Rider Grading

This grading system integrates concepts from the Warhorse Education System and parallels the grades in the Horse Grading System.

Each individual grading task, as part of each grade, must be undertaken in a single attempt per day. If some runs are successful and others are not, the next grading attempt for that individual task starts again from zero. Separate grading tasks may be achieved on different attempts and days if desired. Each attempt must be nominated in advance as an official grading attempt. Further grades will be added as the system develops.

The Rider Grading System details are outlined below:

Rider Grade 1 (R1)

R1
Requirements		Assessment
1) Ability to ask for correct canter lead when starting and maintain canter		Ability to acquire correct canter lead first time asked and maintain canter without breaking to trot throughout, performing one of the following: a) 4 runs of any Furūsiya track (2 in each direction) b) OR: 4 runs of Basic Hunt track (cantering continuously except for simple lead changes), 2 in left-handed direction, 2 in right-handed direction c) OR: 4 runs of any Serpentine track or Chogān Arena Training track (cantering continuously except for simple lead changes), 2 in left-handed direction, 2 in right-handed direction d) OR: 2 runs of any of the above tracks and 2 runs of any other of the above tracks, in each set doing 1 in left-handed direction, 1 in right-handed direction

Rider Grade 2 (R2)

R2
Requirements		Assessment
1) Tempo versatility in separate runs		1) Horse must do (just one of the following, all during one attempt; the order of the faster and slower time ranges must be slow-fast-fast-slow): • 2 runs at 22-25 seconds and 2 runs at 27-30 seconds in Furūsiya-100 postal track • 2 runs at 42-52 seconds and 2 runs at 55-62 seconds in Basic Hunt track • 2 runs at 47-57 seconds and 2 runs at 63-75 seconds in a Serpentine full track • 2 runs at 28-34 seconds and 2 runs at 38-45 seconds in a Serpentine short track • 2 runs at 68-82 seconds and 2 runs at 88-106 seconds in a Basic Chogān full track • 2 runs at 36-44 seconds and 2 runs at 48-58 seconds in a Basic Chogān short track
2) Turning with minimal pressure as necessary, prioritising leg and seat aids and with only one hand on the reins permitted, at walk		2) 2 runs of Basic Chogān (or 4 runs of short track versions), Chogān field training track, or Chogān arena training track at walk: horse must never diverge from the line of the track, only one hand on the reins permitted at any given time. Note: a shot must be attempted at all targets)
3) Ability to do simple canter lead change fluidly		3) 2 runs of a Serpentine full track (or 4 runs of a Serpentine short track), or 2 runs of Basic Chogān (or 4 runs of the short track version), or 2 runs of Chogān field training track, or 2 runs Chogān arena training track: horse must perform all simple changes with enough time left for the rider to shoot when crossing a centreline of the curve even with the target (Serpentine tracks) or before crossing the pole on the circle where correct canter lead is assessed (Chogān tracks).

Rider Grade 3 (R3)

R3
Requirements		Assessment
1) Walk to canter transition		1) Rider must achieve walk to canter transition on correct lead 2 times on each lead (4 times total) when entering any of the HEC core styles
2) Turn on haunches		2) Rider must correctly achieve 90º turn on haunches 50% of possible times each run in 2 runs of Advanced Chogān I track (or 4 runs for short track version)
3) Ability to do simple change within three seconds of transitioning to trot		3) Rider must achieve all of simple lead changes each run within 3 seconds of transitioning to trot in 2 runs of: a) Serpentine full track (or 4 runs of short track version) b) OR Chogān arena training track c) OR Basic Chogān full track (or 4 runs of short track version) d) OR Chogān field training track/Chogān Diamond track
4) Turning with minimal pressure, prioritising leg and seat aids with only one hand on the reins, at trot		4) 1 run of Basic Chogān at trot (or 2 runs of short track versions): horse must not diverge from the line of the track, only one hand on the reins permitted (limited to 4 attempts on full track / 6 attempts on short track per occasion)–Note: a shot must be attempted at all targets
5) Ability to remain balanced and shoot while jumping reinless (35cm minimum jump height)		5) 2 runs of hunt track: rider must jump and hit at least one jump shot (35cm minimum jump height) in each run
6) Ability of rider to handle a hunt track without constant use of reins		6) Hunt track: rider must participate in a hunt track in two separate competitions

Rider Grade 4 (H4)

Intermittent Reinless Riding
Requirements		Assessment
1) Simple lead change reinless: ability to do canter to trot transition reinless and pick up canter on correct lead reinless		1) Rider must achieve simple canter change reinless at least 50% of possible lead changes* each run on 1 run of a Serpentine full track (or 2 runs of a short track version) and 1 run of Basic Chogān full track or Chogān field training track (or 2 runs of a short track version). To fulfil this requirement, the changes must include minimum one right-to-left change and one left-to-right change. 100% of lead changes in each run must be achieved on the first attempt (each trot-canter transition must be on the correct lead), though 50% can be achieved with some use of the reins (Note: the horse must not diverge from the track when completing this assessment) *if there is an odd number of possible changes, then the rider will be required to achieve 50% of the total number of lead changes over the course of the total number of runs (for example, if 3 possible changes in a run, and 2 runs are required, then the Rider must achieve 3 changes throughout those 2 runs, either 2 changes in the first run and 1 change in the second or vice versa)
2) Turning with minimal pressure, prioritising leg and seat aids, with only one hand on the reins, at canter		2) 1 run of Basic Chogān full track or Chogān field training track at canter (or 2 runs of short track versions): rider must not diverge from the line of the track, only one hand on the reins permitted (limited to 4 attempts on full track / 6 attempts on short track per occasion). Note: a shot must be attempted at all targets

