A great conversation was held on the Facebook Riding Instructor’s Forum about music use in lesson. So I’m organizing the ideas in a post! Enjoy, and add your own thoughts in the comments! Music Activities Relaxing Music Use music to relax the riders by playing it while they ride and/or during warm ups. It can help them breathe … Continue reading
Horse Parts & Colors
It was my first time back to instructing after baby last week! I subbed for another instructors. Here are two new activities – one hers, one mine. 100 Horse Parts Her group of 3 riders has the goal to learn 100 horse parts by the end of the quarter (8 weeks). Each week every rider … Continue reading
Alphabet Animals Game
This therapeutic horseback riding game was created and contributed by reader Christina Reichard who is doing her teaching hours at Agape in Indiana. I’m excited to have another contributor and to share it with you! Alphabet Animals Setup: Alphabet letters placed on the walls of each side of the arena (Agape uses these for many other … Continue reading
Equine Therapy Horse Care Standards
Today we have a guest post about Equine Therapy Horse Care Standards in the therapeutic riding industry. Cryshtal Avera has created a website/blog dedicated to this topic where systems and standards can be shared in a collaborative and supportive environment. I am excited to see another website related to therapeutic riding pop up and to help … Continue reading
Sensory Trail Ideas
Sorry it’s been a while, we were travelling for a whole month! (With a 4 now 8 week old!) One stop was back home in California, where there are plenty of horse barns in the hills where both our parents live. One barn in particular has a sensory trail or obstacle course by the road that sparks … Continue reading
Four Corners
Summer is in full swing! Can you smell the fly spray? Speaking of summer, here is a game we used to play at regular summer camp that I think would be fun to adapt to group riding lessons or as a camp activity. Enjoy! Four Corners Setup Create multiple choice questions. Put big signs for A, B, C … Continue reading
Ping Pong Pow Game
My horse, with husband and baby in the background. This is the first thing she does on our walk after not getting out for several weeks – mind you, out of the big pasture on the other side of the fence whose grass is apparently not luxurious enough. Anyway, I’ve had some responses on activity ideas … Continue reading
A Few Links – Programs, Gloves, Trot Poles, Transition Exercises, The Aids
First off, I had a baby! Baby human, not a baby horse. Although I did speculate how fun it would be to take baby bump pictures with my mare having a baby bump too… Anyway, this is why I have posted nothing new for a few weeks! However, it’s time to jump back in, so, here are a … Continue reading
How to Start a Therapeutic Riding Program
I’ve had several people ask about how to start a therapeutic riding program – where to start and get help. While I have never done this myself, I’ve taken business classes and collected resources. So I have some recommendations, and I am sure a few of you readers have some advice to share! How to … Continue reading
Teaching Tips III
Here are some random tips I’ve been saving that don’t fit into a whole blog post but want to share! Enjoy! Teaching Tips III Sitting up straight “Make the front part of your torso longer than the back part” Walk trot walk Use colored cones like traffic signals: green cone means trot, yellow cone means slow down red cone … Continue reading