Horsemanship Honor - advanced

Recreational Activities

Requirements

1. Have the Horsemanship Honor.

   Answer: You need to have previously completed the AR-025 (basic Horsemanship) Honor as a prerequisite. Present the Honors sash with the basic Horsemanship badge sewn on, or the official document from the director confirming completion of the mandatory prior Honor. — Advanced horsemanship requires prior technical mastery. The basic Honor teaches fundamental concepts (mounting, dismounting, correct position, safety), which are a prerequisite for the advanced practical requirements (jumps, complex maneuvers, trail trial) of the advanced Honor.

2. Identify, in a drawing of a horse or in real life, at least 30 different parts of a horse.

   Answer: You identify 30 parts: head, ears, eyes, forehead, muzzle, nose, mouth, neck, mane, withers, back, loin, croup, tail, chest, shoulder, arm, forearm, knee, cannon, fetlock, hoof, frog, ribs, belly, flank, groin, thigh, leg, hock. Each part with a specific anatomical function. — Knowing equine anatomy is fundamental for care (saddling correctly, identifying injuries), technical communication (veterinarian) and advanced horsemanship. The 'withers' is the highest point between the neck and the back — a reference for measuring the horse's height. The 'hoof' is equivalent to the human fingernail, formed of hard keratin.

3. Identify in a drawing or on a saddle and bridle:
   • Western, at least 10 parts of the saddle
   • English or Hungarian, at least 9 parts of the saddle
   • Snaffle or bridle, at least 7 parts

   Answer: 1) SADDLE (Western model): head/horn, fork/swells, seat, cantle, fenders, stirrups, cinch, latigo and skirts. 2) BRIDLE/HEADSTALL: browband (over the forehead), noseband or throatlatch, mouthpiece/bit (the metal piece that goes into the horse's mouth), reins (attached to the bit to guide), curb strap (passes under the chin) and adjustment buckles. The bit acts on the mouth and the bridle transmits the commands from the rider's hands. — Each style has a specific use: Western is for the ranch/rodeo (a comfortable seat for hours); English is for equestrian sports (jumping, dressage). The classic bridle has 7-8 movable parts; more elaborate bridles (Pelham, hackamore) have up to 12. The 'horn' is exclusive to the Western — it was used to tie the cattle lasso.

4. Demonstrate and explain how to mount and dismount a horse properly and safely, and demonstrate safety and balance, remaining seated on the horse while it is standing on its hind legs.

   Answer: You mount from the left side: left foot in the stirrup, left hand on the mane/saddle, right hand on the cantle, push up and pass the right leg over. To dismount, reverse it. For the horse to rear (standing on its hind legs), lean your torso forward over the neck, keep the reins firm and the legs tight — distributing your weight so as not to unbalance the horse. — Always mounting from the left side is a Roman military tradition and indicates respect for the horse. 'Rearing' is a dangerous advanced maneuver — done only with a horse trained in classical dressage schools such as the Spanish Riding School of Vienna (founded in 1572). Leaning forward prevents the rider from falling backward.

5. Prepare a simple trail, with 3 obstacles placed at ground level. Choose from the following:
   • Pass over a log or post lying on the ground, with a maximum height of 42 centimeters.
   • Pass between poles or hay bales placed 120 cm apart.
   • Zigzag between poles placed at intervals of 3.6 meters.
   • Walk around a large circle (4.5 m), exiting without stepping on or crossing any lines.

   Answer: You choose 3 of the 4 obstacles: 1) a fallen log/pole (max 42cm high) to go over; 2) bars or hay bales spaced 120cm apart to pass between; 3) zigzag poles 3.6m apart for a slalom. — These obstacles test fundamental skills: low jump (log), precision (bars), coordination (zigzag) and control (circle). They are the ABCs of the Trail Class trial, a traditional Western riding discipline — it requires horse-rider cooperation, common in Brazilian and American rodeos.

6. Ride a horse at a marching gait, on a trail, for a minimum of 8 cumulative hours.

   Answer: You ride at a marching gait for 8 accumulated hours on trails (it does not have to be in a single day — you can add up 1-2h per session over weeks). Maintain correct posture, observe the terrain, give the horse rest, and bring water. — 8 cumulative hours form the advanced rider in endurance and cooperation with the animal. On long trails, the rider learns to 'feel' the horse — fatigue, thirst, a loose horseshoe. Brazilian gaited horses (Mangalarga Marchador) can endure up to 100 km/day with adequate breaks and a controlled rhythm.

7. Demonstrate and explain the 3 types of marching gait: Trotted, Picada and Batida.

   Answer: The 3 types of marching gait are: 1) Trotted March — a 2-beat gait, with diagonal support: the horse moves and supports at the same time the diagonal pair (foreleg on one side + hindleg on the opposite side). It is the most elevated and rhythmic, with comfort intermediate between the batida and the trot (typical of the Mangalarga Paulista). 2) Picada March — a lateral-support gait, in which the two legs on the same side move almost together (foreleg + hindleg on the same side), with moments of triple support (three hooves on the ground). It is very smooth, comfortable and silent, with a 'clip-clop, clip-clop' cadence. 3) Batida March — a diagonal-support gait, in which the diagonal limbs touch the ground practically at the same time, producing a rhythmic 'pa-pa-pa' sound. It has more performance and elevation than the picada, but remains much more comfortable than the trot. The batida and picada marches are typical of the Mangalarga Marchador (from Minas Gerais). — The Picada March is the 'comfortable gait' — the rider barely sways. The Mangalarga Marchador is an official Brazilian breed created in Minas Gerais in the 1700s. The Batida March has a rhythm of 4 beats per cycle, while the Picada has 2 beats — the key difference between the two.