Horsemanship is about caring for, understanding, and riding horses. You'll learn about horse health and behavior, practice grooming and tack, and ride. It's a great badge for anyone who loves animals and the outdoors.
Why it's worth it
A horse weighs about ten times what you do, and it chooses whether to trust you. Horsemanship teaches you to earn that trust: how to move around a horse calmly, read its ears and body, keep it healthy, and ride with control. Those skills open doors to trail rides in the backcountry, 4-H and riding clubs, ranch work, and careers caring for animals. It also teaches patience, because horses notice when you're in a hurry.
Start this week
- Find a picture of a horse and see how many body parts you can already name, then look up the rest.
- Ask your Scoutmaster for the name of a Horsemanship counselor, and send them a short message with a parent copied to set up a first meeting.
- Have a parent look for a riding stable, 4-H horse club, or therapeutic riding center nearby that offers beginner lessons or volunteer barn time.
- Find out what riding gear you'll need, like a properly fitted riding helmet and boots with a heel, and ask whether the stable lends helmets.
Stay safe
- Wear a properly fitted riding helmet every time you mount, and boots with a heel so your foot can't slide through the stirrup.
- Ride and handle horses only with a qualified instructor or experienced adult supervising.
- No smoking, flames, or space heaters near hay or bedding, and know where the barn's fire extinguishers and exits are.
Requirements · 12
Every official requirement and part, numbered to match Scouting America, in plain language. Sign off against the official wording (opens in a new tab) (updated 2025).
- Requirement 1
Safety
Tips for this section: Learn how to approach and move around a horse safely, and why barns need careful fire safety.
Example for this section: Explain safe handling like you're coaching a friend: speak to the horse as you approach from the front and side, never stand directly behind it, keep a hand on it as you walk around, and never wrap the lead rope around your hand.
- Requirement 1a
Describe the safety steps to take when you handle and care for a horse
- Requirement 1b
Describe how to prevent fires in a barn and around horses
- Requirement 2
Name 15 body parts of a horse and talk with your counselor about the job each one does
Tip: Use a diagram or a calm horse with an experienced handler to learn the parts.
- Requirement 3
Name 4 horse breeds and explain what each breed is known for
Tip: Visit a stable or look through a horse breed book, and pick four breeds that catch your eye.
For example: Pick four breeds and compare them in a chart: a Quarter Horse for quick bursts and ranch work, a Thoroughbred for racing, a Clydesdale for pulling, and an Arabian for endurance. Add height, color, and where each breed came from.
- Requirement 4
Describe the signs of colic, and name and describe 4 other health problems horses can have
Tip: Ask a vet or stable owner about colic and other common problems and what warning signs to watch for.
For example: Describe colic as belly pain that can be an emergency. Signs include pawing, rolling, and looking back at its side. Add four more problems, like thrush, laminitis, a cut, or a respiratory infection, with what an owner should watch for.
- Requirement 5
Explain what conformation means and why it matters, and explain how lameness differs from unsoundness
Tip: Have an experienced horse person show you how to look at a horse's build and spot signs of lameness.
- Requirement 6
Explain why hoof care is important and why a horse might need shoes
Tip: Watch a farrier at work if you can, and ask why hoof care is so important.
For example: Watch a farrier work if you can. Then explain why hooves need trimming every several weeks, what a shoe protects against, and how to pick out a hoof safely by standing beside the leg and asking the horse to lift it.
- Requirement 7
Show how to groom a horse, including picking out the hooves and caring for the horse after riding
Tip: Practice grooming with an experienced handler nearby, and learn what to do after a ride to cool and care for the horse.
For example: Groom in order: curry comb in circles to loosen dirt, stiff brush to flick it away, soft brush for the face, then comb the mane and tail and pick the hooves. After a ride, walk the horse until it's cool and check for sweat marks or sores.
- Requirement 8
Explain how you'd decide what kind of feed a horse gets and how much, and why both change with its breed and how active it is
Tip: Talk with a stable owner about what horses eat and why feeding schedules matter.
For example: Talk through a horse's day: plenty of good hay or pasture, fresh water at all times, and grain only if the horse needs it. Explain why changing feed suddenly can cause colic and why horses eat many small meals.
- Requirement 9
Tack, saddling, and mounting
Tips for this section: Practice saddling and bridling with an instructor until it feels natural, and always wear a riding helmet when mounting.