Rider Grade 4a (R4a)

R4a
Requirements		Assessment
Ability to do an entire course bridleless		Rider must complete 3 runs of a Serpentine or Chogān track and 1 hunt track bridleless (cordeo or similar permitted)

Rider Grade 5 (R5)

R5
Requirements		Assessment
1) Canter to walk transition one-handed		1) Horse must perform canter to walk transition with only one hand on the reins when finishing the track in 4 runs of any of the HEC core styles
2) Ability to do flying change		2) Rider must achieve flying change 50% of possible lead changes* each run on 2 runs of Serpentine tracks or Basic Chogān. To fulfill this requirement, the changes must include minimum one right-to-left change and one left-to-right change. *if there is an odd number of possible changes, then the rider will be required to achieve 50% of the total number of lead changes over the course of the total number of runs (e.g. if 3 possible changes in a run, and 2 runs are required, then the rider must achieve 3 flying changes throughout those 2 runs, either 2 changes in the first run and 1 change in the second or vice versa)
3) Walk to canter transition on correct lead reinless		3) Rider must achieve walk to canter transition on correct lead reinless 2 times on each lead (4 times total) when entering one of the HEC core styles
4) Turning reinless at canter		4) 2 runs of full track or 4 runs of short track of Basic Chogān at canter: rider must not diverge from the line of the track, without use of the reins on the circles (limited to 4 attempts on full track / 6 attempts on short track per occasion)–Note: a shot must be attempted at all targets

Accelerated Grading Information

In general, all requirements for all grades must be fulfilled in order to be awarded a higher grade than level 1. However, one can progress immediately to a higher grade than Rider Grade 1 or Horse Grade 1 in one ‘attempt’; for example, one may do a few runs of a few tracks to complete all requirements for R1-R3. If the same exercise is required at different gaits for different grades, then doing the same exercise just at a faster gait can fulfil the requirement for all grades that utilise that exercise. For example, the following R3 assessment {1 run of Basic Chogān at trot (or 2 runs of short track versions): rider must not diverge from the line of the track, only one hand on the reins permitted (limited to 4 attempts on full track / 6 attempts on short track per occasion)} can fulfil the equivalent in R2: {2 runs of Basic Chogān or Chogān arena training track at walk (or 4 runs of short track versions): horse must never diverge from the line of the track, only one hand on the reins permitted at any given time}.

Below are the two sets of requirements where such substitutions are permitted:

H2/R2 Requirement	H3/R3 Requirement
	(can fulfil H2 Req)
1 run of a Serpentine full track (or 2 runs of a Serpentine short track) and 1 run of Basic Chogān (or 2 runs of a Chogān short track): horse/rider must perform all simple changes with enough time left for the rider to shoot when crossing a centreline of the curve even with the target (Serpentine tracks) or before crossing the pole on the circle where correct canter lead is assessed (Chogān tracks).	Horse/rider must perform all of simple lead changes each run within 3 seconds of transitioning to trot in 1 run of: Serpentine full track (or 2 runs of short track version) OR Chogān arena training track AND 1 run of: Basic Chogān full track (or 2 runs of short track version) OR Chogān field training track

H2/R2 Requirement	H3/R3 Requirement	H4/R4 Requirement	H5/R5 Requirement
	(can fulfil H2 Req)	(can fulfil H2 and H3 Reqs)	(can fulfil H2, H3, and H4 Reqs)
2 runs of Basic Chogān or Chogān arena training track at walk (or 4 runs of short track versions): horse must never diverge from the line of the track, only one hand on the reins permitted at any given time. Note: a shot must be attempted at all targets)	1 run of Basic Chogān or Chogān field training track at trot (or 2 runs of short track versions): horse must not diverge from the line of the track, only one hand on the reins permitted (limited to 4 attempts on full track / 6 attempts on short track per occasion). Note: a shot must be attempted at all targets	1 run of Basic Chogān or Chogān field training track at canter (or 2 runs of short track versions): horse/rider must not diverge from the line of the track, only one hand on the reins permitted (limited to 4 attempts on full track / 6 attempts on short track per occasion). Note: a shot must be attempted at all targets	2 runs of full track or 4 runs of short track of Basic Chogān at canter: horse/rider must not diverge from the line of the track, without use of the reins on the circles and no more than one hand at any point (limited to 4 attempts on full track / 6 attempts on short track per occasion). Note: a shot must be attempted at all targets

Grades may be submitted via the following forms:

Note: there is a fee of €10 per grading attempt, which may be made via PayPal to hec.trainers@gmail.com (please email us if you need to pay via another method). Grades will not be confirmed until payment has been made. A Horse and Rider Grade requirements fulfilled in a single grading attempt may be applied together with a single fee.

There are also grading sheets available to print out, either for the candidate’s own reference while grading or for trainers/assistants to help track the candidate’s progress while they are completing assessments: