[TravelingGirl]

I finally understand the usefulness of riding patterns. Trav was getting extremely bored and cranky in the indoor ring (we haven't ridden outside in 2 months now). He was just acting dumb, not dangerous, but not fun, so my new instructor said "lets play follow the leader". What a blast!!

Trav was happy to have something new to do and to work with another horse around. The pattern she recommended was this one:



This would use up half the ring (long ways). The idea is to push him faster/harder than he likes on the diagonals, then keep him moving at a good clip around the corners. The shorter the diagnonal, the more control you have. Eventually you add bending to the mix (we're not there yet).

I tried this again this evening and it gets Trav's attention quickly and take the edge off, which is great, but eventually this will get boring too.

Anyone have other good patterns for a novice rider? I want to have a solid plan by Friday with maybe 2 or 3 new things to try with him.

BTW, for those of you giving timid adults lessons, I had an absolute BLAST playing follow the leader. My concentration was on following my instructor, not on my horse, so we trotted (Running walk) and cantered and I didn't panic or feel out of control. It was a great exercise!

[crazychickmia]

Okay, so your problem is that your horse is bored, because you are stuck working indoors? (Is this because of weather conditions?)

There are zillions of patterns out there...heck, you can even make up your own. Most horsey help books come loaded with heaps of patterns. Some of the best patterns I've found in books aimed at instructors - to give them ideas for classes etc.

If boredom is the problem, you can add something to your work area? Poles, buckets etc etc? What what you said you sound like a timid adult? Well, just walking over poles, around buckets etc can just make it a bit more interesting.

For instance, poles that are further apart and other poles closer together...the horse has to think about where he is putting his feet. Some poles could be on the ground, others raised on blocks (I'm talking itty bitty blockts) so he has to think about picking his feet up over them.

Making a bit of an obstacle course. Even stuff like having to stop by an upturned drum, pick something up (like a ball), riding to the next drum and dropping it. Have a 'channel' made with poles on the ground, and ride between them.

Sounds like very basic pony clubber stuff, but hey, if it makes your horse think about something new...

I'm not sure if that is anything you want to do, but I know they make your horse stop and think about it. And you can still be intent on riding and working correctly while you're doing it.

[Just_me]

I can't draw the patterns for you as i'm not good with it,but i'm going to explain them and find some pictures
#1:
trot towards the corner,as you come out of the corner trot 3-4 strides and then do a small circle at the rail(make sure you bend the horse correctly),as you come out of the circle push the horse forward for 4 strides and than do a circle that is a littler bigger than the first one.You increasde the size of the circle every time and continue until you hit the next corner.

#2:Spiraling in and out-you basically decrease and increase the size of a circle.

#3:three lope serpentines
http://www.newrider.com/Library/Riding_Tips/cr6b.gif
or
http://www.limebrook.com/serpentine.jpg

#4:loop and return to the track
http://www.newrider.com/Library/Riding_Tips/cr3c.gif

#5:up and down the center line
http://www.newrider.com/Library/Riding_Tips/cr4.gif

#6:Turning across the diagonal
http://www.newrider.com/Library/Riding_Tips/cr5.gif

#7:Two 10 metre half circles across the centre of the school
http://www.newrider.com/Library/Riding_Tips/cr8a.gif
http://www.newrider.com/Library/Riding_Tips/cr8b.gif

#8: Diamond
http://www.newrider.com/Library/Riding_Tips/cr11.gif
http://www.newrider.com/Library/Riding_Tips/cr11a.gif

You can look every exercise up at:
New Rider Home

Hope that helps somehow.
You can also incooperate ground poles or coins into your daily schooling.

[bobo and horses]

If you are interested in a lot of free patterns, google "horse show patterns" and you can download a ton of them, and the best part is - they are free! There is equitation, horsemanship, trail, and showmanship.

[TravelingGirl]

Thanks guys! Yes, we've been stuck indoors because of weather. I'm hoping by the end of the week the ice is gone, but 2 weeks ago we got 4-5 inches of sleet, which then froze solid and the trails and fields are like a skating rink. Before that it didn't get out of the teens for a couple of weeks.

I hadn't seen "happy ears" in weeks before this past weekend.

[Launa]

When I was taking my lessons with Tucker we did "follow the leader" too. Sometimes there would be a group of 3 to 5 of us. We would change leaders and sometimes split off into two or more groups. That is one thing I really miss about Idaho......my lessons and group of friends I rode with.

[Sondra]

I love patterns. <3

[freedom32]

Karen--
Cherry hill has some good ringwork books with patterns that you could adapt for you and Trav to keep it interesting.

[TravelingGirl]

Donna, thanks for mentioning them. I have beginner, intermediate and advanced arena exercises sitting on the bookshelf at home. I think even the beginner one was too much for me when I bought them, and I forgot!