Horse riding lesson plans for beginners and equestrian resources for beginners!
Eager to know about fun riding lesson ideas for beginners? Look no further for inspiration!
As an instructor with over twenty-five years of experience teaching riders of all levels, I still enjoy teaching beginners, as you can establish the correct basics from the start.
However, keeping beginners motivated is often a challenge, but here you can find numerous ways to spice up your lessons and watch your riders progress!
Keep reading to learn how to make lessons fun for beginners while improving their riding skills.
Fun Riding Lesson Ideas for Beginners (5 Easy Lessons)
Horse riding is a great way to get out of the house, learn new skills, or simply connect with others.
Let's take a broader dive into the world of riding for beginners in 5 easy lessons.
- Meet and Greet
Can you remember riding a horse for the first time? If you have been around horses for several years, it's easy to forget how you initially felt!
Understand that your beginner rider will feel a mixture of nervousness and excitement at the prospect of riding a horse or pony.
Your goal is to get them to trust you so they can enjoy their riding.
Ensure your new rider knows where to meet you.
Greet them in a friendly manner, finding them a well-fitting helmet before introducing them to their horse.
Your rider may feel intimidated by such a large animal, so give them time to get to know them. Maybe share some funny stories about their horse!
The first lesson is about allowing the rider to get used to the feeling of riding a horse and learning the correct position and aids.
But as many beginner riders are often tense, why not consider introducing mounted yoga into your lessons to help your riders relax?
For more tips, check out this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KLgGuEz8mk&pp=ygUiTWVldCBhbmQgR3JlZXQgaG9yc2UgcmlkaW5nIGxlc3Nvbg%3D%3D
- Mounted Yoga
Mounted yoga is a great way to warm up your riders, especially nervous ones, helping them with breathing techniques, flexibility, and being present with their horses.
But don't worry; you don't need to be a yoga guru to teach mounted yoga or expect your riders to do any challenging poses!
Here are some simple poses you can get your riders to do, repeating them three or four times each:
Shoulder rolls
Ask your rider to roll their shoulders forward a few times and then backwards.
They can also shrug their shoulders, inhaling as they shrug their shoulders and exhaling as they bring them back down.
Moving with the Breath
Ask your rider to inhale as they stretch both arms above their head, bringing the palms of their hands together and gazing slightly up.
They then slowly exhale, bringing the arms back down and looking straight ahead again.
Spinal Twist
Ask your rider to place one hand on the horse's wither and the other on its hindquarters, turning their neck toward the hindquarters and taking deep breaths.
Repeat on the other side.
Yoga Seal
Ask the rider to take their arms behind them and lace their fingers, opening the chest and squeezing their shoulder blades together.
They can then slowly release their hands and notice the tension disappear.
Now that mounted yoga has helped your beginner rider relax, why not take them on a trail ride?
Discover the top 10 beginner horse riding mistakes and learn how to avoid them in this insightful video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oDQ1PB_5UQ&pp=ygUgTW91bnRlZCBZb2dhIGhvcnNlIHJpZGluZyBsZXNzb24%3D
- Walk and Talk Trail
Who says riding is boring? It's not. But I can assure you that after many rides in an arena, often going around in circles, can, as with anything, drain you. (And that goes for your horse, too!).
Once a beginner rider is quite confident, I like to take them on a beginner-friendly trail ride where they can encounter new situations and a change of scenery.
Riders can experience the great outdoors by riding on flat terrain, gentle slopes and wide paths, boosting their confidence.
And you can still teach your beginner on a trail ride, such as asking your students to halt at a specific place or weave in and out of trees.
But another way for your riders to learn how to control their mounts better is by playing some fun horseback games during lessons!
Check out this other cool video!
https://youtube.com/shorts/ISCZGnORqeg?feature=share
- Horseback Games
Who doesn't love games? They're fun for both horses and riders alike and a great way to liven up your beginner lessons!
However, make sure the games you choose are appropriate for the level of your riders and always have experienced people assist you to keep things safe.
Here we look at some fun games to include in your lessons:
Game 1: Musical Cones
One game I find popular for both adults and children is musical cones.
The number of cones should be the same as the number of riders. Place them on the center line about two meters apart.
The riders walk on the rail safely from one another until the music stops, aiming for a cone.
In each round, remove a cone until only two riders remain.
Soon the competition will get fierce. After all, the first person to reach the cone is the winner!
Game 2: Red Light/Green Light
Red light/green light is an excellent game for improving transitions.
