Level 2 (Intermediate) Tasks...

 

Level 2 - Liberty Tasks

Tools: Round Corral, Carrot Stick, Horseman's String
  1. "Win" the Friendly Game with Carrot Stick & Savvy String.
  2. Drive the hindquarters 360 degrees, both ways.
  3. Drive the front end 360 degrees, both ways.
  4. Get your horse to follow you for one circuit.
  5. Play the Circling Game to the right & left, ask your horse to face you.
  6. Sideways in both directions along a fence.
  7. Finish with the Friendly Game.
  8. Cause your horse to "smell his tail" for 10 seconds each side.
  9. Hold your horse's tongue.
  10. Simulate paste-worming your horse.

Level 2 - On Line Tasks

Tools: Halter & 22' Line, Carrot Stick & Savvy String
  1. Play the Friendly Game in all Zones with a plastic bag tied to a Carrot Stick.
  2. With plastic bag, drive horse backwards, yield hindquarters and forehand a full circle on each side.
  3. Play the Yo-Yo Game to back your horse over a pole and return
  4. Play the Circling Game in both directions showing transitions from the trot to the walk and back to the trot.
  5. Change directions at the trot, maintaining gait.
  6. Go sideways without a fence for at least 20 feet, both ways.
  7. Send your horse into a trailer while sitting on the fender. Count to ten and then bring him back to you, without getting off the fender.
  8. With your hand on zone 1, back your horse 20 feet.
  9. "Push" your horse sideways for at least 20 feet.
  10. Place the 22' Line around a front leg; Play the Yo-Yo Game then lead your horse by the front leg.

Level 2 - Freestyle Riding Tasks

Bareback (PNH Bareback Pad allowed), Cherokee Bridle
  1. Mount your horse.
  2. Trot a figure of 8.
  3. Stop straight and back up for 10 feet.
  4. Canter for 60 seconds.
  5. Bend your horse to a stop and make an emergency dismount.
Saddle, Snaffle Bridle, Carrot Stick
  1. Send your horse to the saddle and pad and allow him to sniff them (using halter and 12' line).
  2. Saddle your horse without touching the line.
  3. Bridle your horse from your knees.
  4. Mount your horse from the ground, then from a fence.

With Carrot Stick, leave reins on horse's neck or over saddle horn

  1. Trot a figure 8.
  2. Canter along arena fence, use Carrot Stick to make downward transitions: trot, walk, back-up.

With snaffle bridle

  1. Backup in a straight line for at least 2O feet (9 Step Back-Up).
  2. Trot a figure of 8 showing two changes of diagonal.
  3. Using a Casual Rein at the canter, show three simple (drop to the trot) lead changes.
  4.  Ease your horse into a gallop for at least 30 seconds.
  5. Come back to the canter to prove your horse is settled.
  6. Still in canter, place your wrists under your reins and show four flying changes through a series of S bends.
  7. Slow down to a back-up by lifting your wrists into the air.

Using any equipment or none at all

  1. Imagination task: show something imaginative you can do with your horse.

Level 2 - Finesse Riding Tasks

Tools: Snaffle Bridle, Saddle, Savvy String

  1. While mounted, unbridle you horse (leaving bridle on fence).
  2. Place the Savvy String around your horse's neck and ride backwards, forwards to the right and left and return to your bridle.
  3. Go from Casual to Concentrated and obtain a soft feel.
  4. Starting on a Casual Rein, show three Yo-Yo's from trot to back-up using the 9 Step Back-Up technique.
  5. Back your horse through an L pattern (you can use logs or cones, etc.).
  6. With Concentrated reins, Indirect rein to Direct and Supporting reins moving the hindquarter then the forehand in a continuous flow.
  7. Show a full rotation on the hindquarters using the Direct and Supporting Rein, one to the right, one to the left.
  8. Ride sideways in both directions for at least 20 feet without using a fence.
All of the current PNH Level 2 tasks are covered in the above list.  However, additional tasks have been added that were either in the old PNH Level 2 assessment, or are have been added from other Natural Horsemanship practitioners.

   

Contact:   Mickey@SmallDreams.com
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Updated:   October 21, 2008