Your Unmounted Lesson Pack Has Arrived
Unmounted lessons build understanding, confidence, and connection.
Thank you for doing the important work of developing true equestrians.
Tips:
- Pick and choose lessons or parts of lessons that are appropriate for your students and horses.
- Share the value of unmounted lessons with parents/caregivers as well as the students during the lesson. Feel free to copy and paste the objectives to share in an email to convey the value of these lessons. Read the article Make The Case For Unmounted Lessons for ways to build value.
- Safety is paramount. Use industry standard and your professional judgement to keep all humans and horses safe.
- Aim to keep the lessons fun. If there is one area that is particularly interesting for you students – don’t be afraid to lean into their interests.
- Some of the lesson plans have several external links referencing YouTube videos. If you experience any error downloading due to virus software – please send me an email and I can send you a copy with no links.
Click the images below to open a new way of horsemanship learning!
Spring Into Motion
An unmounted lesson that explores the horse’s musculoskeletal system — how bones, joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments work together for movement — and connects equine biomechanics to rider position, balance, and care.
Teaching Topics:
• Equine musculoskeletal anatomy
• How movement is created & supported
• Rider–horse body comparisons
• Warm-ups, cool-downs & injury awareness
• Practical hands-on activities
Format:
Group or Private
Spot It! Safety
An unmounted lesson that teaches riders to identify and classify horse-related safety scenarios. Participants practice spotting risks, understanding proper gear, and performing equipment and environment checks to prevent injuries both on the ground and while riding.
Teaching Topics:
• Hazard identification and classification (Safe vs Caution)
• Rider safety gear (helmets, boots, gloves, body protectors)
• Equipment checks (tack, stirrups, reins, saddles)
• Environmental awareness (barn, arena, weather)
• Safe handling and leading techniques
• Decision-making and preventative strategies
Format:
Group or Private
Intentional Obstacle Design
An unmounted lesson that guides riders through the process of intentionally designing equestrian obstacles — from conceptual planning to building with available materials — while considering how horses perceive and interact with challenges. Riders explore sensory elements, safety, purpose, and the skills each obstacle builds in both horse and handler.
Teaching Topics:
• Creative obstacle design process (plan → build → test)
• Sensory considerations for horses (visual, tactile, auditory, olfactory, gustatory)
• How horses interpret and move through obstacles
• Purpose and skill focus (e.g., confidence, communication, balance)
• Safety planning (footing, space, hazards, visibility)
• Worksheet‑based design documentation and reflection
Format:
Group or Private
All Treats, No Tricks
An unmounted lesson that helps equestrians understand how and why horses use their senses — especially smell and taste — when it comes to treats. Through interactive discussions, sensory activities, and demonstrations, riders learn safe treat choices, proper offer techniques, and how understanding equine perception builds empathy and safer handling.
Teaching Topics:
• Purpose of treats (reward, enrichment, trust)
• How horses experience smell and taste
• Safe vs. unsafe treat selection
• Proper and safe treat‑giving techniques
• Sensory experiments (e.g., “Smell Like a Horse” activity)
• Building empathy and connection through understanding perception
Format:
Group or Private
The Heart of A Horse
An unmounted lesson that helps riders understand how the horse’s heart works and how movement, effort, and emotions affect heart rate—connecting body awareness to horsemanship.
Teaching Topics:
• Equine anatomy (heart)
• Heart rate & pulse
• Effects of exercise
• Comparing horse & human physiology
• Body awareness
Format:
Group or Private
I would love to stay connected!
Let me know if you have any questions, ideas or requests.
Did you know Instructor Half Halt also offers continuing education?
Email heather@instructorhalfhalt.com to learn more about workshops and webinars!
