ASSESSING TRAINING
Whether you are rating a horse as part of a pre-purchase examination, examining a horse’s skill and temperament, or assessing your ability to school your own horse, a basis for determining the level of training can prove extremely helpful. Use the following assessment for determining the level of training on a young horse or to determine the willingness and obedience of a seasoned, sound professional. Use the test again when assessing progress achieved over time.
Add your points and compare with the scoring key below. Consult the definitions at the bottom for clarification of terms used in the questions.
Note: This test does
not rate ground manners and is intended to be performed under saddle. For rider
safety, any horse that cannot score a 2 in STOP/STAND should be assessed by a
professional or receive additional groundwork prior to re-testing!
CHOOSE ONLY ONE
ANSWER
Stops/Stands;
(1)
Consistently
(2)Consistently With Obedience
(3)Consistently With Obedience and Collection
(4)Consistently With Obedience With Little Use Of Physical Force
(5)Consistently With
Obedience And Collection With Little Use Of Physical Force
Moves in the walk;
(1) Consistently
(2)Consistently With Obedience
(3)Consistently With Obedience and Collection
(4)Consistently With Obedience With Little Use Of Physical Force
(5)Consistently With
Obedience And Collection With Little Use Of Physical Force
Moves in the trot/jog;
(1) Consistently
(2)Consistently With Obedience
(3)Consistently With Obedience and Collection
(4)Consistently With Obedience With Little Use Of Physical Force
(5)Consistently With
Obedience And Collection With Little Use Of Physical Force
Moves in the canter/lope
(1) Consistently
(2)Consistently With Obedience
(3)Consistently With Obedience and Collection
(4)Consistently With Obedience With Little Use Of Physical Force
(5)Consistently With
Obedience And Collection With Little Use Of Physical Force
Moves off the leg
(1) Consistently
(2)Consistently With Obedience
(3)Consistently With Obedience and Collection
(4)Consistently With Obedience With Little Use Of Physical Force
(5)Consistently With
Obedience And Collection With Little Use Of Physical Force
Moves off the rein/bit
(1) Consistently
(2)Consistently With Obedience
(3)Consistently With Obedience and Collection
(4)Consistently With Obedience With Little Use Of Physical Force
(5)Consistently With
Obedience And Collection With Little Use Of Physical Force
Yields to pressure in general under saddle:
(1) Consistently
(2)Consistently With Obedience
(3)Consistently With Obedience and Collection
(4)Consistently With Obedience With Little Use Of Physical Force
(5)Consistently With Obedience And Collection With Little Use Of Physical Force
SCORING KEY
35 points This is a well-trained, obedient, collected, soft horse with an incredible work ethic and obvious talent under saddle. He is limited only by his rider’s skill level. A rare find!
28-34 points This horse consistently works in a collected, obedient manner. At times he relies on a little more force than the rider should need to accomplish the task at hand. Goals include improved softness, lightness of aids and improved/increased reward for completion of tasks. A horse anyone would be glad to own!
21-27 points This horse is a worker. He does what he is asked without a lot of fuss. If he is an older horse with years of experience he may be a little “dead-sided” or “hard-mouthed” due to improper cues or poor riding. If the horse is a youngster in training it would be helpful to go back and ask for tasks in a softer, lighter way with increased reward in order to prevent the need for more force in the future. A nice horse with a great work ethic!
14-20 points If this is an older horse he may be limited by his conformation or mental ability. He should be allowed to work at a job that is suited to his physical attributes and not pressured into performing above his capabilities. If the horse being assessed is a youngster and not physically prepared to work in a collected frame, this level of training is about strength, consistency and confidence building! Any age horse physically capable of beginning work on collection needs a lot of guidance from the rider at this level. If schooled improperly the horse may become sour and disobedient or fall into an improper way of going that is counterproductive to improved levels of schooling. This is a reliable trail or weekend horse or a youngster on his way up.
7-13 points If this is a horse in training he has 30 days or less under saddle. If started under saddle correctly, he is improving daily and showing more consistency with little disobedience. He is willing and tries to please but simply doesn’t know a lot at this point. If the horse being assessed is a seasoned veteran, watch out! He is doing what he is told “sometimes” and at other times can be very disobedient. This horse may be difficult to ride and may need professional training, especially if it’s obvious that he knows what you want and chooses not to do it. He may also have some physical issue preventing him from completing the work asked. This horse may be unpredictable or need to improve his work ethic!
0-6 points For
the horse in training, this may be some of the first few rides. He may also be
lacking in groundwork and is confused by cues or has no reward system if he has
been ridden for weeks. Get the help of a reputable trainer if unsure. If this is
a seasoned horse that is sound and fit, he is dangerous and unpredictable. Any
horse under saddle needs to be consistent in the basics in order to provide a
minimal level of safety to the rider! There are too many good horses…why ride
one that behaves badly? Find a horse better suited to your level of riding
and/or get professional help!
DEFINITIONS
Consistently: Reliably performs the maneuver.
Obedience: Performs the maneuver without head tossing, tail swishing, kicking, ear pinning, excessive resistance etc…
Collection: Works off the hindquarters with lightness in the shoulder and forehand with a carriage appropriate to the breed and discipline.
Little Physical force: Cues used that are virtually imperceivable and responded to by the horse with softness and obedience.