Here’s a fun game from my friend Carrie at HorsePower! How to make the game: 1) Find pictures of horse breeds 2) Cut them into two halves each in different ways (zig zag, squiggle, etc.) 3) Laminate each half and cut it out 4) Put velcro on the back (and velcro on the poles, … Continue reading
Fun Video Friday: Tips on Contact by Jane Savoie
It’s been a while since I posted a video. And it’s not Friday. But I found this one, so here you go. It relates nicely to my recent post about using a crop to create even hands. Enjoy! [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9G4HvGWrEPc] **************** Note: This is not professional advice, this is a blog. I am not liable for … 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
Hand Position and Stabilizing Exercise
Before you use this exercise, you may want to brush up on your hand position. I recommend this article: The Good Riding Hand And now, to help develop good hand posture and stable riding hands, the: Carry a Crop Exercise Have the rider hold a crop or stick across their hands like this: This picture … Continue reading
Fun Video Friday: Posture
I am reinstating Fun Video Friday. But now it’s going to be videos that are helpful for teaching. This week we go down the YouTube Bunny Trail of Posture with Erica Poseley and Wendy Manless. Enjoy! Find Your Unmoveable Frame to Become a Better Rider by Erica Poseley This is about posture, how riding and … Continue reading
Heels Down
I have been researching this for a while now. I hope you find it helpful! HEELS DOWN Why Heels Down? Lengthens leg and calf, which increases contact with the horse’s side, allows better aid communication. Lowers your weight which acts as an anchor for your body, to keep you in the saddle during expected and … Continue reading
Helping Students Focus
This is a great idea my coworker recently tried out on one of our more talkative clients. This rider wants to share everything that comes to her mind, to the extent that she doesn’t want to focus on riding, and if it gets too out of control will pout when asked to focus again, or … Continue reading
Dear Reader: Instructors with physical limitations
Dear reader, Recently one of our barn’s instructors had a shoulder replacement and will never be able to lift more than 20 pounds again. We would like for her to continue teaching lessons, but are concerned about her ability to safely mount, dismount, and emergency dismount riders. We know that PATH Intl. allows and encourages … Continue reading
Pony Picnic
Carrie shared with me this wonderful variation of the the Teddy Bear Picnic game – Pony Picnic! She made an obstacle course between the ponies, the picnic, and the food. The rider picks a pony, rides an obstacle, picks a food, rides an obstacle, and delivers them both to the pony picnic blanket (she uses … Continue reading
Creating SMART Goals
Goals and Objectives should be SMART. This means they are… Specific Measurable Attainable Realistic Timely For more info about what this means, see the whole article at: http://topachievement.com/smart.html Thanks to my boss for giving me this link! **************** Note: This is not professional advice, this is a blog. I am not liable for what you … Continue reading