Equestrian Academy

American Scholar Equestrian Academy

As a means of offering our students quality extra-curricular activities in order to build an impressive academic resume’, American Scholar introduced the ASUS School Equestrian Academy in 2012. This program provides our students with a unique language learning experience and the discipline of true horsemanship. Our students learn from highly qualified instructors in Western and English disciplines. Expert trainers for each of these areas will be present for skill-developing clinics and seminars to ensure that our students are privy to the most exemplary instruction available. To acquire appropriate knowledge about each area of horsemanship, students will have the option to study both English and Western disciplines.

Equestrian Academy Outcomes

1. Communication: Communicate effectively in speech and in writing, using appropriate information sources, presentation formats, and technologies.

2. Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: Locate, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information and ideas from multiple perspectives.

3. Values and Ethics: Demonstrate and understanding of how the values of personal integrity, cooperative action and respect for diversity influence one’s own behavior and the behavior of others.

4. Social Awareness and Civic Responsibility: Use knowledge of evolving human institutions and of diverse cultural and historical perspectives to interact effectively in a variety of social and political contexts.

5. Personal Development: Demonstrate intellectual curiosity, as well as a commitment to wellness, emotional and spiritual growth.

About Western Riding

In Western riding, students will learn the anatomy of the saddle, bridle and other tack accessories. Students will also engage in forms of riding known as Western pleasure, trail, gaming and reining. Western pleasure focuses on the gaits of walk, jog and lope being maintained with subtle cues from the rider to train for a show setting, such as Quarter Horse Congress. Trail riding is a more relaxed form of horsemanship and requires that horse and rider be able to navigate through the wilderness in many climate conditions. Western gaming trains horse and rider to complete obstacle courses as quickly as possible within the arena. Lastly, Western reining is also known as “Western Dressage”, and combines the fundamentals of pleasure and game riding.

While Western riding offers many forms of horsemanship training, English riding also presents aspiring equestrians with a multitude of options as well. Mirroring Western pleasure riding, English Under saddle focuses on quicker and more collected gaits of walk, trot and canter. Dressage training places emphasis on the precise completion of patterns at all gaits done as smoothly as possible through excellent rider equitation. Over fences training requires a strong foundation in both Under saddle and Dressage so that students may guide their horse over a series of eight fences maintaining a canter with lead-changes throughout the course

The study and practice of horsemanship has for centuries been identified as an elite sport. This sport is one that not only provides its participants with skill but also a deeper development of character. This character development is utilized not only on horseback but to make thoughtful decisions for daily life success. Early lessons to our students are inspired by Native American wisdom partnered with words of the famous trainer, Walter Zettl. His philosophy communicates that, “Trust and respect are two-way streets. We want the horse to accept us as leaders of the herd, to guide them safely and to provide protection and comfort. In return, they will give us their respect, and willing submission to our ideas about what to do next, and when and where. But this respect can only be based on well-deserved trust. “The goal of this program is to create well-rounded horsemen and horsewomen that will be able to practice and discuss the disciplines of horsemanship. When students enter the ASUS Equestrian Academy program, our desire is for them to develop with knowledge, ability and character traits that they may apply to personal equine goals as well as future life goals.