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  Discussion on Horseback games for a beginner rider
Author Message
Member:
Sswiley

Posted on Friday, Aug 19, 2005 - 7:10 pm:

High all, just wondering if anyone had any good kid games to facilitate a beginner lesson. I have a daughter who is an 8 year old beginner rider and of course I can't teach her a thing ! ;) So I thought I would hire a local teenager who is a rider and likes kid. Of course if I could arm her with some good games it would certainly help things along.
Thanks everyone
Member:
Mrose

Posted on Friday, Aug 19, 2005 - 7:53 pm:

I think there are actually a couple of books out with ideas. However, a couple of things I've done are:

Line up buckets down the middle of the arena and have the child steer the horse in and out of them - like running poles - but with no reins; just using seat and legs, and starting at a walk.

Same buckets down the middle. Put clothes pins on the tops of the arena fence posts. Have the child get the horse close enough to pick up a clothes pin and put it in what ever bucket you call out (or paint pins to match the buckets and child has to put the red pin in the red bucket, etc.

Follow the leader on horseback and through a very simple trail course. You can do this with the child leading the horse when first starting out (I always taught correct way to lead, pick up feet, etc. before kids ever got on the horse) and can be made as simple or hard as you want. The leader can be on horseback or on foot.

Also, I always started kids and adults both out by having them do exercises on the horse while I led the horse, or had it on a lounge line. I used old cavalry stuff my dad said he was taught - bending down to touch knee, then toe, on right then left side; twisting as far as possible from waist with arms out straight; laying back across the horse's back, and then across the neck; riding with the eyes closed to better concentrate on the movement of the horse. Not exactly a game, but kids especially seemed to think it was fun, and it helps them to feel "at home" on the horse and helps gain balance.

Bet others have some good ideas they've used.
Member:
Dres

Posted on Friday, Aug 19, 2005 - 7:57 pm:

Shelley, I teach my grand daughters to ride.. .. first off , make sure your pony/horse is safe..one that will instill confidence in your daughter not fear... but a pony/horse that will challenge her as well.. ok that all being said... I started out with the basics how to groom / tack up ..SAFETY, being aware of everything etc... I then put out poles on the ground in various angles / buckets / cones... I then make a 'course' for her to ride thru / around .. halt at etc... I don't mix it up often nor do I make to complicated for her... I ride dressage and teaching the basic circles is boring to say the least... but I also teach her dressage basics.. like riding her pony form the inside leg to outside rein , using her seat aides before she uses her reins... her correct posting diangles...i try to correct her seat/ legs but not often.. .. i become a drill sargent and that is not fun after the arena riding she goes out on a trail ride after every ride.. .that is around the property, up small hills , by the pool, the other horses, just a fun outing...
some days she rides bareback and I will give her a lunge lesson...
I find with the young kids, just to mix up what ever you do, let them ''free'' ride often...

enjoy.. I love working with my girls...
On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them with SPOTS..
Member:
Sswiley

Posted on Saturday, Aug 20, 2005 - 9:24 am:

Great ideas . You have made me realize I want more ! I think I am beginning to see why I could never teach riding before. (I tried to when I was 18, I could ride anything, just could'nt teach to save my life!) Our local tack store does not have any good books that I could see. Any good Borders books? The teenager said she would LOVE to come over and teach. That will be fun too. Anything other Ideas are welcome, thanks so much.
Shelley
Member:
Hwood

Posted on Saturday, Aug 20, 2005 - 10:28 am:

All the above are excellent as they focus on control and balance . . . two things necessary before riding off into the sunset.

Any kind of trail class with turns, halts, reverses and backing are good and can be increased in difficulty as the rider becomes more proficient. One challege is to have the rider perfect a trail class at the walk and then start doing it while standing in the saddle. I teach "standing" on the longe line first at the walk and trot, then on the rail for an increasing amount of "steps" of the horse . . . The riders have such a sense of accomplishment when they realize they can stand and balance while maneuvering.

If you end up with another young rider who can ride with your daughter, you can do some relay "races" (riding simple patterns down the quarter line, retrieving an object from a bucket or box hanging at the end of the arena, and riding back on the rail or center line), or your daughter can race against herself by trying to better her form and time.
Member:
Ajudson1

Posted on Saturday, Aug 20, 2005 - 10:34 am:

Hi Shelley,
I don't have any specific ideas for you, but I can tell you
I found the best source of books was from the Equestrian Book Club. Most books seem to be from Trafalgar Square. There is also a website called www.horseandriderbooks.com Do a search for these and you should be able to find some books to help you. The United States Pony Club Manuals have some ideas, another book I like is called Schooling with Ground Poles. Maybe not a game book, but something for later on.

We use PVC pipes for ground poles, (leftover stuff from remodeling) and milk jugs filled with sand and sticks stuck in them for poles. You can buy really inexpensive orange cones at Wal Mart, they are soccer cones.
Member:
Sswiley

Posted on Sunday, Aug 21, 2005 - 9:45 am:

Thanks everyone, we are heading out there this morning to "play" in the arena. We will see how creative I can get!
Member:
Green007

Posted on Monday, Aug 29, 2005 - 9:40 am:

If you go to the ARICP website, there is a list of recommended books from various sources - Pony Club, British Horse Society, etc. There are a lot of great books listed there, but you can go through the list and just pick out one or two that look suitable for what you want.

I am not sure whether you have to be a member or not to purchase books from the site, but even if you can't purchase them directly from ARICP it is a good, comprehensive list of books you can buy somewhere else if you need to.

Here is the site. Always remember - safety first, with fun a very close second!

https://riding-instructor.com/shop/
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