Last month when the heat wave happened throughout the Midwest, the University of Kentucky put out an article about horse management during a heat wave. I thought it was good enough to share here! Click here to read “Heat wave requires revising management strate for horses” by Laurie Lawrence. Remember, when it’s hot outside keep an eye … Continue reading
What to Teach – Riding Skills List
When I first started teaching, I had a hard time even knowing what to teach, much less how. Once I went through the PATH certification process and learned about goals, objectives, lesson planning, and progression it became easier to decide what to teach in each lesson. Something that also helped was listing out every possible skill I … Continue reading
Gymkhana Lesson 4: The Flag Race & The Egg and Spoon Class
This is another example of using the same arena set up for 2 back to back classes. Many instructors teach the same pattern class after class. But sometimes you want to use different patterns, such as to teach different skills. In this case my Student 1 has an hour lesson that overlaps two half hour lessons, … Continue reading
Gymkhana Lesson 3: Cloverleaf Barrels…and a Circle Exercise!
PATH Intl. standards state there needs to be no unnecessary equipment in the arena when you are teaching. Instructors also tend to have students working on different skills in back to back lessons, with little time to switch the arena set up in between. Arranging the arena during the lesson is not really an option because you … Continue reading
Fun Video Friday: Rabbit Jumping
Fun Video Friday: Every Friday I post some video I find funny or interesting, and that probably has nothing to do with Therapeutic Riding except that it makes you smile, and smiling is therapeutic 🙂 Suggestions for Fun Video Friday can be sent in on the Contact Page! Today’s video is Rabbit Jumping. They didn’t have this … Continue reading
Gymkhana Lesson 2: Pole Bending, Washington Poles, Butterfly Poles
This lesson teaches several Gymkhana pole bending patterns. Arena Setup: 3 vertical poles down both quarterlines cones across one end of the arena to designate the start/finish line Lesson Plan Mount Tack Check Warm Up – Basic Pole Bending (See picture 1 below), weave the poles down and back. Do 1x. Gymkhana Review – while students are … Continue reading
Gymkhana Lesson 1: Single Barrel, Turn N Burn, Birangle
This is the introductory Gymkhana lesson plan I used starting with the simplest pattern, the Single Barrel, to teach about Gymkhana and how to turn around a barrel. Arena Setup: cones across one end of the arena to designate the start/finish line two barrels, one on each quarter line, on the other end cones around … Continue reading
Fun Video Friday: Stadium Jumping from the Rider’s Perspective
Okay I missed Friday, so we’ll do this on Sunday! Fun Video Friday: Every Friday I post some video I find funny or interesting, and that probably has nothing to do with Therapeutic Riding except that it makes you smile, and smiling is therapeutic 🙂 Suggestions for Fun Video Friday can be sent in on the Contact … Continue reading
Gymkhana Games and Patterns
(image) Gymkhana offers many great patterns and events to incorporate into your TR lessons! Gymkhana Information What is Gymkhana? Gymkhana is an equestrian event in which riders are timed individually racing through a pattern (such as weaving poles), or compete in games on horseback (such as the egg and spoon race). Riders are given penalties … Continue reading
Grooming Supplies Game
This is a game that teaches the grooming tools while incorporating riding skills. Preparation: 2 barrels grooming supplies – several matching sets 1 bucket Arena Setup: barrel 1 is at one end of the arena, on top put 1 bucket filled with 1 set of grooming supplies barrel 2 is at the other end of the … Continue reading