Day 1 Lesson Plan

Campers will be split up into three groups of about 5 and assigned a horse that they will ride and care for all the time that they are here. Campers will be put with people of their experience level. There will be one lesson a day over three days at the camp and the fourth day at the camp will be a fun show between the campers. The three sections that the groups will rotate to are Dressage, Show Jumping and Cross Country. Where the groups start will depend on their experience and comfort level.

If there is a beginner group, they will start out at the Dressage ring. This is a good place for them to start because basic dressage is just learning to control and work with your horse.

First Lesson Day 1 (75 mins.)

To begin, riders will learn about the rules of dressage and what dressage is. They will learn that balance and suppleness is very important and that the connection between horse and rider is extremely important.

A warm up will consist of walking their horses around the outside of the ring to allow the horses to warm up their muscles and then practicing some walk-to-halt transitions. Once the riders can get their horses doing this transition smoothly, then they will practice 10m and 20m circles in both directions practicing getting their horses to bend. (10 min.)

After the Basic Warm Up, riders will be told to ask their horses to trot, the second gait, for one length of the arena and then asked to stop and discuss how they feel at that speed. If they are comfortable they will be asked to continue trotting around the arena and will practice their sitting and posting trot. Riders will be asked to do many figure 8's, circles and changes of direction in the trot at this time. (20 mins.)

After working at the trot for a while riders will be asked to canter their horses one at a time around the perimeter of the ring. (If they are not comfortable, then they do not have to do this) The proper aids will be explained and then the riders will try it one at a time. (1o mins)

When everyone is finished cantering the group will be briefed about the letters around the arena and how to ride a dressage pattern. Then they will each get to practice and ride a simple dressage pattern that the instructor is calling out. Usually dressage patterns will be memorized but there is not time right now. Also at this time, the riders will be given a dressage pattern to learn over the next few days in preparation for the Fun Show on the fourth day. (30 mins)


The Cool Down consist of walking the horse on a loose rein for a couple rounds of the ring and then walking him/her back to the barn. (5 mins)

A good way to remember the letters of the dressage ring is to remember the sentence:

All King Edward's Horses Can Make Big Fences.