More Road Safety.

I wanted to carry on with the road safety theme from the previous weeks riding sessions, this week I  introduced  the concept of a roundabout, I set the arena out as shown below.

 I used a circle of cones so as to make a 'roundabout' for the riders to ride around. I also made roads from poles that gave the opportunity for riders to chose which way they wanted to walk towards and around the roundabout.

I placed items in the buckets and on the uprights, giving riders the opportunity to stretch for things, helping to get a sensory feeling, this also helped the helpers interact with the riders by discussing the various items and also which way riders wanted to ride around the various 'roads'.




 

There were various ways that I used this layout depending on each riders ability.
Below are just a few ideas and examples of the different uses. Each of the exercises were done on both reins.

1.  Riders walked through the poles and  around the 'roundabout' then back through the poles.
2.  Riders halted through each set of poles while doing the above exercise.
3.  Riders collected an item from the upright and decide which 'road' to walk through, halted  at the bucket and dropped the item in, then carried on walking around the 'roundabout' and then back through the 'road'.
4.  Riders collected an item from the upright and decided which 'road' to walk through, walked around the 'roundabout' then halted at the bucket by the second 'road', then dropped the item in.
5. Riders halted at each cone of the 'roundabout' before walking through the second road.
6. Riders walked through the 'road', halted at a bucket, chose an item from it, walked around the 'roundabout' then dropped the item in the second bucket.
7. Riders collected a mug from the upright, walked through the 'roads', to the 'roundabout' and chose which cone to put the mug on.
8. Riders walked through the 'roads' and collected a mug from one of the cones in the 'roundabout', returning it back to the uprights.

As well as being fun for both riders and helpers, the exercises helped with interaction, communication, concentration and co-ordination.

  

Starting to do road safety.

This lesson plan I designed to start to introduce some road safety for the riders.

I used poles to make road junctions as in the previous riding sessions I had riders making their own choices in which way to turn their horses.

I placed a row of cones down one side as these are used to encourage riders to think and engage while the other riders are mounting, as riders don't get very much time to ride, I like them to start doing things as soon as they are mounted.

How the plan was used.

1. I got the riders to walk their horses through the poles going across the school. 

2. Then the riders were asked to turn at either 'A' or 'C', halt between the pole and then look both sides as if checking for traffic, then signal by putting their arm out to the side after deciding which way they wanted to go.

3. The riders turned to walk across the school through the poles and then had to decide if they wanted to walk straight across or turn to walk to either A or C, again signalling with their arms.

4. The riders were then asked to get something out of a bucket go through the poles deciding which way they wanted to go by signalling so as to put the item in the other bucket.

5. An extra thing riders did to the above was to steer through the cones after collecting an item.

6. Riders collected something from a tray and did the same as No 4.

7. Riders collected something from a tray and did the same as No 5.

8. Riders collected something from a tray and then turned by signalling through the poles to place the item in bucket.

9. Riders collected something from a bucket and then turned by signalling through the poles to place the item on a tray.

The riders were asked to do these exercises from both reins and some progressed to riding the exercises off the leading rein with someone walking beside them.