How to Create Horse and Rider Games

Creating horse and rider games is a wonderful tool in teaching riders to be comfortable with their horses and to strengthen their riding ability. It is also helps your students socialize with one another, creates an atmosphere of healthy competition and teaches horses to cope with having other horses around. There are many games implemented in regular lesson programs, and creating games for your own program or even just for a fun afternoon with friends requires a few considerations.

Instructions

    • 1

      Consider the riding level of both horse and rider. When creating games for a group, use the least experienced rider as the measure, and do not incorporate anything that horse and rider cannot accomplish safely. Green horses and riders need games to build confidence in their abilities.

    • 2

      Consider your facility. Whether or not you have an enclosed riding ring, how much space is available and ground condition should all factor into your game plan. Do not require horses and riders to use speed, hard stops or sharp turns, in games such as barrel racing or pole bending, if the ground is sloppy or slippery. Do not have inexperienced horses and riders performing out in an open field without someone to hold the horse from the ground.

    • 3

      Create games with challenges that match the needs of your students. For instance, if a student is having trouble keeping her horse on the rail, create a game where she must stay on the rail for a certain distance, or number of strides, and vary it. This keeps the rider's focus sharp, and teaches the horse to pay attention. For advanced students and horses, use games as competition to allow the students to push one another. Races, obstacle courses and competitive trail rides are all great vehicles to keep learning interesting.

    • 4

      Create games for fun. Having a game day, and even allowing the students to make up their own games keeps things interesting and fun. Variations of gymkhana games make for a satisfying day at the barn. Create ribbons or little prizes to hand out to winners. Set up cones, lay out tarps and jump rails and arrange hay bales for interesting obstacle courses. The possibilities are endless.