Here are some great Christmas game ideas from a reader, Nan. Thank you Nan for letting me post these!
Decorate the Tree
I use an old “mug stand” wrapped in tinsel as my “Funny Tree” and the rider has to choose an ornament to hang on the tree.
Ornament and Spoon
I do Ornament on Spoon instead of Egg and Spoon game for Christmas.
Christmas Fishing
Use Christmas Squeaky Dog Toys as a “Fishing Game” with small aquarium nets…..the kids love it.
Pick Up Santa Hats
Also, another fun one is “Pick up the Santa Hats”. I have 4 cheapie Santa hats and put them on my poles…. riders have to ride to numbered hat, stop, pick off hat and ride “home”.
As Nan says, Happy Riding!
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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!
These ideas are so cute. Thanks. I did one yesterday where I took a $1 package of candy canes and put them around the arena fence. A volunteer helped as the “elf” by holding a bag.The rider had to see where the canes were during their warmup laps around the ring, then the game was that they had to collect two and take it to the “elf” to put in the bag. They could pick any two, but they had to start, stop and steer their horse and get close enough to the fence to reach the cane. The “elf” also moved after each deposit, so the rider had to locate and ride to them. The kids loved it and they got to take the candy home (I did strongly and quietly suggest to each rider that they offer a cane to the “elf” to thank them for helping.) Our lessons were all private, but it would be a blast with more riders (and more candy canes), too. You’d just have to tell them how many they can get total and have more “elves”, one for each rider.
That is a great game, thank you for sharing!!!
Thanks for the fun game ideas! We also “fish” for candy canes, using the Dollar Store plastic candy canes to hook a candy cane that they can take home. We have done Santa hat races where the rider rides to a pole to pick up the Santa hat, and has to hold it on one of their side walker’s heads to race back to finish line (at a trot). One year we did it with our miniature horse and it was hilarious watching the poor side walker running, crouched down, so the rider could keep the hat on her head!
I’m definitely going to add the ornament and spoon game to my lessons this week.
Merry Christmas, Everyone!