Riding Skills

  • Patterns: Serpentine

    I love serpentines! They are probably my favorite pattern to teach in lessons (mounted and unmounted) and to ride on my own. Serpentines are easy to do in a group lesson, require minimal or no equipment and can be done in a small or large space. They are versatile and can be scaled for any…

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  • Patterns: Circles

    A quick note before I dive in to today’s blog. I try to write and schedule my blog posts ahead of time as much as possible. I have a baby, a busy job, and a busy life so I write and schedule whenever I can. I wrote the next few weeks of lesson plans before…

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  • Sounds

    “Sounds” is a pretty generic topic for a blog post. How does this apply to therapeutic riding lessons? Why is it important? Using sounds in lessons is a way to reach lesson objectives and to change up a stale lesson plan. I’ll give you a few examples of how to do both of these is…

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  • Find the Lucky Clover

    What You Need:BucketsBarrels (or something to place bucket on)Toys/RingsOne special toy I’ve talked on the blog before about playing games related to the season or holiday because it keeps me from getting bored. I’ve been teaching for fourteen years and need to find ways to stay fresh! This is a great game I like to…

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  • Write Your Name

    What You Need:Alphabet Letters This is a fun one! It’s interactive for the rider and works on life and riding skills simultaneously. It teaches life skills like communication, patience, pattern recognition, and cognitive understanding. It teaches riding skills like stopping, steering, balance, and forethought.

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