurate Transitions

 

Exercise 1 – Accurate Flatwork

 

Ride around the arena on both reins.

Include:

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• 20-metre circles.

• Changes of rein.

• Serpentines.

• Figure-of-eight.

• Transitions at specific arena markers.

• Trot through corners.

• Changes within the trot.

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Encourage riders to ride each movement accurately rather than simply following the track.

Exercise 2 – Transitions

Practise:

Walk → Trot → Walk

Trot → Canter → Trot

Canter → Trot → Canter

Progress to transitions at precise markers.

Instructor Focus

Look for:

• Accurate school movements.

• Correct bend.

• Straightness.

• Consistent rhythm.

• Balanced transitions.

• Effective preparation.

• Independent use of the aids.

• Rider maintaining an appropriate position throughout each movement.

 

3. Advanced Flatwork Accuracy

 

Exercise 1 – Serpentines

 

Ride a three-loop serpentine across the arena.

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Focus on:

• Maintaining rhythm.

• Correct bend through each loop.

• Straightness across the centre line.

• Accurate changes of bend.

• Maintaining impulsion.

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Progress from trot to canter where appropriate

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Exercise 2 – Figure of Eight

 

Ride a large figure-of-eight in trot.

Ask riders to:

• Maintain an even rhythm.

• Prepare for each change of direction.

• Change the bend smoothly.

• Maintain accurate positioning through the centre.

• ​

Progress to canter where appropriate.

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Exercise 3 – Accuracy Challenge

 

Ask riders to combine movements:

Canter circle → transition to trot → diagonal change of rein → canter → figure of eight → transition to walk.

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Use arena markers to require transitions at exact points.

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Instructor Focus

Riders should demonstrate:

• Accuracy.

• Correct bend.

• Balance.

• Straightness.

• Rhythm.

• Preparation.

• Effective transitions.

• Independent riding.

 

4. Advanced Canter Development

 

Exercise 1 – Canter Circles

Ride:

• 20-metre circles.

• Smaller circles where appropriate.

• Canter through corners.

• Canter serpentines.

• Changes of rein.

Encourage riders to maintain balance and adjust the canter without losing rhythm.

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Exercise 2 – Cantering Past Other Riders

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Organise riders so there is sufficient space.

Practise:

Canter → pass another rider → maintain rhythm → continue on the correct line.

Progress to riders maintaining different lines and movements within the arena.

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Exercise 3 – Adjustability

 

Where appropriate, practise changes within the canter:

Working canter → more forward canter → return to working canter.

The focus is on maintaining balance and control rather than simply increasing speed.

 

5. Rider Position and Non-Stirrup Development

 

Exercise 1 – Position Changes

 

At walk and trot, practise moving between:

Sitting position → Forward seat → Jumping position

Progress to canter where appropriate.

Riders should understand the purpose of each position.

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Exercise 2 – Non-Stirrup Work

Begin at walk and progress to sitting trot.

For suitably secure riders:

• Rising trot without stirrups.

• Transitions without stirrups.

• Large circles without stirrups.

• Short periods of canter without stirrups where appropriate.

​

Instructor Focus

Encourage riders to:

• Maintain an independent seat.

• Keep weight through the legs.

• Avoid gripping with the knees.

• Maintain a stable upper body.

• Keep the lower leg in the correct position.

• Maintain an independent rein contact.

Quality and balance are more important than duration.

 

6. Advanced Polework and Gridwork

 

Exercise 1 – Pole Line

 

Ride a line of poles in trot or canter.

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Focus on:

• Rhythm.

• Straightness.

• Consistent pace.

• Accurate approach.

• Maintaining balance after the poles.

Exercise 2 – Gridwork

 

Introduce a simple grid, progressing in difficulty as appropriate.

For example:

Pole → small fence → one stride → fence

Progress to:

Pole → fence → one stride → fence → one stride → fence

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Instructor Focus

 

Riders should:

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• Establish the correct rhythm before entering the grid.

• Maintain their line.

• Keep a secure lower leg.

• Maintain an appropriate jumping position.

• Allow the horse to use its neck.

• Maintain balance through the grid.

• Continue forwards after exiting.

 

7. Advanced Jumping – Doubles, Bounces and Course

 

Exercise 1 – Double

 

Ride a double from a balanced canter.

Focus on:

• Rhythm into the first fence.

• Maintaining balance between fences.

• Appropriate rider position.

• Allowing the horse to jump freely.

• Maintaining control after the second fence.

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Exercise 2 – Bounce

 

Introduce a suitable bounce exercise.

 

Focus on:

• Straightness.

• Rider position.

• Consistent rhythm.

• Secure lower leg.

• Maintaining balance through the exercise.

• ​

Exercise 3 – Jumping Course

 

Set up a course of 5–7 fences, incorporating:

• Uprights.

• Oxers where appropriate.

• A change of rein.

• A related distance.

• A double.

• A grid or bounce where appropriate.

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Suggested Course

Jump 1 → change of rein → Jump 2 → related distance → Jump 3 → turn → Double → Jump 4 → transition.

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For more advanced combinations, include a grid or bounce as part of the course.

