Here is a creative unmounted activity from Carrie Capes of HorsePowerTR in Illinois. I know lots of you are looking for unmounted activities so I hope this is helpful! Barn Map Game Supplies: laminated barn map with horse names on stalls (she put her rider’s name and “Horse Power Barn Map Game” at the top) … Continue reading
Developing Empathy As An Adaptive or Therapeutic Riding Instructor
Developing empathy as an instructor of adaptive or therapeutic horseback riding is something that I have been thinking a lot about lately as I have come across some interesting resources I want to share. This is not a comprehensive list, but hopefully is a good place for you to start. I’d love for you to … Continue reading
Teaching Tips: Coaching Your Riders Through Their Big Emotions
Today I listened to a 3 in 30 podcast episode called “How to Coach Your Children Through Their Big Emotions” and it had some simple takeaways that I thought applied well to instructing adaptive/therapeutic riding. I hope you find it helpful and think about these concepts throughout your next week of teaching! Enjoy! Coaching Your Riders Through Their … Continue reading
Horse Trivia Game
Here is a fun horse trivia game for you this week that Carrie Capes of HorsePowerTR in Illinois sent to me, created by her intern, Lilly Ludwig. Thank you so much for sharing, Carrie & Lilly! Horse Trivia Game This horse trivia game comes with an instruction/score sheet and 20 trivia questions each for 3 … Continue reading
Review of the ATR Webinar “In Case You’re Not A Doctor”
Today I have the pleasure of writing a review of the Adaptive/Therapeutic Riding (ATR) Webinar “In Case You’re Not A Doctor” by Esther Schlegel, in which she teaches human anatomy and physiology related to horseback riding, and explains many conditions and disabilities with their related considerations for horseback riding. I am happy to say I’ve been able … Continue reading
Staying Involved in EAAT When You’re Not Instructing
Staying Involved in EAAT When You’re Not Instructing There may be times in your life when you do not instruct therapeutic riding lessons or are involved in equine assisted activities and therapies – due to injury, other jobs, burnout, having kids, or some other reason – and that’s okay! I’m in that boat right now with … Continue reading
Multisensory Teaching Approaches For Adaptive Riding
Did you know that although most teachers believe in the theory of different learning styles, there is no evidence for it? Rather, studies show we learn best using as many senses as possible! Today I’m excited to share this guest blog post about “Multisensory Teaching Approaches For Adaptive Riding” by Esther Schlegel. Esther is an Occupational Therapist … Continue reading
Feel The Horse’s Footsteps
Learning to feel the horse’s footsteps is a good exercise for all types of riders. I still teach some lessons to able bodied riders and we had fun working on this one yesterday, so I want to share it here. Below is a detailed explanation with some example lesson plans linked at the end – … Continue reading
Change of Bend Exercise
I had a riding lesson today (for the first time in a long time…hello continued education deadline) and we did a good little exercise I want to share. I told my instructor that because both my mare and I are out of shape, I want to start with a review of the basics (change of … Continue reading
Posture While Instructing Riding Lessons
We talk so much about our rider’s posture, but what about our own while we teach, standing the arena and moving in the barn day after day? I’ve been thinking a lot about how I stand and move while doing the same things day after day at home with kids, because when I don’t think … Continue reading