Lessons In TR

Crack The Code Game

from Carrie at Horsepower!

Supplies

• 3 cones
• 2 ground poles set 4′ apart
• 3 barrels
• Curve arrows
• Plastic shapes – several sets of 3 different shapes each the same color, with words on each that form an activity or skill to practice when read together (such as: circle/2/cones, 2-point/once/around arena, Trot/4/Long walls, Do/Around The World/Once, Park/Between/The poles, Serpentine/3/Quarter-Lines)

Where to get Supplies

• The plastic shapes and arrows can be purchased from the Freedom Rider website.
• We just got these brightly colored plastic barrels from The Cary Company in Addison, Illinois.

Arena Setup

• 3 barrels
• on each barrel place the same shapes (stars on one, squares on the another, etc.)
• curved arrow cue card next to each barrel (to point direction to turn around barrel)

Activity

1. Rider circles each barrel
2. Then whoas and asks for the color shape they want. As the riders are gathering the shapes, the instructor can ask the rider to identify what shape it is, what is something that is both that color and shape, etc.
3. When all 3 shapes of the same color are collected, they must “crack the code” by putting them in the right order. To help, lay them out in the wrong order, read it, and ask if it makes sense. This is very hard for some riders. Quietly wait and give them time to process and think it through. You can let them know they can ask for a clue. (Ex:The star goes first.).

Carrie adds:

We found riders of every level loved this game. We sometimes adapted the number of times the rider did something to adjust the difficulty level.

You could include other items like a ring toss, ball hoop, etc.

Enjoy having fun while teaching skills in your lessons!

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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 judgment!