young rider games and balance training

[P0NYG!RL]

Hi all. I am teaching an 11yr old to ride. She has an enviable seat already. We are on lesson no 5 this week. I can teach her all the adult stuff but I am trying to make it more 'fun' I guess.

We have done arms out, twist to side. Touch ears, touch dock, toes, head (hers). punch the air, arm swings and around the world, all except the last she has done in walk and over poles now.

She can control a walk to halt and walk, holds reins well and has great contact. I have started to do basic trotting for 3 - 5 - 10 strides holding onto the bridle (she calls the trot and walk now). (Unable to lunge pony as he has no respect for rider or lungee, he kicks at us, I am working at this)

Are their any more fun / balance tips / games you can give me to keep the interest. Many thanks for any suggestion, however wacky she is a pulcky kid!

[Naturally]

Try asking her to take her hands off the rein and close her eyes. (obviously with you on a lead line) She needs to do it until she relaxes, and then keep going for a while. She will learn a great feel for the horses movement and it's always fun and exciting

[LMS]

Hi Ponygirl,
Check out the Prince Phillip Games and adapt them (make them simpler), I'm sure she'd enjoy that!

My riders really enjoy them, especially Red light/Green light which is a fun way to practice W/H/W transitions.
You could make a little obstacle course (no jumps) such as: having two ground poles parallel on a diagonal at X. One way it's a "tunnel", the other: "railroad tracks", along the 1/4 line put up some cones to weave in & out of, have two cones with long dowels in them & have a plastic cup on top of each (different colours) & have her reach & grab then switch them.

I've got loads more ideas if you're interested!

Being an instructor for therapeutic purposes, depending on who the client is, we use games in every session. It's wonderful way for a rider to learn riding & develop independence.

LMS
CTRAI

[P0NYG!RL]

Thank you very much fo such good ideas. We have been doing cones and poles a little but adding the cups and sticks...maybe with eyes shut (joke). I had not thought of prince philip games. Thats great. I just thought I would let you know that she rode again today...and 'her first rising trot' amazing. can't wait to try the games out. If I get stuck I may call again. :D

[pandapotato]

Well depending on how old she is, you can do "ride a buck."

Put a dollar under her knee. You can decide how many times she has to make it around the arena at a post or walking without dropping the dollar (she can't touch it.) if she does it, she gets to keep the dollar. It helps her learn to roll her knees in and keep her legs still.

Mandy.

[MI Horsey]

You could walk a "pattern" in the arena and tell her to then do everything you did on her horse , walk serpentines and circles and such.
Also my instructor does "Simon Says" with my daughter ,walking over poles,stopping ,trotting and around cones .She has a blast at her lessons . She's 8 by the way

[P0NYG!RL]

Thanks again for the good Ideas. I didn't ever have riding lessons in a school so had little time to collect ideas.. but all these are great. ;) We did some zig zag poles and turns on Sunday which she enjoyed. She is 11yrs so young enough for things to be an impact. I make her call out when she rides as she is quiet... now there is no stopping her!

This web site is so usefull for all sorts thank you all.

[Jessey]

I use 'simon say's...' and 'follow my leader' (me on foot) to help them start co-ordiating everything, I also like to use lots of poles and cone work, I also like to get the kids to set their own challange, so they choose what they want to achive (I maybe give them a few choices so they don't choose something completely wild :D ) which often helps keep them focused on why they are doing certain things.

J x

[kedwards]

If she's a quiet, focused type of kid, she may actually respond quite well to a information about theory and a more serious approach. I'm often surprised by the variability in kids of this age in terms of their focus, patience, and level of maturity. Some need help keeping their attention and interest, whereas others are so focused and serious that they like to have time to attend to details and really process things the way most adults do.

[jumpinintherai]

One thing my trainer does with me over jumps is ties my reins so they don't drag then have me go over a jump with my arms crossed and my hands on my shoulders. You could have her do that through poles.