Fun for child

Horsebrat20 · 02-29-2004, 11:46 AM

Ok i have a BIG probalem. I am teaching my sister to ride. Well it's not going too well. Each lesson we end up yelling at each other, and i know she doesn't have any fun. What are some fun things i can do with her, but also teach her how to ride? THe horse she is riding is limited, he's an old school horse and pulls all the tricks in the book, so it's a chore to just get him to stay on the rail. I'm running out of ideas and i'm afraid i'm totally turing her off of riding, and i can't help but get her and me depressed. I hate it. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

frown

Pony Magic · 02-29-2004, 12:12 PM

Do you ride the horse as well? When I was a working student we had to ride all the ponies in our lessons every week. It was amazing how their attitudes where adjusted once they had some 'good' riders on them for a change. They were much happier and didn't pull as many 'tricks' with the kiddies in my lessons. As for your sister, don't try to make her perfect. Just let her have fun...go out for trail ride, play some games, or find another student to teach in the lesson. What discipline are you teaching?

Horsebrat20 · 02-29-2004, 12:44 PM

I'm teaching her western. This horse is even worse with me because he doesn't have to take care of me, so he pulls all his tricks with me. To try to get him to go is like kicking a rock. What kind of games would you suggest? I don't know of any. I can't go on trail rides with her because this horse is totally unsafe and uncomfortable on the trail. He's been trained perfectly for ring work, but the trail is the so open that he just wants to run. We're working on this. Thanks.

MissBandit · 02-29-2004, 02:40 PM

Well, maybe this horse just isn't the one your sister should be having her first experience on.

A bad first experience can really sour a new rider. Isn't there any other horses she can take a lesson on?

Horsebrat20 · 02-29-2004, 03:45 PM

No there isn't. This horse is as good a school horse as your gonna get. This one was just never introduced to the trails and it unerves him. But in the ring he's the easiest to ride, except for the staying on the rail thing. Even though he could refuse not to go because my sister is like a little flee on his back, he goes just fine for her, he just takes the shortcuts and trys to skip all the corners. What i really need though are some ideas for fun stuff. No one seems to know of any for little kids. I need exercises and things to distract horse and rider from the work part of riding.

Harlequin28 · 02-29-2004, 05:05 PM

If i had a horse that was going off of the rail, I would line poles or cones just inside the rail. Then I would say to my sister, "I have a game! Try to stay on the outside of the poles. Something like that? did that help? lol blushing

RubySlipper · 02-29-2004, 05:47 PM

I play games with the little kids I teach. You could try Simon Says. For example Simon says walk, Simon Says halt...It works best in a group but can be done alone. I also have the kids play red likght green light, egg and spoon races.
Also with a young child always find something positive to compliment them on to go along with what they are doing wrong, this makes them feel good about themself, more confident, and they have more fun when they hear that they are "good" at something.
I have one little boy, he has a learning disability, and also is a very unbalanced unathletic child, but i always find something good to go along with what he needs to fix, and he leaves every day with a huge smile on his face and is excited to come back the next week for his next lesson.

MissBandit · 02-29-2004, 06:37 PM

I only mentioned switching to an easier mount b/c the way you described him sounded like he was a stubborn old mule! LOL! Not an easy ride for short little legs.

Set up a little obstacle course. Use cones to do serpentines with. Set up poles to make a pattern, walking inbetween the poles. Be creative, have you seen the obstacle's that are done in Western Shows (what is that called?) They open gates, walk over little bridges, stuff like that.

Jumpers · 02-29-2004, 06:43 PM

I think your sister should try some lessons with a professional trainer on a professional horse. This is NOT the experience you want her to have, or you're right, she'll get turned off from riding.

Sometimes a close family member teaching another to do something is not the best situation. My mother was a fabulous rider, but she chose to pay for lessons for me instead of teaching me herself. She could have saved herself oodles of money, but she knew the fights it would bring.

luvmypercheron · 02-29-2004, 06:59 PM

yea, i'd have someone else give her lessons. my mom tried to give me lessons once upon a time...hah...my aunt did for awhile when i was younger but i thought she hated me bcause sometimes she'd be stern and almost yell "why'd you cut the corner?" so when we boarded else where with our two arabs i had a professional trainer who wasn't family. now my aunt gives me lessons. i'm older so i know she's flappin her mouth to help...my mom does too once in awhile.

anyways, sorry for blabbing....have you guys tried around the world? i absolutely loved that when i was little..i wonder if i can still do it? wink i could back in november...we'll see once everything dries up...it's just more work now that i'm not the size of a flea

02-29-2004, 11:46 AM	#1
Horsebrat20 Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: RI Posts: 1,629 Images: 43	Fun for child Ok i have a BIG probalem. I am teaching my sister to ride. Well it's not going too well. Each lesson we end up yelling at each other, and i know she doesn't have any fun. What are some fun things i can do with her, but also teach her how to ride? THe horse she is riding is limited, he's an old school horse and pulls all the tricks in the book, so it's a chore to just get him to stay on the rail. I'm running out of ideas and i'm afraid i'm totally turing her off of riding, and i can't help but get her and me depressed. I hate it. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. frown __________________ "The biggest enemy to the partnership of dressage is impatience and the human nature to dominate other creatures." Walter Zettl

