CAESA/Iron Horse Ranch ‚Topical Outline for Equine Education/Horsemanship Classes
Each unit will be 8‚ 9 weeks in length. (Unit Studies will be adapted for age-appropriate activities K- 12). There will be art projects that enhance the topics for each Unit or as it pertains to the topics in each unit). Horses will be used each day for classes to enhance Equine Education and Horsemanship. An emergency dismount will be taught from horseback during the semester and the focus will be on Horse care, Horse behavior and safety while working with horses.
Unit 1. Horse Sense, Safety around Horses, Horse/Herd behavior, Rules and reasons for General Horse Information. Horse Care and Handling ‚ Approach your horse, Leading horses, Halter your horse and how to fit a halter, Turn your horse, Tie your horse safely and quick release knot, Grooming, Parts of the Horse, Horse Body Shop, Measuring horses, determining Weight, Brand Inspections, Horse Breeds, Color Breeds, Pony Breeds, Markings.

Unit 2. Basic Horse Care, External Regions of the Body, Body Scoring System, Hoof Care, Parts of the hoof, Parts of the tack ‚ Western/English, Parts of the Bridle/ bits and side pulls, Conformation ‚Äì Skeletal System ‚ Form to Function. Difference between Blemishes, lameness and unsoundness. Catching and turning out horses, Horse behavior, reading his ears, Horse senses, Calculating Correctability in Behavior of horses, Cooling a hot horse, Stall chores, Basic Gaits of a horse, Horseman’s talk (terms). Polo Wraps, Blanketing, sports boots. Begin to prepare outlines for written and oral reports.

Unit 3. Horse feeds and feeding- Nutrient requirements for different horses, Common Poisonous plants of Colorado, Insect and fly protection, parasites, worming, vaccinations, Health /First aid, Avoiding Hypothermia in the horse, The Digestive System, Horse information- Habits and Training, Pressure and Release of Pressure for Training, Difference between pressure /pain principle for horses, Herd behavior and the use of re-circle in the Herd, Aging horses by their teeth, Helmet safety. Use of Vaulting Barrels for teaching Mounting /Dismounting and Vaulting positions for balance, Use of rein board to begin educating the use of reins and practice changing hands and one rein stops from the ground, Written reports and oral reports and visual aid on one of the specific topics the student chose.

Unit 4. Horse safety guidelines for Riding, Bridling, Saddling, Equipment and clothing, Trailering and hauling, Trail riding, Housing and Fencing, Circulatory System, Stay Apparatus of the Forelimb and Hind limb, Structures of the Head, Skeletal Structure, Fascia/Muscles, Explanations of Balance of horse and rider, Learn the Basic Seat/use of Body in Balance on the ground, Basic aids ‚ Ask , tell and command, insist for Start, stop and check release when leading horses, Western patters, Trail obstacles ‚ in hand, posting and learn about Western and English disciplines. Practice showmanship at halter, Learn about bareback pads and placement on horses, How to Saddle horses in English and Western tack, use Vaulting Surcingle, Surcingle for Driving lines, Teach use of 5 different rein aids, and Western/English body position. Open house for Showmanship at Halter class for families.

Daily Schedule: (horses will be included in our daily class activities)