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Instructor Focus

 

Riders should:

• Walk the course mentally before starting.

• Plan their lines.

• Establish a balanced canter.

• Maintain rhythm between fences.

• Make accurate turns.

• Look towards the next fence.

• Adjust the canter when necessary.

• Maintain a secure jumping position.

• Ride forwards after each fence.

• Complete the course without losing rhythm or control.

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Progression to Higher Jumps

For suitable combinations, increase selected fence heights gradually.

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Higher jumps should only be introduced when the rider demonstrates:

• Consistent rhythm.

• Accurate approaches.

• Secure position.

• Effective control.

• Confidence.

• Ability to maintain the correct line.

• ​

The quality of the approach and jumping technique should always take priority over height.

 

8. Cool Down

 

Return to walk as a group.

 

Allow horses to stretch and relax where appropriate.

 

Ask riders to:

• Relax their shoulders.

• Lengthen their legs.

• Maintain a comfortable position.

• Allow the horses to stretch.

• Reflect on their performance.

 

Discuss:

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“How accurate were your school movements today?”

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“How adjustable did your canter feel?”

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“How did you manage the grid, bounce or double?”

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“Which area would you like to develop further?”

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Differentiation:

 

Riders Requiring Additional Support

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• Use larger, simpler school movements initially.

• Use larger circles before progressing to smaller circles.

• Practise serpentines in walk and trot before introducing canter.

• Allow additional preparation before transitions.

• Keep canter exercises short and controlled.

• Use individual canter work where required.

• Use ground poles before introducing gridwork.

• Use smaller jumps and simpler combinations.

• Introduce doubles before bounce exercises.

• Keep non-stirrup work to walk or short periods of sitting trot.

• Return to stirrups if the rider becomes unbalanced.

• Provide individual feedback and repeat exercises where necessary.

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More Advanced Riders

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• Ride smaller and more accurate school movements.

• Introduce transitions within movements.

• Develop greater adjustability within the canter.

• Ride canter serpentines and figure-of-eight exercises.

• Introduce more precise transitions at markers.

• Develop longer periods of non-stirrup work.

• Include sitting trot and canter without stirrups where appropriate.

• Ride more complex grids.

• Increase the number of fences within a combination.

• Introduce doubles and bounces with greater technical difficulty.

• Ride a larger jumping course.

• Increase selected fence heights gradually.

• Introduce more demanding lines, related distances and turns.

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Key Safety Points

• Maintain appropriate spacing between horses at all times.

• Cantering past other riders should only take place when sufficient space and control are available.

• Riders must maintain their own line and avoid cutting across another horse.

• Riders must wait for the instructor's instruction before approaching any jump.

• Only one horse should approach a jump at a time unless the exercise has specifically been designed otherwise.

• Ensure landing and run-off areas are clear.

• Gridwork, doubles and bounce fences must be suitable for the horse and rider.

• Jump heights and technical difficulty should be increased progressively.

• Non-stirrup work must be introduced progressively and supervised closely.

• Riders should replace their stirrups if they become unbalanced.

• Cantering without stirrups should only be attempted where the rider is sufficiently secure.

• Advanced exercises should only be used where the horse and rider combination is appropriately prepared.

• Stop an exercise immediately if a rider loses control, balance or confidence.

• All advanced jumping activities should be supervised by a suitably competent instructor.

Lesson Success Criteria

Excellent: Rider demonstrates accurate and balanced flatwork, including serpentines and figure-of-eight movements, maintains an adjustable canter, confidently develops different riding positions and non-stirrup work, and rides advanced gridwork, doubles, bounces and a higher-level jumping course with rhythm, balance and control.

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Good: Rider maintains a balanced and adjustable canter, rides accurate school movements, demonstrates effective riding positions, develops their independent seat without stirrups, and confidently completes combinations, gridwork and a multi-fence jumping course.

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Developing: Rider maintains a safe and controlled position, demonstrates improving accuracy in flatwork and canter, develops their non-stirrup work, and can ride advanced pole and jumping exercises with appropriate support.

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Instructor Assessment Checklist for advanced riders

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• Rider maintains a balanced position at walk.

• Rider maintains a balanced position at trot.

• Rider maintains a balanced and adjustable canter.

• Rider rides accurate circles.

• Rider rides accurate serpentines.

• Rider rides an accurate figure of eight.

• Rider demonstrates correct bend and straightness.

• Rider performs accurate transitions at designated markers.

• Rider can safely canter past another rider.

• Rider maintains rhythm when passing another horse.

• Rider demonstrates an effective sitting position.

• Rider demonstrates a balanced forward seat.

• Rider demonstrates a secure jumping position.

• Rider can ride without stirrups at walk.

• Rider can ride without stirrups at trot.

• Rider can develop an independent seat.

• Rider can ride poles accurately.

• Rider can ride gridwork with control.

• Rider can ride a double.

• Rider can ride bounce fences.

• Rider can complete an advanced jumping course.

• Rider can maintain rhythm through combinations.

• Rider can approach higher jumps with control where appropriate.

• Rider remains balanced after landing.

• Rider demonstrates safe and effective riding throughout the lesson.