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 Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
  
| Okay where to start... I can give lessons to more experienced riders but beginners are really tough. Ive been riding since I could walk and a lot of the basics are second nature to me.
My nieces are horse crazy and I've been giving them weekly lessons on my barrel horse since the fall (I only have one horse). They rode periodically before then. They have come so far. However, they're twins, 8 years old and super competitive. Ive really struggled with it because well I want them to LOVE it and want every experience to be great which isnt always the case.
The one I would say it comes more naturally and seems to have more "passion" for it. The other is more assertive and rides very quietly probably because shes had more scares. (darn pony took off on her once and she fell off my barrel horse, landed on her feet because he allowed her to basically lower herself using the reins lol and they were walking).
My gelding is so good with them but hes 16.2 and he has BIG gaits. So I had to teach them to post almost right away because theres no sitting that. However, they still are on his face more than normal so he tends to tuck his nose and ignore them... I dont wanna put a lot of bit on him because hes just trying to get away from the pressure. They are not heavy handed but still riding him on a tighter rein and working on the tighten/loosen concept but its all a learning process.
I just dont know what to do with that part of it? Also they are so competitive and it seems like one of them always has a great ride and the other really struggles and gets frustrated...
I guess what im looking for is words of wisdom... what you work with the youngins on? Im trying to work on control.... transitions... turning at the different speeds.... They are doing phenominal for the amount of experience they have and for learning on my horse... I guess maybe just encouragement ... lol or maybe this is just a get it off my chest kinda thread.
Last week the more assertive one was frustrated for being behind her sister and now today, the other one was just struggling. She apparently had a bad day and her head just wasnt in the game today. I feel like a bad Aunite... Im trying to teach them correctly so they dont have bad experiences and work on control and stuff. I try and give them "fun time" after every lesson where they do what they want but I guess im worried on what my focus should be...
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  Twin Sister to Queen Boobie
Posts: 13315
 
Location: East Tennessee but who knows?! | I have them do a whole lot of work on the lungeline without reins --it's amazing how much just having something in your hands can impact your balance. You don't have to be pulling on the reins for it to have an impact either. Taking the reins away makes them work on balance and helps them concentrate on just riding.
I do things like riding with their arms out, arms straight up, looking up, and then last riding with her eyes closed & then eyes closed, head up and arms out. You need a helper any time they're riding with their eyes closed & make sure they're in a closed environment too.
Another thing I do too is having them post at a walk & trot bareback -- it helps with timing, balance, and strength.
Lots of transitions up & down -- that helps work on balance and control of their bodies.
Situps on horseback -- works on core & balance. | |
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 I Chore in Chucks
Posts: 2882
Location: MD | do you have a good lesson barn near you? I really feel like beginners are better left to the professionals that went to school to learn how to teach them.
And I'm the same way as you, I can teach an intermediate rider and up. But teaching beginners intimidates me because I am scared a horse will act like a horse, or I'll confuse them with terminology or get them bored of it or what have you. Can you have them go to those week long lesson camps a few times in the summer? Kids learn SO quickly and setting them up for success on a "putzy"(for a lack of a better word) lesson horse that his whole job is to go in a circle and let the kids learn how to be a rider. This will give your more timid girl a really great opportunity to gain that confidence back. And then once they are done with their lessons or camps, they can come to you and tell you what they learned and apply it to your horses! I was thankfully blessed with an amazing riding school that I pretty much lived at for my entire childhood and I really feel like they are the reason I continue to ride to this day because I had those good experiences in the beginning. | |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 617
Location: London Ontario | Lots of games!!! They are kids after all, things like What Time is it Mr Wolf, where they count the strides, or if you have a second horse and are teaching them both at the same time, have the kids ride one handed, a pass a crop or something like that in between each other, first at a walk, then try a jog/trot. Its all about keeping things light, fun and most importantly SAFE! Even theory lessons like proper grooming techniques, body parts, safety around horse etc. Just like riding colts, good foundations set kids up for success. Also its not about drilling the barrel pattern and going fast. I am HUGE on basics and foundations with kids, try to stay away from the barrel pattern. Set up trail patterns, little cavelletis to trot over. poles, set up a chute with poles(like a L) have them walk in to the L, then back out, maybe start with just a straight cute first, then add in a turn while backing up, etc etc, the ideas are endless, just keep things fun!!! | |
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Regular
Posts: 82
| There are some really excellent books out there about giving lessons. They are generally for English disciplines, but the exercises are universal. I like Cherry Hill's Arena Exercises book for ideas. We also do tons of games (1) posting without stirrups contests, (2) simon says, (3) obstacle courses, (4) random crazy barrels (randomly set barrels and poles, see how many times you can turn all of them in one minute, sometimes only one direction or sometimes alternating). Our personal new favorite is "Psychic Riding," where the kids must trot without reins (knotted safely) and direct their horse to a spot in the arena using only their mind (and body language). They think it is hilarious and they realize how effective they can be without their reins. Obviously, only do this with kid-proof horses. | |
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 Expert
Posts: 2258
| Fairweather - 2014-06-09 8:43 AM
I have them do a whole lot of work on the lungeline without reins --it's amazing how much just having something in your hands can impact your balance. You don't have to be pulling on the reins for it to have an impact either. Taking the reins away makes them work on balance and helps them concentrate on just riding.
