A reader shared with me that the Indiana Special Olympics had some great trail patterns this year, so I would like to share them with you! There is English and Western Trail, and a Stake Race. The whole document can be found at Special Olympics Indiana 2016 EKS Games Equestrian Riding Patterns, which is where I got … Continue reading
Tagged with Gymkhana …
Figure 8s Gymkhana Pattern
Here is a simple pattern to use for steering. Set up the arena with barrels or poles like this: Teach steering. Practice steering by walking on the rail and making circles around the barrels closest to the rail, one on each side. Do this both directions. Progress to the Figure 8s gymkhana pattern: Enjoy! **************** … Continue reading
Calf Roping Game
The calves are loose! You need to get a rope off the fence… rope them… and take them back to the cow pen! Ideally the sidewalker would be closer to the horse, but she was new. It only takes a few reminders of “Always ask yourself, am I close enough to do a thigh hold … Continue reading
“5 Themed Lesson Plans that Work” article
PATH Intl. has posted the handouts from the 2012 Conference at the 2012 PATH Conference Handouts website! One of them is the handout “5 Themed Lesson Plans that Work”. It present 5 Themed Units with 5 Lessons each, resulting in 25 Lesson Plans! The 5 themes are: Drill Team Western Dressage Challenge Course Cavaletti Gymkhana It also includes these … Continue reading
Resources from the Special Olympics website
I love these resources, so I’m pointing them out in a post! (They are also listed on my Resources page). Equestrian Special Olympics Coaching Guide – explains how to train a student over several months for competing aka lesson planning, various skills and riding information the student needs to know, warm up exercises, stretching and strengthening, correct body … 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
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
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