Lessons In TR

This is the introductory Gymkhana lesson plan I used starting with the simplest pattern, the Single Barrel, to teach about Gymkhana and how to turn around a barrel.

Arena Setup:

• cones across one end of the arena to designate the start/finish line
• two barrels, one on each quarter line, on the other end
• cones around the barrel, to teach student how far to stay away from barrel

Lesson Plan

1. Mount
2. Tack Check
3. Warm Up – on the wall: woah and walk on (as we will be doing at the start/finish) and circles (as we will be doing around the barrels)
4. Gymkhana Introduction – while students are walking on the wall, explain what Gymkhana is and why we are doing it (see Gymkhana Games and Patterns post for this info).
5. Tack Check – have students meet at barrels
6. How to Go Around a Barrel – point out the cones around the barrels. Explain how to go around the barrel and keep their spacing from it (see Gymkhana Games and Patterns post for this info).
7. Single Barrel Pattern – (See picture 1 below). Explain. Show a picture or use whiteboard if needed.
8. Practice Single Barrel – each student has their own barrel to practice with at the same time. Start at a the walk to learn the pattern and barrel spacing, then take away the barrel cones so they have to steer the spacing themselves, then add trotting to and from the barrel.
9. Progress to Turn N Burn Pattern – (See picture 2 below). Explain it’s like the Single Barrel but add a circle around the barrel. Practice several times.
10. Progress to Birangle Barrel Pattern – (See picture 3 below). Explain. Practice. Have students follow each other through it or one at a time.
11. Cool Down – walk on wall, let horse stretch neck, arm stretches
12. Dismount

Example objectives for this lesson:

• Student will demonstrate direct rein steering without a leader at the walk through a barrel pattern 3x with minimal prompts.
• Student will demonstrate 2 point trotting for the length of one wall 4x. (In this case the length of one wall is the strait stretch to and from the barrels).
• Student will perform a 3 step pattern with no prompts, with leader and sidewalker. (3 steps: walk to the barrel, circle the barrel, walk back to the cones).
• Etc.

Progression

• As shown, progress from Single Barrel, to Turn N Burn, to Birangle.
• Progress from walk , to trot straight stretches, to trot whole pattern.
• Progress from leader clipped to leader spotting.
• Etc.

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Note: This is not professional advice, this is a blog. I am not liable for what you do with or how you use this information. The activities explained in this blog may not be fit for every rider, riding instructor, or riding center depending on their current condition and resources. Use your best personal judgement!