When you teach you should always be checking your rider’s alignment from the back. It is easiest to do this when they change directions through the middle of the arena – also a good time to add a tack check. When they pass, check if their spine is straight, their shoulders even, their hips even, … Continue reading
Filed under Teaching Tips …
Group Arena Management
There are some ways to use the arena that make teaching larger groups more manageable. Here are some I’ve seen and wanted to share. Keep riders together so you can see all of them at all times, and they all can hear you. If they get too far or close to each other, instruct them … Continue reading
Communication Tools & Strategies
Want to know the basics of communicating with your riders? In particular, those with verbal and non verbal learning disabilities, sensory and ASD issues? Well there is a GREAT powerpoint presentation called “Communication Tools & Strategies” by Susan Lutz that was presented at the Region 5 2012 conference. You can find the info in 2 … Continue reading
Ring Stretches + A Good Example of Teaching
I have a video to share with you today! First, this video is a good example of a stretching activity using rings. The ring exercise is an easy one you can use during warm up to work on stretching, core muscle strengthening, and motor planning. Second, it is a good example of an instructor working with a student. The … Continue reading
99 Ways to Say “Good Job”
Something the PATH certification process stressed was to give specific praises. Don’t say “Good Job,” say “Good job using your legs,” etc. Because the student needs to know exactly what they’re doing right. And because when someone just tells you “Good Job” over and over, you start to dismiss it. It’s also nice to switch … Continue reading
Hierarchy of Prompts
What is a prompting? Freedictionary.com says: To move to act; spur; incite To give rise to; inspire To assist with a reminder; remind. To assist (an actor or reciter) by providing the next words of a forgotten passage; cue. For the therapeutic horseback riding instructor, prompting is what we do to encourage our students to perform a … Continue reading
How To Talk To Your Students
Everyone speaks to their students differently depending on their personality and their student. Some people like to use different voices for different ages. Some people are lecturers. Some people treat adults like children, or vice versa. And so on. But I want to talk about the actual words you use. These are some general rules of thumb … Continue reading
Region 5 2012 Handouts
Region 5 just had their conference and is so kind as to post their handouts online for everyone to see! The Communication Tools and Strategies especially apply to instructors. Click here for Region 5’s 2012 Handouts **************** Note: This is not professional advice, this is a blog. I am not liable for what you do … Continue reading
Perspective
As a new instructor sometimes I get really nervous about teaching. I feel overwhelmed at all there is to know, feel pressured by myself to be this amazing teacher full of profound knowledge and wisdom, feel inadequate. At times like these I need to remember that really, all the kids want to do is just … Continue reading
Teaching Tips I
Here’s a bunch of teaching tips that I found the most important and helpful preparing for my PATH Registered Level Instructor Certification, in no particular order. Lots of Hows and Whys Praise Specifics (don’t just say “good job”) Teach from the middle of the arena Mount and Dismount using task analysis Progression throughout lesson Check girth … Continue reading