CHA Study Guide 2026
Everything you need to pass the CHA exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.
📋 CHA Exam Format at a Glance
📚 CHA Topics to Study (37)
✍️ Sample CHA Questions & Answers
1. What is 'tracking up' in horse movement, and why is it significant?
Tracking up means the hind hoof lands in or beyond the print left by the front hoof, indicating good impulsion, engagement, and correct movement.
2. What should be included in a lesson debrief?
A lesson debrief should include a summary of the learning achieved during the session and constructive feedback for the rider. This reinforces key takeaways, highlights areas of improvement, and helps the rider understand their progress and what to focus on in future lessons. It provides closure and sets the stage for continued development.
3. When a student has just learned a new skill, which practice schedule best promotes long-term retention?
Distributed (spaced) practice is consistently shown by learning research to produce superior long-term retention compared to massed practice.
4. When a young horse nips or bites playfully at a handler, the best response is to:
Immediate, consistent correction establishes that biting humans is not acceptable, preventing escalation as the horse grows.
5. What conformation fault is described as 'base narrow' when viewed from the front?
Base narrow means the feet are closer together than the width of the chest, which increases stress on the outside of the limbs and can predispose to stumbling.
6. When untangling a horse's mane or tail, what is the safest starting point?
Always start detangling at the ends and work upward toward the roots to minimize breakage and discomfort to the horse.