Today’s post was inspired by a reader who emailed me asking for ideas about breathing exercises for anxious riders in an adaptive or therapeutic riding program. She has a writer who “has developed extreme anxiety, seemingly out of nowhere (even other service providers have noticed and can’t determine why), and we’d like to have a … Continue reading
Filed under Exercises …
Eric Carle Animal Warm Ups
Here is an idea to make warm ups for therapeutic horseback riding lessons more interesting, and to incorporate some visual and reading aspects. Use pages from a children’s book! We just acquired this book for bedtime stories and I thought it would be perfect for warm ups and wanted to share! Eric Carle Animal Warm … Continue reading
Change of Bend Exercise
I had a riding lesson today (for the first time in a long time…hello continued education deadline) and we did a good little exercise I want to share. I told my instructor that because both my mare and I are out of shape, I want to start with a review of the basics (change of … Continue reading
Warmups 2.0
Recently I realized that I treat the warmup part of the lesson as mostly a physical activity, rather than a mental one as well. Really, both aspects should be addressed! Priming (The Backstory) I listened to a podcoast that talked about priming your mental state. Often your success has to do with your mental state, which affects … Continue reading
Ground Pole Exercises
Here are four good ground pole exercises to help create a solid foundation in your riders. They are from the Certified Horsemanship Association’s Monthly EBlast from a year or so ago – click on the link to subscribe! The author was Jennifer Wiley a CHA Certified Master Instructor and Clinic Staff. I rewrote/simplified/clarified the exercises … Continue reading
Fun Video Friday: Serpentine, Communication Game
Today I have 3 videos for you! First, a pattern. How to Ride a Serpentine She gives great explanations for why to ride this pattern. Second, a game. Communication Game Spoiler: It’s red light green light. Which you all know, I’m sure. BUT more interesting is how this video discusses communication, including one participant who … Continue reading
5-5-5 Repetitions
This is a really handy activity I learned from one of my mentors, called “5-5-5.” 5-5-5 Do 5 steps or counts of one thing, 5 of another, and 5 of another. Repeat. You can ask for one repetition per wall, up it to two, or go for whole laps. The benefits are: it breaks practicing … Continue reading
Advanced Warm Ups
I have been teaching more advanced riders lately, so I have been thinking about more advanced warm ups. Initially, warm ups for riders with disabilities focus on preparing them to learn a riding skill, prepare their body to work, help them transition, and establish balance. Typically exercises are done for both upper and lower body, … Continue reading
Leg Stabilizing Exercise: 4x Posting, 4x 2-point
Today I had some riders have trouble with keeping their lower leg stable and finding their balance while posting the trot. So we did this: 4 beats posting, 4 beats 2-point I started out having them practice 2 point at the trot. Once they were stable enough doing that, I had them post for 4 … Continue reading
Up Up Down
This is a handy little exercise: Up Up Down. When posting at the trot, the rider should go “up down up down” to the beat of the trot. After they have warmed up a few laps of this, ask the rider to go “up up down” – that is, stand for two beats and sit for … Continue reading