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4 LEVEL TRAIL RIDER EDUCATION PROGRAM

The purpose of the Back Country Horsemen education program is to provide educational opportunities for all interested members. This includes both beginners and experts who want to learn or improve their skills, those who want to learn to become instructors, as well as those who wish to instruct or share knowledge, either as volunteers or as paid instructors. To accomplish this purpose we have developed a 4 level program based on the Certified Horsemanship Association trail program. This program is designed to be a complete and thorough progressive system covering necessary skills for trail riders, from basic riding skills to back country pack trips. Skills can be obtained from any where or anyone. Standards will be maintained by having the evaluations done by CHA Certified Trail Instructors.

 The program is intended to be a “fun” environment, with social activities connected to educational events. There is room for involvement of any interested horseman, at any age or level of accomplishment.

 

Level 1

Level 1 - CHA Trail Rider Award

Required to demonstrate knowledge and ability in the following areas:

  • -Written exam

  Riding & horse handling:

  • -Approaching and catching a horse
  • -Leading safely
  • -Basic knots, rope safety (Bowline, Quick release)
  • -Grooming
  • -Parts of the horse and tack
  • -Horse sense and safety
  • -Saddling and Bridling
  • -Safety tack check
  • -Safe mounting, dismounting
  • -Basic seat and balance
  • -Use of Aids
  • -Basic control (start, stop, turn, back)
  • -Rating Horses’ speed
  • -Sitting trot
  • -Posting trot
  • -2 point seat (Half seat)
  • -Basic school figures
  • -Transitions between gaits
  • -Untacking safely

  Trail skills:

  • -Trail safety & etiquette guidelines
  • -Passing & being passed
  • -What to take on a day ride.
  • -Riding up and down hills
  • -Crossing hazards
  • -Securing horses on the trail
  • -Basic first aid for horse and rider
  • -Simple navigation skills (Magnetic compass bearing, Orienting a map using a compass)

  Trail Experience:

  • -Participated in at least 2 group trail rides which were organized and operated according to the standards incorporated into this program.
 
 

Level 2

Level 2 - CHA Overnight Rider Award

  Prerequisites: Level 1 CHA Trail Rider

Required to demonstrate knowledge and ability in the following areas:

  • -Written exam

  Riding & horse handling:

  • -Knowledge of Western and English tack and adjustments
  • -Horsemen’s terms
  • -Colours, markings and breeds
  • -Gaits and footfalls
  • -Pressure and release
  • -Trot and Posting the Correct Diagonal.
    -2 Point vs. 3 Point seat
  • -Balance and position at Canter (Lope)
  • -First aid certificate
  • -Equine first aid
  • -Feeding basics

  Trail & camping skills:

  • -What to take on an overnight ride.
  • -Riding on the road
  • -Trail challenges (wildlife, wasps, terrain)
  • -Water purification
  • -Navigation – map reading
  • -Ponying
  • -Horseshoe removal, lost shoe options
  • -Highlining
  • -Bear aware
  • -Firecraft
  • -Seven principles of Leave No Trace
  • -Knots (butterfly, square (reef) knot, sheet bend, clove hitch)

  Trail Experience:

  • -Participated in at least 1 overnight trail ride which was organized and operated according to the standards incorporated into this program. Overnight may be at vehicle.

Level 3

Level 3 - CHA Packing Rider Award

  Prerequisites: Level 2 CHA Overnight Rider

Required to demonstrate knowledge and ability in the following areas:

  • -Written exam

  Riding & horse handling:

  • -Horse behavior
  • -Emergency stops
  • -Leading pack horses
  • -Tack Fitting & Maintenance
  • -Loading & Trailering

  Trail & camping skills:

  • -Knots (Trucker’s hitch, bowline-on-a-bight, Half hitch left and right)
  • -Wrapping and Frapping
  • -Overnight stock management inc. knowledge of how to safely hobble and picket trained horses/mules.
  • -Camping, outdoor cooking
  • -Navigating with map and compass

  Packing skills:

  • -Packing with hard panniers and soft packs
  • -3 hitches
  • -Mantying
  • -Box sling, barrel sling

  Trail Experience:

  • -Participated in at least 1 overnight trail ride which was organized and operated according to the standards incorporated into this program, camping away from vehicles and facilities.

 

Level 4

Level 4 - CHA Wilderness Rider Award

  Prerequisites: Level 3 CHA Packing Rider

Required to demonstrate knowledge and ability in the following areas:

  • -Written exam

  Riding & horse handling:

  • -Selecting and training horses and mules for the trail (trailriding, packing, hobbling, picketing.)
  • -horse behavior problems
  • -Preventive care – vaccination, worming, shoeing, dentistry, sheath cleaning, etc.
  • -Introducing green riders and stock to the trail
  • -Emergency shoeing, hoof care

  Trail & camping skills:

  • -River & bog crossings
  • -Night riding
  • -GPS
  • -Emergency planning
  • -Cooking on a campfire
  • -Feeding stock on extended trips

  Packing skills:

  • -Advanced packing (Ability to pack awkward or unusual loads such as trail building tools, fence posts, pipe, sheet metal)
  • -4 hitches
  • -Stringing and Tail Tying Pack Animals
  • -Leading a pack string

  People skills:

  • -Group control and organization
  • -Evaluation of horse and rider
  • -Demonstrated ability to manage wilderness trips.
  • -Demonstrated mentoring of Trail Level 1, 2, 3 participants.

  Trail Experience:

  • -Organized and led at least 5 group trail rides, 3 overnight trail rides (Overnights may be at vehicle), and 1 overnight trail ride (camping away from vehicles and facilities) which were operated according to the standards incorporated into this program.

 


For more information, download the Rider Handbook 

 

 

 
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