I am starting a new series called Fun Video Friday! Every Friday I’ll 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 🙂 I have to admit, the whole reason I’m starting Fun Video Friday is because I … Continue reading
Veterans: “Recon: Unbridled” Documentary and Article
“A Pentagon Channel documentary sheds light on how military veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder are finding help through the power of horse therapy. “Recon: Unbridled” highlights “Horses for Veterans,” at Flag is Up Farms in California, an intensive three-day program designed to help veterans of all ages who have PTSD, free of charge. “I think … Continue reading
“Outdoor Trail” Lesson Plan 2 & The Branch
Another example of an “Outdoor Trail” lesson plan, with a fun “branch”. Preparation Desensitize the horses to walking over a bridge over a blue tarp (“water”). Desensitize the horses to walking under a thin pole (“branch”) – it touching all parts of their body, sliding down their neck, bumping their rear, falling on the ground, … Continue reading
“Outdoor Trail” Lesson Plan 1
I did this lesson in the arena, but the theme was outdoor trail. Preparation – find pictures of the following obstacles one might encounter on an outdoor trail ride and print them on thick cardstock. I used Google Images to find them. Animals (deer) A Road New Objects (tractors, cars, etc.) Up Hill Down Hill … Continue reading
Bareback Riding
At the end of last session my mentor decided to have her kids ride bareback for fun. This is what she did. Tack: Rider 1: Cashel saddle, no stirrups Rider 2: surcingle and pad (You could have students ride straight bareback, too, if their balance and the horse’s back allow it). Warm Up (with leader) … Continue reading
Trail Lesson Plan 2 & The Gate
Example lesson plan for a trail class. Arena Setup: 2 cones 4 poles for fan walkover a gate 4 poles for box Lesson Plan Mount Tack Check Warm Up – 2 tight circles each direction (to prepare for the gate), 2 point 2 walls (prepares for 2 point over poles) Tack Check Explain Pattern – … Continue reading
The Natural Aids
I have learned through watching others to teach students how to ride a horse in an order like this: 1. how to woah (pull reins back to hips) 2. how to walk on (say “walk on”, give a squeeze, hands forward – number of aids depends on student) 3. how to steer (pull direct rein … Continue reading
Trail Lesson Plan 1
Example lesson plan for a trail class. Arena Setup: 2 cones 4 poles for walkover 1 bridge 2 poles parallel 4 poles in L Lesson Plan Mount Tack Check Warm Up – circle each obstacle so horse can see it, talk about introducing horses to new objects, explain Show Trail Classes and what judges look … Continue reading
Lesson Plan Series: Trail
Focusing on one aspect of riding, such as trail, over several lessons can be a great and fun thing for your students. It gives you more educational opportunities to talk about a specific type of riding. It makes class more interesting because you are focusing on a subject through which you teach the skills. And … Continue reading
Trail Class, Obstacles and Patterns
Trail Class Trail is a great subject to incorporate into your lessons. You can use it to… practice skills such as direct steering, using all 4 aids, backing, sidepass, etc. prepare them for outdoor trail rides teach them how to introduce horses to new objects – don’t hold your breath because your horse feels your … Continue reading