Parts of the pony and the tack
Ready when: nothing, this is the first card.
What you are learning
The names of the parts of a pony and of its riding gear (the tack). Instructors use these words in every lesson ("check the girth", "heels down in the stirrups", "the near side"), so knowing them first makes the first lessons easier to follow.
Words on this card Pony, Near side, Tack, Saddle, Girth, Stirrups, Bridle, Reins, Withers, Croup, Hock, Fetlock, Hoof, Rein
- Pony
- A pony is a small horse, under about 148 cm at the shoulder.
- Near side
- The pony's left side is the near side, where you usually lead and mount; the right side is the off side.
- Tack
- The riding gear a pony wears: the saddle, bridle and girth.
- Saddle
- The seat strapped on the pony's back.
- Girth
- The strap under the pony's belly that holds the saddle on.
- Stirrups
- The metal loops hanging from the saddle that hold the rider's feet.
- Bridle
- The straps on the pony's head that hold the bit.
- Reins
- The straps from the bit to the rider's hands.
- Withers
- The bony bump at the base of the pony's neck, where the shoulder is measured.
- Croup
- The top of the pony's hindquarters, above the tail.
- Hock
- The big joint halfway down each back leg.
- Fetlock
- The fetlock is the joint just above the hoof; the pastern is the short part between it and the hoof.
- Hoof
- The hard foot; a hoof pick is the small hook for cleaning mud and stones out of it.
- Rein
- Riding round the arena one way is "on the left rein" or "right rein"; a change of rein is changing direction.
Set up
A poster or picture of a pony and a saddle and bridle; a pencil.
Weather: any weather
Show it first for the one teaching
- On the picture, point to the head, neck, back, legs and tail, and say each name.
- Point to the withers, the croup and a hoof, and say what each is.
- On the tack picture, point to the saddle, girth, stirrups, bridle and reins.
- Show the near side (the pony's left) and the off side (its right).
Your part while they practise
Ask "what is this called?" and let the child find it.
Step by step
- Name 10 parts of the pony on the picture.
- Name 10 parts of the saddle and bridle.
- Later, 15 and 15.
How much: 20 parts 8 min a session 3 days a week
Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.
The game: Pin the label
Write the parts on paper slips; the child sticks each on the pony picture.
Who plays: the child against their own best, or two children taking turns.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- Write 10 pony parts and 10 tack parts on slips of paper
- Shuffle them face down
- Turn one over and stick it on the right place on the picture
- You check each one at the end
- Fair play
- A younger child plays with 10 slips.
- Points
- 1 point for each slip in the right place.
- Fouls
- No point for that slip
- Mixing up the near side and the off side
- Moving a slip after you have started the check
- Winning
- Beat your best score out of 20.
- 8 points for 1 star
- 14 points for 2 stars
- 18 points for 3 stars
Easier or harder
Five parts.
Name 20 parts including hock, withers, croup, fetlock and pastern, and three colours and markings.
What you will see, and what to say
- the child confuses left and right
Near side is the left
The pony's own left. - they guess
Look at the picture
Find the part before naming it.
Self-check
10 parts of the pony and 10 of the tack, correct.
Fitness for this
Warm up first: how to warm up, at workonfitness.com. For strength and stretching, its exercise library shows each exercise step by step, with an easier version.
This card trains knowledge of the pony and tack.
awiseathlete.com/sports/equestrian/equestrian-b1