“The Bolo Program”

Our horsemanship achievement program. 1 bolo per week can be earned, first time campers always start at Filly level, but riding lessons classified by ability.

1. Filly
2. Colt
3. Stallion
   
4. Ranch Hand
5. Junior Wrangler
6. Wrangler
7. Raintree Rancher
8. Trail Master

1. Filly

• Demonstrate proper approach, lead, mount, dismount
  
• Identify 5 parts of horse
• Identify 5 grooming tools & their use
• Give 3 horse safety rules
• Identify 3 parts of bridle and 3 parts of a saddle
• Describe 2 gaits of a horse
  
• Ride a walk in proper equitation
• Stand in the stirrups at the walk
  
• Describe your favorite moment at horses ...return to top
  

2. Colt

• Identify 10 parts of a horse
• Identify 5 horse breeds and discuss their proper uses
• Properly groom a horse
• Give 6 horse safety rules
• Demonstrate proper safety around the horses
  
• Describe 4 gaits of a horse
• Tie a safety Knot
• Assist in cleaning manure out of one pasture ...return to top

3. Stallion

• Identify 15 parts of a horse
• Identify 6 parts of the bridle
• Identify 10 parts of the saddle
• Identify 5 colors of a horse
• Discuss the history of one breed of horse
• Clean out two watering troughs in barn area
• Begin a trot
• Learn how to properly tack up a horse ...return to top

4. Ranch Hand

• Identify 25 parts of a horse
• Clean and oil a bridle and discuss why this is important
  
• Identify all face markings
• Discuss feeds and proper feeding of a horse
  
• Properly wrap a horse's leg and explain reasons for wrapping
  
• Begin a posting trot
  
• Identify all parts of the hoof
• Discuss why and how a horse is lunged ...return to top

5. Junior Wrangler

• Identify 30 parts of a horse
• Name 5 common horse diseases including prevention and cures
• Clean and oil a saddle
• Identify all leg markings
• Discuss proper health maintenance of a horse
• Help with morning chores twice (tack-up)
  
• Clean all pastures once
• Assist teaching one ground class ...return to top

6. Wrangler

• Identify 35 parts of a horse
• Ride an extended trot and a collected lope
• Discuss and perform first-aid on a horse
• Discuss how and why to deworm a horse
• Discuss why it is important to groom and wash a horse and 5 reasons why a horse's hooves would be trimmed
  
• List all of the trail ride rules
  
• Teach beginning riders trail etiquette
• Identify every Raintree horse by name
• Demonstrate safe tack up of a horse ...return to top

7. Raintree Rancher

• Disassemble and reassemble a bridle and saddle
• Repair damaged bridle and saddle
• Discuss proper reactions to trail hazards
• Describe how you check for lameness on a horse and how you can tell if the lameness is in the front or back end
  
• Pass a pattern test in riding arena
• Help tack horses four times
• Help in one feeding each day
• Assist with the horse show
• Write an essay on what horsemanship means to you and include your thoughts on the four YMCA core values ...return to top

8. Trail Master

• Help instruct one trail ride
• Feed twice daily
• Help tack or untack daily
• Help do first aid daily
  
• Assist with ground classes
• Help with daily ranch maintenance chores
• Name 20 possible careers that have to do with horses
• Demonstrate all riding skills of previous bolo levels on various levels of horses
  
• Write an essay about your camping experience at Raintree
  
• BE A CAMP ROLE MODEL ...return to top