02-29-2004, 12:44 PM	#3
Horsebrat20 Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: RI Posts: 1,629 Images: 43	I'm teaching her western. This horse is even worse with me because he doesn't have to take care of me, so he pulls all his tricks with me. To try to get him to go is like kicking a rock. What kind of games would you suggest? I don't know of any. I can't go on trail rides with her because this horse is totally unsafe and uncomfortable on the trail. He's been trained perfectly for ring work, but the trail is the so open that he just wants to run. We're working on this. Thanks. __________________ "The biggest enemy to the partnership of dressage is impatience and the human nature to dominate other creatures." Walter Zettl

02-29-2004, 02:40 PM	#4
MissBandit Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: BC, Canada Posts: 13,219 Images: 300 Blog Entries: 43	Well, maybe this horse just isn't the one your sister should be having her first experience on. A bad first experience can really sour a new rider. Isn't there any other horses she can take a lesson on? __________________ Founder is the #2 killer of horses. Learn how to prevent, spot and treat this deadly disease. Emergency Treatment http://www.laminitisclinic.org

02-29-2004, 03:45 PM	#5
Horsebrat20 Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: RI Posts: 1,629 Images: 43	No there isn't. This horse is as good a school horse as your gonna get. This one was just never introduced to the trails and it unerves him. But in the ring he's the easiest to ride, except for the staying on the rail thing. Even though he could refuse not to go because my sister is like a little flee on his back, he goes just fine for her, he just takes the shortcuts and trys to skip all the corners. What i really need though are some ideas for fun stuff. No one seems to know of any for little kids. I need exercises and things to distract horse and rider from the work part of riding. __________________ "The biggest enemy to the partnership of dressage is impatience and the human nature to dominate other creatures." Walter Zettl

02-29-2004, 06:37 PM	#8
MissBandit Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: BC, Canada Posts: 13,219 Images: 300 Blog Entries: 43	I only mentioned switching to an easier mount b/c the way you described him sounded like he was a stubborn old mule! LOL! Not an easy ride for short little legs. Set up a little obstacle course. Use cones to do serpentines with. Set up poles to make a pattern, walking inbetween the poles. Be creative, have you seen the obstacle's that are done in Western Shows (what is that called?) They open gates, walk over little bridges, stuff like that. __________________ Founder is the #2 killer of horses. Learn how to prevent, spot and treat this deadly disease. Emergency Treatment http://www.laminitisclinic.org

02-29-2004, 12:12 PM	#2
Pony Magic Full Member Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 129	Do you ride the horse as well? When I was a working student we had to ride all the ponies in our lessons every week. It was amazing how their attitudes where adjusted once they had some 'good' riders on them for a change. They were much happier and didn't pull as many 'tricks' with the kiddies in my lessons. As for your sister, don't try to make her perfect. Just let her have fun...go out for trail ride, play some games, or find another student to teach in the lesson. What discipline are you teaching?

02-29-2004, 05:05 PM	#6
Harlequin28 Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 19	If i had a horse that was going off of the rail, I would line poles or cones just inside the rail. Then I would say to my sister, "I have a game! Try to stay on the outside of the poles. Something like that? did that help? lol blushing

02-29-2004, 05:47 PM	#7
RubySlipper Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 566	I play games with the little kids I teach. You could try Simon Says. For example Simon says walk, Simon Says halt...It works best in a group but can be done alone. I also have the kids play red likght green light, egg and spoon races. Also with a young child always find something positive to compliment them on to go along with what they are doing wrong, this makes them feel good about themself, more confident, and they have more fun when they hear that they are "good" at something. I have one little boy, he has a learning disability, and also is a very unbalanced unathletic child, but i always find something good to go along with what he needs to fix, and he leaves every day with a huge smile on his face and is excited to come back the next week for his next lesson.

02-29-2004, 06:43 PM	#9
Jumpers Banned Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 3,216	I think your sister should try some lessons with a professional trainer on a professional horse. This is NOT the experience you want her to have, or you're right, she'll get turned off from riding. Sometimes a close family member teaching another to do something is not the best situation. My mother was a fabulous rider, but she chose to pay for lessons for me instead of teaching me herself. She could have saved herself oodles of money, but she knew the fights it would bring.

02-29-2004, 06:59 PM	#10
luvmypercheron Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,524 Images: 184	yea, i'd have someone else give her lessons. my mom tried to give me lessons once upon a time...hah...my aunt did for awhile when i was younger but i thought she hated me bcause sometimes she'd be stern and almost yell "why'd you cut the corner?" so when we boarded else where with our two arabs i had a professional trainer who wasn't family. now my aunt gives me lessons. i'm older so i know she's flappin her mouth to help...my mom does too once in awhile. anyways, sorry for blabbing....have you guys tried around the world? i absolutely loved that when i was little..i wonder if i can still do it? wink i could back in november...we'll see once everything dries up...it's just more work now that i'm not the size of a flea