Lessons In TR

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 purposes such as halting in specific places)
• Alphabet letter refrigerator magnets (matching the wall letters) – put them on the walls of the arena
• 2 signs – one says “water” and one says “land”
• 3 baskets or buckets
• 3 barrels – on one put a bucket and the “water” sign, on another put a bucket and the “land” sign, and on the third put the bucket and use it as start or home base
• stuffed animals (beanie babies work well) – a variety of which are found either in the water or on land – put them all in the bucket on the start/home barrel

Activity:

1. Each rider reaches in and pulls out a stuffed animal.
2. The rider must go get the letter it begins with off the wall.
3. Then the rider decides if the animal lives in the land or on the water.
4. Lastly the rider delivers the animal and letter to the appropriate land or water bucket/barrel.

The letters on the wall:

The letters, bucket and barrel:

I like this game because it can incorporate whatever riding skill you are working on, as well as fine motor skills, critical thinking, and spelling!

Thank you so much for your contribution, Christine, and for the pictures!

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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!