Happy Thanksgiving! I’ve had turkeys and feathers on the mind…so I googled turkey activities and came up with some Thanksgiving turkey activity ideas for therapeutic horseback riding lessons! Leaf & Circle Turkeys Rider collects leaves and brown circles from around the arena. Discuss the color of each leaf and the shape and size of the circles. … Continue reading
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Unmounted Horsemanship Activity Ideas
Happy Fall! This past week at our barn was “Horsemanship Week”, which meant no one rode in order to give the horses a break, and everyone did some sort of unmounted horsemanship lesson instead. Here are a few of the activities! Grooming Each horse’s grooming bucket has a laminated paper with the order of the grooming tools, … Continue reading
Horse Parts & Colors
It was my first time back to instructing after baby last week! I subbed for another instructors. Here are two new activities – one hers, one mine. 100 Horse Parts Her group of 3 riders has the goal to learn 100 horse parts by the end of the quarter (8 weeks). Each week every rider … Continue reading
Alphabet Animals Game
This therapeutic horseback riding game was created and contributed by reader Christina Reichard who is doing her teaching hours at Agape in Indiana. I’m excited to have another contributor and to share it with you! Alphabet Animals Setup: Alphabet letters placed on the walls of each side of the arena (Agape uses these for many other … Continue reading
Four Corners
Summer is in full swing! Can you smell the fly spray? Speaking of summer, here is a game we used to play at regular summer camp that I think would be fun to adapt to group riding lessons or as a camp activity. Enjoy! Four Corners Setup Create multiple choice questions. Put big signs for A, B, C … Continue reading
Fun Video Friday: Serpentine, Communication Game
Today I have 3 videos for you! First, a pattern. How to Ride a Serpentine She gives great explanations for why to ride this pattern. Second, a game. Communication Game Spoiler: It’s red light green light. Which you all know, I’m sure. BUT more interesting is how this video discusses communication, including one participant who … Continue reading
Horse Skeleton Parts Puzzle
The other week I used this puzzle to show my students what a horse skeleton looks like and teach them some new parts. I think I made it for Halloween and never used it…so we’re doing it in the spring! Anyway, they always like the puzzles! Puzzle Game “Hide” the puzzle pieces around the arena. … Continue reading
Birthday Scavenger Hunt
Here is a cute birthday scavenger hunt my friend set up at our barn for a young rider who boards there. I wanted to share because it might spark some ideas for birthday activities with your riders! First, she arrived to the barn to this on her stall, and instead of her own horse in … Continue reading
The Practice, Progression, and Activity
After you teach the skill in your lesson, it’s time to practice and progress! This is a handout I just made for our Instructors in Training about the difference between Practice & Progression, and Activities & Games. I highlight the difference between practicing a skill and doing an activity for several reasons. 1) Certification evaluators want … Continue reading
Fun Video Friday: Teaching Children to Train Ponies
Here is a great video about how Mette Hald Rasmussen & Ædellunds Shetlandsponyer in Denmark teaches horsemanship and riding skills while at the same time teaching their riders to help with their ponies’ training. The video presents a lot of ideas to incorporate into your lessons. Plus, any video with a million (okay, 10) ponies in one arena … Continue reading