I think the hardest thing about learning to instruct riding (or anything) is that in the beginning you don’t yet have a pocket full of tips and tricks to pull out for every circumstance and skill. The more you teach, watch others teach, read, and take lessons yourself, the more you’ll add to that back … Continue reading
Teaching Tip: Use Beanie Babies
(Drawn by yours truly on Photoshop, haha). I have found that young riders love beanie babies. Actually, a lot of my older riders do too. Beanie babies are something familiar and calming, and can be great motivators. Here are some ideas. Beanie Baby Activities Woah at the Animals – place beanie babies around the arena … Continue reading
A word of encouragement
A word of encouragement to new instructors: Some riders you will click with teaching them immediately. Some riders will take a longer time to adjust to you, and you to them. You will not teach exactly the same as anyone else, And that is okay. You will teach the way only you can teach. As … Continue reading
Rider Asymmetry Article
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
Horse Parts
Horse parts can be a good thing to incorporate into your lessons. It is an easy quick way to sneak in horsemanship. Your students need to know the parts you mention while riding (“look between his ears”). It works on their memory and socializing. It can foster a relationship with you, the horse, and the … Continue reading
ASD Behavioral Communication Article
All therapeutic riding teachers come in to teaching either stronger on the riding side or stronger on the disabilities side. If you are new to working with childen with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), it is important to understand that their behavior is always trying to communicate something. The better you know the child, the easier it … Continue reading
Leading
It can be pretty tricky to incorporate Horsemanship and Groundwork Skills into a short half hour lesson. One easy quick way to do this is to have your student lead their horse for a lap around the arena before mounting, if they are able bodied enough. You can do one lap, several, or one in each … Continue reading
Hand Position and Independent Seat tips
2 quick reads to share: 1) Colleen Kelly’s “How the Horse Rider Holds Their Hands Can Put the Horse on the Forehand” – this is one good explanation for your hows and whys of hand position 2) Colleen Kelly’s “Independent Seat and Developing Coordination” – try this, you might be surprised…I’m going to be doing it all … Continue reading
Simple Steering Patterns
This simple set-up can be used in a few different ways to teach steering. Mix and combine them as you see fit! The following is one example of progression for direct rein steering. You can also use this pattern to teach neck reining, steering leg aids, and bending. Arena Set Up 2 barrels, one on … Continue reading
Matching Games
Matching Game Resources Buy matching games online: Matching bears Memory game Set game Rhyming game Whatever you can take from home or have volunteers bring Make your own based on what you’ve been working on! I made the above cards on a word document, printed them on cardstock, and cut them out. If you want … Continue reading