Horse Care.

For riders wanting to take their proficiency tests for RDA, they have the opportunity to take horse care for each of the grades.

I have listed some ideas in which horse care can be included in a riding session, they can be adapted for what grade each rider is working towards.

Peg Game.

Make a set of labels which can be attached to pegs, if laminated they will last longer.
they can be colour coded to indicate which grade they are for.

Grade 1 - Blue.
Grade 2 - Red.
Grade 3 - Green.
Grade 4 - Yellow.

Write on the labels, points of the horse, parts of the tack that you are attempting to teach the riders. Use the lower case letters so the riders can read them.
On the reverse of the label put a picture or symbol for those riders that can not read.

Attach labels to hooks at the top of poles where riders can collect them, read them or identify the picture and attach them to their horse/pony in the right place.

There are points where you cant peg a label, i.e. Eyes, hocks, back but they can be pegged close by or onto the leader or side walker! this may cause some laughter if everyone gets covered in pegs.

This game helps not only to teach horse care while riding, it helps with literacy and dexterity.

Soft grip pegs are good for this and cable ties can be used to attach the labels to them.


Grooming kit.

Items of grooming kit can be used in lessons, helping riders to become familiar with them and they love to brush or comb their horse/ponies mane.

It is helpful if you can get sets of grooming kit in different colours this can really help riders to learn the names of everything.

Start with identifying the colours.
" Can you find all the green items and put them in the green bucket?"
" Can you bring me the Dandy brush? Its the yellow one."



Match the Colours.

Find some large clear pictures of different coloured horses.
Magazines,feed catalogues, old books and on line are all a good source.
Stick them on to brightly coloured pieces of A4 card, write the colour of the horse under the picture. Use lower case letters just make them as big and clear as possible.
If laminated they will last for a long time.

They can be pinned around the arena so the riders can see them. they can be used throughout the lesson.
E.g. " Change the rein from the bay to the palomino."
      " Halt by the Piebald pony."
      "Ride a 10m circle at the chestnut pony."
      "Find the picture that's the same colour as your  Horse/pony."


You could also have a set of smaller cards with pictures of different colour horses which can be used for a matching game, or even a game of colour snap on a rainy day.

Pictures tend to be of horses and ponies doing lots of different activities that riders may not be aware of . racing, jumping, rolling, circus or police horses. Try and find a good variety.

Other sets of cards could be.

1. The different markings on horses/ponies.
2. The grooming kit.
3. Different types of feeds.
4. Parts of the tack.
5. Parts of the horse/pony.
6. Different stable items.
7. Different types of bedding.

Numeracy

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

I have listed some ideas to include numeracy into the therapy riding sessions, at the same time making the sessions fun.

 

Dice.

 

Using dice that are made from sponge.

Riders are able to roll the dice from the horse / pony.

The dice is rolled and the number is identified.

It could be done as a race to see who can get to the end first, if there is enough dice each rider could have one.

Two dice could be used and sums could be made up if the riders are more able.

i.e.

6 + 4 =  10.

3 + 5 =  8.

6 - 3  = 6.

If the riders are able then times table could be used.

i.e.

2 x 3 = 6.

3 x 4 = 12.

The possibilities endless.

How Many?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

 This can be done while the ride is moving around the school.

"How many legs have you got.?"

"How many legs has your horse/pony got.?"

"How many legs have you got between you and your horse/pony.?"

"How many ears has your horse/pony got.?"

"How many ears on all the horses/ponies in the lesson.?"

Counting and adding leg,eyes,ears,tails,hooves,fingers and toes on horses/ponies,riders and helpers.

This not only helps with numeracy but also identifies the differences between people and horses.

Clock Game.

A large easy to read clock with movable hands can be made and put up in the school.

This can be used for counting steps.

Show the time of the riding session and when it finishes.

For the game of " What's the time mr. Wolf ?"

Counting strides to transitions.
 

Getting the riders to count strides then halt, starting with a number and then reducing it by 1 stride each time,or starting with 1 stride and then adding a stride.

i.e.

8 strides then halt,7 strides then halt, 6 strides then halt and so on.

1 stride then halt, 2 strides then halt,3 strides then halt and so on.