If you are interested in being an Exercise Rider contact: 

Janeen Pasquill at  janeenpasquill@yahoo.com

• Interested individuals must have current and accurate information on file in the TEC office with no contraindications noted to riding horses.
• Suitable horses must be available for individuals to ride.
• Individuals must not exceed the posted weight limits of horses to be schooled.
• There must be suitable tack for both horse and rider.
• Exercise riders must be 16 years old or older.
• A parent or guardian must always accompany exercise riders who are 16 or 17 years old.
• All exercise riders will wear approved headgear when riding and observe appropriate safety guidelines at all times.
• Exercise riders will wear long pants, safe shoes and will use safety stirrups.
• No rider may exercise a horse without another person being present.
• A person certified in CPR/First Aid must be on the premises when horses are being exercised.
• Instructional staff will develop guidelines and goals for the horses that will deal with conditioning, behavior and other training considerations.
• The exercise rider will be responsible for following these and for providing input on the progress and other needs they feel are important.

All potential exercise riders will take a schooling test that will consist of the following
elements:

• The exercise rider must test in front of at least one evaluating instructor.
• The test will be a pattern of the evaluators’ choice consisting of, but not limited to, figure eights at the sitting and/or posting trot and canter, serpentines at the trot and canter and leg yields.
• The exercise rider must demonstrate balanced seat, gentle hands, and quality decision-making.
• Higher level exercise riders will also demonstrate ability to identify and use correct diagonals and leads and will be able to apply some training techniques.
• The exercise rider must demonstrate good horse handling and grooming, including, but not limited to, tying safety knot and dealing with horse behaviors on the ground.
• The exercise rider will be able to answer some basic questions about tack fit, horse health, and knowledge of goal setting with horses.

Exercise riders will be separated into two categories after the evaluation.

• Exercise riders chosen to be Level 1 exercise riders will be able to do basic exercise and conditioning under the guidance of instructional staff or Level 2 exercise Riders.
• Exercise riders who are considered Level 2 exercise riders will be helping problem-solve with the instructional staff about horse needs and behaviors.
• Level 2 Exercise riders will be able to exercise without instructors being present and will be able to take responsibility for activities of Level 1 exercise riders.
• All exercisers will take responsibility to fill out horse exercise forms every session, and will also report accidents and other occurrences as needs arise.