(source) The days are getting warmer. The horses are shedding. Spring is coming! However, I have to remind myself that every year I’ve lived in Indiana it has snowed one last time in April. Anyway, most holidays and seasons I forget to plan activities beforehand and then one day realize it’s a holiday and I … Continue reading
Visual Schedules
My friend Carrie of HorsePower TR sent me these great examples of visual schedules that she uses for some of her riders. I’m excited to share them with you! Visual Schedules What A visual schedule is a step by step schedule using pictures and words that clarifies the order of an activity and expectations. Why Visual schedules … Continue reading
Change of Rein
I received a great question in the email about change of rein, so I decided to make a post about it. When I first saw the term in the PATH Intl Certification Riding Test, I was confused. I had never heard of it before. And unless you ride horses classically, it’s not intuitive to figure out … Continue reading
Fun Video Friday: Rein Connection at the Trot
I really like Randi Thompson’s YouTube Videos of her teaching, because she gives such a good example of explaining things and working to what the rider needs! Today’s video is about rein connection, trotting, changing directions, and spirals. Going back to the basics at the trot If you can’t see it, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hGST9HfzI8 Enjoy! **************** … Continue reading
The Practice, Progression, and Activity
After you teach the skill in your lesson, it’s time to practice and progress! This is a handout I just made for our Instructors in Training about the difference between Practice & Progression, and Activities & Games. I highlight the difference between practicing a skill and doing an activity for several reasons. 1) Certification evaluators want … Continue reading
Paying Attention
(source) I think the same goes for humans. Today I was reminded by my horse that what we pay attention to impacts how secure others feel around us. When I first started taking my horse on the short trails around the barn all alone, she would often walk quickly, looking all over, stopping often, very concerned … Continue reading
Riding a straight line to 3 trot poles
Once my riders can trot 1 lap around the arena independently and switch directions across the diagonal, I find it’s time to come off the rail. Otherwise they get bored, they start to wander, so their horses start to wander, or their horses decide it’s a better idea to hang out with the instructor and … Continue reading
Instructor Training: Practice Teaching the Skill
Today I used this activity with our Instructors in Training and liked it, so I thought I’d share. Every week they have learned a new part of the lesson plan and practiced it in the lessons they are being weaned into teaching. Two weeks ago it was the Mount & Dismount, last week it was … Continue reading
A Few Links – Farm tour, Trotting, Poles, Trail Patterns
Here are a few link I’ve been wanting to share lately! ~ Take a virtual farm tour of Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center! I love seeing how they compost their manure. ~ Counting Elephants…what do you count? ~ This one made it’s way around Facebook already but in case you haven’t read it yet…Thermoregulation in Horses … Continue reading
Fun Video Friday: Teaching Children to Train Ponies
Here is a great video about how Mette Hald Rasmussen & Ædellunds Shetlandsponyer in Denmark teaches horsemanship and riding skills while at the same time teaching their riders to help with their ponies’ training. The video presents a lot of ideas to incorporate into your lessons. Plus, any video with a million (okay, 10) ponies in one arena … Continue reading