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 comes up with 3 parts and she adds the last one for a total of 10. They keep them written on the white board in the arena. During warmups the riders are asked to review the part with their volunteers and think up their new parts. At the end of the lesson everyone gathers around the white board, reviews the parts, and comes up with the new ones.
Horse Colors
Setup:
- Copy pages from a horse breeds book. We had this little book at the barn: Horses “Eyewitness Handbook” – it is the perfect size to make a half page card of a horse. I made 3 copies of 3 horses because there were 3 riders.
- Bucket on one barrel with the cards in them.
- Empty bucket on a second barrel.
- Basket ball and hoop next to the second barrel.
- The rest can be an obstacle course or other stations.
Activity:
- Rider stops at the station/barrel with the cards and pulls one. They are to identify the horse breed and color with their volunteer (as it says on the card).
- The rider must remember the breed and color, and bring the card to the second station/barrel where there is a volunteer they must tell without looking, from memory.
- If they can remember it, they can try to make a basket. If not, try again next time! (If not, next time they can pull another card, and if they remember both cards – the new one and the one they just got wrong – they get two shots at a basket.
The only thing about this game is that it took longer at the stations than I expected so the riders were standing around waiting a lot, so make sure the rest of the activity or obstacle course is appropriately long to give them something to do instead of waiting.
Enjoy!
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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!