- Requirement 9a
Name 10 parts of the bridle and saddle you'll use, and explain how to take care of this tack
- Requirement 9b
Show how to saddle and bridle a horse correctly
- Requirement 9c
Show how to get on and off a horse safely
- Requirement 10
Explain and show how to safely approach a horse, lead it out of a field, corral, or stall, and tie it securely
Tip: Practice leading and tying a horse with an experienced handler watching closely.
- Requirement 11
After mounting safely, ride these moves one after another on level ground, doing each correctly, relaxed, and in harmony with the horse (11a–11g)
Tip: Take lessons with a qualified instructor, and always ride with a helmet and supervision.
- Requirement 11a
Walk in a straight line for 60 feet
- Requirement 11b
Walk a half-circle with a radius of 16 feet or less
- Requirement 11c
Trot or jog in a straight line for 60 feet
- Requirement 11d
Trot or jog a half-circle with a radius of 30 feet or less
- Requirement 11e
Come to a straight halt
- Requirement 11f
Back up 4 paces in a straight line
- Requirement 11g
Halt, then dismount
- Requirement 12
Careers and hobbies. Choose 1 of 2
Tips for this section: Ask a riding instructor, vet, or farrier about their work, or join a riding club.
- Requirement 12a
Explore careers related to horsemanship. Research one, including the training and education needed, costs, job outlook, pay, duties, and advancement (with permission, by internet or library search, an interview, or a workplace visit). Discuss your findings with your counselor and why the career might interest you
- Requirement 12b
Explore how horsemanship skills could lead to a hobby or healthy lifestyle. Research the training, costs, and groups that support it, and discuss with your counselor the short- and long-term goals you might set
Places to visit
Ask an adult to set it up, and go with your family, den, patrol, or crew.
A riding stable or lesson barn
You can practice grooming, tacking up, and leading with an instructor, and see how a barn runs every day.
How: Have a parent call and ask about beginner lessons or a group visit for Scouts. Ask whether they provide helmets.
A county fair or 4-H horse show
You can see many breeds side by side and watch young riders show their horses and their care skills.
How: Check the fair or 4-H calendar with a parent. Ask an exhibitor's family if they'd answer a few questions between classes.
An equine veterinary clinic
A vet can show how horses are examined for lameness and illness, and what tools are used.
How: Have an adult call the clinic and ask if a veterinarian or vet tech could give a short tour to a few Scouts.
Where it can lead
- Equine veterinarianTreats horses for illness and injury, often on farm calls; needs veterinary school.
- FarrierTrims hooves and fits shoes; learned through training programs and apprenticeships.
- Riding instructorTeaches riders of all ages and skill levels, often with a certification.
- Stable managerRuns a barn, from feeding schedules and horse health to staff and riders.
- Veterinary technicianAssists vets with exams, treatments, and surgeries; usually a two-year program.
Ask yourself
- How do you feel around horses right now, excited, nervous, or a little of both?
- What did a horse do that told you how it was feeling?
- Which skill took the most practice, and who helped you get it right?
- How has caring for a horse changed how you think about animals that depend on people?
- What kind of riding or horse care would you like to try next?
Good questions to ask a riding instructor, stable manager, or farrier
- How can you tell when a horse is relaxed, and when it's worried?
- What's the most common mistake new riders make around horses?
- What does it cost in time and money to keep a horse healthy for a year?
- How did you learn to work with horses?
- What's one thing about horse care that most people never think about?
Helpful reads
- Earning a merit badge, step by step, From picking a badge to getting the final signature: how to find a counselor, set up meetings safely, work the requirements, and keep your progress., Youth · Families · 6 min read
- Contacting counselors, experts, and organizations, Email and phone scripts, who to ask for, how to follow up, and how to say thanks, with a parent copied every time., Youth · Families · 7 min read
- Choosing your next merit badge, How to pick a badge you'll actually finish: start with what you care about, balance Eagle-required and just-for-fun badges, and make the most of camp., Youth · Families · 6 min read
For leaders & parents
- Find a reputable stable or riding program with qualified instructors who can work with Scouts.
- Make sure Scouts wear proper riding helmets and boots for all riding activities.
People & places that can help
- Merit badge counselor — Talk with them early; they can explain what's expected.
- Local stable or riding center — Lessons, horse care practice, and experienced handlers.
- 4-H (opens in a new tab) — Horse programs and clubs in many communities.
- Certified Horsemanship Association (opens in a new tab) — Find certified riding instructors and read about horse safety.
- US Equestrian (opens in a new tab) — Information on riding sports, horse welfare, and youth programs.
Pairs well with
Helps you earn
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Tips, examples, and questions are ideas from experienced leaders, not extra requirements. Your unit leader or counselor decides when a requirement is complete.