I do things like riding with their arms out, arms straight up, looking up, and then last riding with her eyes closed & then eyes closed, head up and arms out. You need a helper any time they're riding with their eyes closed & make sure they're in a closed environment too.Â
Another thing I do too is having them post at a walk & trot bareback -- it helps with timing, balance, and strength.Â
Lots of transitions up & down -- that helps work on balance and control of their bodies.
Situps on horseback -- works on core & balance. Â
I do these same things and with beginners it really is just time in the saddle. I try to make a big deal of the smallest accomplishment especially when they are having a hard day. The kids are all so different I have had some that I beg, some I have to get a little tough on and some step on and ride away like they have been doing it forever. You are probably doing just fine . Keep it up and they will come around. | |
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Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| Thank you all for suggestions! I have been working with them putting arms out and closing eyes. I let them walk bareback but I can barely trot on him bareback due to his gates. We have a round pen which is really helpful for certain exercises. I have them count strides when backing up and just learning his movements. I love the idea of new games and stuff, trying to make the learning fun. I've set up a pole pattern with barrels just to work on their hand control and they've done really well with that. We havent focused on patterns yet just barrels set-up in a random order. I also have been working with them on tacking him up, brushing and just basic care lessons. We usually spend an hour or so at least in the barn.
To answer the one question, my sister isnt all that involved with the lesson thing and money is tight so its not an option for them to go elsewhere. Trying to work with what we have and my gelding is great with them but hes just a hard horse to learn on because of his size and athletic ability.
They've been learning leg pressure and different hand positioning and turned methods. I think they are doing great but just wanted to get some input for fresh ideas. The one girl is gaining confidence everyday but her biggest setback is her competitiveness. Which I know is normal for kids in general, especially twins.
I always do their lessons based on each of them but try and make them similar. However, I wonder if I should be doing two completely different lessons so theirs less comparison? But then again, I wonder if one will be like "I wanna do that" or "how come she got to do x and I didnt."
Edited by stayceem 2014-06-10 9:03 PM
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 824
| One of the best things to do is to ride another horse with them. That way you can show them what you want them to do, and if their horse acts up you can help out a lot more if you can be right next to them as opposed to on the ground. I usually pony the kids the first few times they trot and lope and it really helps build their confidence. My old lesson horse buddys up to whatever horse I am on- which works GREAT for beginners.
Edited by FlitsTinyCharger 2014-06-10 10:07 PM
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 Veteran
Posts: 227
Location: Soon to be outta here:) | I think the idea of doing to completely different lessons would help. Like you said, they are different riders. It would help with the competiveness too. Being competitive is good because it pushes us to be better, but if they are just comparing themselves to the other one, it might get to the point where its not fun for one of them. If you can do different activities in each lesson they are still leaning, but they wont have as much to compare each other too. And if they question why one got to do one thing and the other didn't, just tell them that your horse likes to do different activities and you want to make sure your horse is happy too. They are young, and by saying something like that it removes the option of one being "better" than the other and therefore getting to do "better" things. And then at each lesson you can switch it around. If you put one on a lunge line one day and work on riding with arms out, set up random barrels for the other one to work with. Then tell them that the next week you'll switch it around so they get to do the thing the other one did. that way its not a who's better than who contest as much because they do different things. | |
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Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| LDH - 2014-06-11 11:13 AM
I think the idea of doing to completely different lessons would help. Like you said, they are different riders. It would help with the competiveness too. Being competitive is good because it pushes us to be better, but if they are just comparing themselves to the other one, it might get to the point where its not fun for one of them. If you can do different activities in each lesson they are still leaning, but they wont have as much to compare each other too. And if they question why one got to do one thing and the other didn't, just tell them that your horse likes to do different activities and you want to make sure your horse is happy too. They are young, and by saying something like that it removes the option of one being "better" than the other and therefore getting to do "better" things. And then at each lesson you can switch it around. If you put one on a lunge line one day and work on riding with arms out, set up random barrels for the other one to work with. Then tell them that the next week you'll switch it around so they get to do the thing the other one did. that way its not a who's better than who contest as much because they do different things.
Love that idea!!!
I just had a lesson today and we did a little bit of difference but I think thats a great idea and good way to explain it to them. They did really well today and I used some of the ideas on here so THANK YOU to everyone, if you have any other suggestions, im open to learning more! | |
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