Providing Pony Care and Riding for Primary School Children Care and Riding Lesson Plans for Instructors
Hello Instructors and assistants! This is the lesson plan that we follow at our small riding school in West Yorkshire. The lesson is for one hour fifteen minutes. I have one instructress, two assistants and one pony tacked up ready for riding. When the children arrive we spend ten minutes fitting riding hats and checking clothes/footwear/jewelry. We use toe-stoppers on the stirrups so that the children can wear trainers (most children have trainers). The children are given a lesson and quiz booklet each, we ask them to bring their booklets and the children use them to help with their lessons. The children split into two groups, group one study pony care and group two ride. After half an hour the groups swap over with group one riding and group two studying pony care for the next half an hour. All the riders I take are on a lead rein - even if a child who can ride is on the course! The last five minutes is spent putting the riding hats away. Week 6 Riding ABRS test A - Riding This is what you need to know! 1. Riders position at the halt 2. Know and apply the aids for walk 3. Ride with a leader on the track at walk 4. Know and apply the aids for halt 5. Dismount (rider may be assisted) 6. Know 3 parts of the saddle and bridle 7. Riders position balance and application of the aids 8. How the rider made a partnership/rappor with the pony I hope that you have as much fun and satisfaction teaching the children from your local primary school as we have! If you have any ideas for improving or changing the format, or if you see any errors please email us at darren.clitheroe@btinternet.com or Tel: 01422 844 021 12.
ABRS test A - Stable Management Week 6 Pony CONTENTS This is what you need to know! 1. Know how to approch a pony in a stable or stall 2. Name and show three points of a pony 3. Name and show three parts of the saddle 4. Name and show three parts of the bridle 5. Name and show three items in a grooming kit Listen to your examiner and speak clearly Page WEEK 1 1. Pony Care - How to approach a pony 2. Riding - Mounting and dismounting WEEK 2 3. Pony Care - How to lead a pony Points of the pony 4. Riding - Walking, turning and stopping WEEK 3 5. Pony Care - Parts of a saddle and bridle 6. Riding - Ride an obstacle course WEEK 4 7. Pony Care - Grooming the pony Feeding the pony 8. Riding - Obstacle course competition! WEEK 5 9. Pony Care - Revision 10. Riding - Revision WEEK 6 11. ABRS test day 12. ABRS test day 11.
Week 1 Pony Care Week 5 Riding Welcome the children, introduction to the course, tour of whole yard, fit riding hats. WALKING, STOPPING, TURNING, DISMOUNT HOW TO APPROACH A PONY IN THE STABLE Talk through safety points around ponies, ears back, kicking biting Call their name - get their attention Open the door - go in - shut the door Walk slowly, calmly to the pony s shoulder/neck Give them a pat HEALTH AND SAFETY Do not pat a pony s bottom Do not approach a pony from behind Do not run Do not shout If in doubt ask for help 1. Same course as last week, this time children have to name TWO parts of the saddle or bridle when they get to it. Check riders position, balance and application of the aids, discuss how to make partnership/rappor with the pony. 10.
Week 5 Pony Care Week 1 Riding MOCK TEST Recap on everything: Know how to approach a pony in the stable Go through the items in a grooming kit Point out all the parts of the bridle Name all the parts of the saddle Go through all the points of the pony * Do one at a time if possible Welcome the children, introduction to the course, fit riding hats The following areas need to be covered across all weeks: Riders position at halt Know and apply the aids for walk Ride with a leader on the track at walk Know and apply the aids for halt Dismount Know three parts of the saddle and bridle Riders position, balance and application of aids Discuss how the rider makes a partnership/rapport with the pony HOW TO GET ON A PONY (Mount up) Mount at mounting block, walk, stop, dismount Repeat 9. 2.
Week 2 Pony Care Week 4 Riding WALKING, STOPPING, TURNING, DISMOUNT HOW TO LEAD A PONY Talk through safety points - watch out for their feet How to hold the lead rope Which side to lead from Walk a pony round the yard one at a time POINTS OF A HORSE/PONY Go through all points of a horse/pony One at a time ask them to name 3 points 3. OBSTACLE COURSE COMPETITION This is a new obstacle course. There are saddles and bridles at the STOP signs. The rider stops the pony, the assistant points to parts of the saddle or bridle, when the rider correctly names a part they walk on to the next obstacle.this week I time the riders and the rider with the fastest time wins! 8.
Week 4 Pony Care GROOMING THE PONY (20 mins) Week 2 Riding WALKING, STOPPING, TURNING, DISMOUNT Talk through all the grooming kit - where and what they are used for Take it in turns to groom a pony FEEDING A PONY (10mins) Talk through rules of feeding and what horses eat Feed little and often Water before feeding Water to be available at all times Look at hay/haylage Look at feed in feedroom Help each child give a piece of carrot to a pony 7. I placed obstacles around the arena, children followed the instructions and went once around the arena on a lead rein. Whenever there is a STOP sign the child has to stop, count to 3 and then go. 4.
Week 3 Pony Care Week 3 Riding WALKING, STOPPING, TURNING, DISMOUNT Talk through all parts of a bridle Talk through all parts of a saddle PARTS OF A SADDLE AND BRIDLE Split into two groups - group one point to a part of the bridle, group two tries to name it Do the same with the saddle One at a time ask them to name three parts of a bridle and three parts of a saddle 5. I used the same track as last week but put poles to walk over and tyres to weave in and out of. Children went once around the arena (on a lead rein) 6.