Adoption Information- Horse Training Levels

Once a rescued abused or neglected horse has been nursed back to health at Longmeadow Rescue Ranch, our horse trainer begins training adoptable horses to first accept friendly human touch and then to accept a rider. Using the Natural Horsemanship Method of Training the horse is considered to reach a level when he/she performs the task consistently. (4 out of 5 requests during a training period of no less than 5 days with Longmeadow Horse Trainer).

Horse Level I - Safety
• Accepts halter
• Back up with halter pressure
• Walks on lead
• Accepts touch on body
• Accepts touch to and will pick up feet
• Round pen work-will give forward motion in direction requested

Horse Level II - Safety
• Horse Level I plus:
• Ground work-disengages (one leg crosses over other) hind/front ends
• Lateral and backup give to pressure
• Is conditioned to accept tack
• Accepts wet spray
• Will follow in round pen
• Stops in round pen
• Turns into handler in round pen
• Change direction in round pen
• Changes pace when asked in round pen

Horse Level III - Accepts Rider
• Horse Level II plus:
• Stands tied
• Cross ties
• Loads/unloads on trailer
• Conditioned in motion- walk with rider
• Trot with rider
• Canter with rider
• Flexion (gives to pressure)-lateral, horizontal at pole
• One rein stop
• Accepts horse blanket.

Horse Level IV - Riding Daily
• Horse Level III plus:
• Riding- reverse with rider
• Riding with consistent gaits
• Solid stop
• Accepts leg wrap

Horse Level V - Riding Consistently
Horse accepts rider and maintains level IV consistently, receives no less than ½ hour riding sessions 5x a week during training period designed to put time and mileage on the horse.