Road sense and stable rules
Ready when: Parts of the pony and the tack (b1) done.
What you are learning
The rules at a riding yard and on the road. Ponies are big and easily startled, so how a child walks, speaks and moves near them keeps everyone safe.
Words on this card Pony, Gaits
- Pony
- A pony is a small horse, under about 148 cm at the shoulder.
- Gaits
- The ways a horse moves. Walk is four steady beats; trot is two bouncy beats; canter is a rocking, three-beat skip.
Show it first for the one teaching
- Read the yard rules from the card, one at a time, and act each out with the toy pony.
- Walk the toy toward a "pony" from the side, saying "hello" as you come.
- Read the road rules: avoid roads; if you must ride on one, no more than two side by side, and wear bright clothing.
Your part while they practise
Ask "what do you do first?" and wait.
Step by step
- The yard rules: helmet and boots on, jewellery off; walk, never run; speak as you approach.
- Never behind an unaware pony; an adult goes into the paddock with you; wash hands after.
- The road rules: avoid roads where you can; where you must, follow the road rules, no more than two riders side by side; bright clothing.
How much: 8 rules 8 min a session once a week
Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.
The game: Safe or not
You name a behaviour; the child says safe or not and why.
Who plays: the child against you.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- Name a behaviour: walking close behind, patting the neck, shouting, wrapping the rope round a hand, running in the yard, speaking as you come near
- The child says "safe" or "not safe"
- The child says why
- 10 behaviours
- Fair play
- A younger child answers safe or not only.
- Points
- 1 point for the right answer; 1 more point for the right reason.
- Fouls
- No points
- Answering before you finish
- Forgetting the helmet in any answer about riding or leading
- Winning
- Beat your best from 10 behaviours.
- 8 points for 1 star
- 14 points for 2 stars
- 18 points for 3 stars
Easier or harder
Three rules.
The child writes a rule card for a younger child.
What you will see, and what to say
- the child forgets the helmet
Hat first, always
The hat goes on before going near a pony. - they say "I'll run up"
Walk, and speak first
Running startles ponies.
Self-check
The child says 5 yard rules from memory.
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 safety knowledge.
awiseathlete.com/sports/equestrian/equestrian-b3