For beginners, green light means "walk", and red light means "halt".
The last person to halt is penalized or eliminated. Ensure the riders are gentle with the reins when they ask the horse to halt.
Game 3: Simon Says
If you want to get the attention of your child riders, then Simon Says is a great game to use in lessons, especially at the beginning.
It's also an excellent way to warm riders up and make them react quickly.
Shout "Simon Says" followed by an action, such as touching their left toe or standing up in their stirrups.
Eliminate any riders who complete a move without you saying, "Simon Says" first.
Game 4: Gymkhana Games
Once your riders have mastered a new skill, such as turning, why not use gymkhana games as a fun and effective way to practice them?
You can adapt the games depending on the capabilities of your riders, riding in either a walk or trot.
But be aware of how excitable riders can get during gymkhana games. And yes, that includes adults too!
The horses should also have fun, but watch out that riders don't get too close to one another, yank their horse in the mouth or kick too hard.
Some suitable games for beginners include:
- Bending Race - weave in and out of cones
- Walk up, trot back
- Walk up, stop, and dismount, then run back (Have helpers hold the horses as the riders run back)
- Snail race - riders get their horses to walk slowly, with the one finishing last as the winner!
Have the equipment you need set up at the start of the lesson with plenty of people to help.
But if you want another way to challenge your riders, why not set up an obstacle course for them to negotiate?
Dive into the exciting world of horseback riding games and exercises to enhance your skills and have fun on the saddle.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_tCMZfsuFg&pp=ygUPSG9yc2ViYWNrIEdhbWVz
- Obstacle Course
Integrating an obstacle course into your beginner lessons makes turning and transitions more fun.
You could also spice it up by having riders balance a bean bag on their head and see how long they can keep it there!
Obstacles you could include for this level of rider are:
- Cones to weave through
- Stop in between two poles
- Walk over poles
- Walk between narrow poles
You could also add some grooming into the mix by asking riders to halt by a bucket containing grooming brushes.
They then dismount, pick up a brush, and you explain its type and show them how to use it.
The rider can brush the horse's neck and shoulder, then remount and ride carrying the brush to another bucket and placing it inside (you will need a helper to assist).
Another idea is for riders to play "follow my leader", where one rider goes where they want around the course, and the others follow, taking turns to be the leader.
But remember, although you want your riders to have fun, you must always carry out safety measures.
Explore my informative guides on 'What to Wear in Horse Riding', 'How to Approach a Horse', and 'How Much Do Riding Lessons Cost' for essential insights and tips!
Safety Measures During Riding Lessons
Safety must be your top priority when teaching beginner riders, with policies and procedures in place to help prevent accidents and injuries.
All instructors must have first aid and CPR training in case of an emergency.
- Only use quiet and reliable horses and ponies, with an experienced person leading them during lessons in a secure arena with no hazards.
- Check that the tack is in good working order and fits all horses and ponies correctly. Always put a neck strap on your horses so riders can hold onto it for balance.
- Ensure your riding helmets meet safety standards, are in good condition, and fit the rider correctly. The rider should eventually buy their own helmet if they continue riding.
- Before a rider's first lesson, you must inform them they should wear jeans or long pants and boots with a small heel; otherwise, they may arrive wearing unsuitable clothing.
- Explain the importance of safety around horses, highlighting the potential dangers of going around the back of a horse or running up to one. Demonstrate how to approach a horse safely from the side.
FAQs
How do you teach a beginner to ride?
Be patient and keep your instructions clear and straightforward so they understand. Remember, everyone is different and learns at different speeds. Encourage and engage your rider, praising them for the slightest improvement.
How do you structure a riding lesson?
You must prepare your lessons beforehand to help students learn new skills by having an objective, an introduction to what the riders will be working on, learning steps, and ending with a summary and feedback.
Can you teach a beginner rider on the lunge?
Yes, you can teach beginner riders on the lunge as it allows them to focus on their balance and position without worrying about controlling their horse. You can include exercises, but the session should last at most 30 minutes.
Conclusion
Experiment with some of the games mentioned and see what your riders enjoy. Keep things safe and never put riders in a dangerous situation by getting them to do things before they are ready.
Be creative and see if you can come up with ideas for making your beginner riding lessons fun!
Resources
- Hartley E. How to Teach a New Rider the Proper Basic Balanced Riding Position . PetHelpful. Available from: https://pethelpful.com/horses/Help-With-Proper-Basic-Position-For-New-Riders