ideas to make lessons interesting

[que]

Im sitting with a dilemma. I have taken over two pupils that were taught to ride VERY short and whack the horse if doesnt want to move etc. I have them in the lunging ring, walking and trottoing, trying to get their position right and ride with a longer loeg. Inderstand its frustrating and the one girl burst into tears, But I feel I cannot let them into the full size arena until they can ride in the correct oisition and control the horse without yaking the horses back teeth out. The horses I use are schoolmasters and it doesnt help me jumping on them they do as I ask. Help please!! Ideas, to make it fun and get them to relax. Any interesting goodies I can incorporate? PM if you can. How do I tell them forget about the way you were taught, its a whole new way of riding?

[laddles22]

I only just saw this now...
What you can do is tie the reins in a knott on the ponies neck, then ask the kids to look up and Pick apples...Litterally. They look towards the sky and pick fake apples. My kids LOVE this. They think it is ubber fun. This improves their balace and it makes them completly rely on their seat to stay on the horse. Do this at walk and trot. Ask them to put their arms out like aeroplanes, Sitting trot. at the walk you can get them to do round the worlds. PM me if you like as I have my own riding school and am so thrilled to hear you are teaching them and not just in a money making scam!!!!

[wright stuff]

Que - I find that it's not gonna help to keep on at them for the same issues, whilst I know you are trying to get them to ride correctly. Until they are stable and balanced they are not even thinking about position - they want to stay on. Also by nagging they gonna get to a point where they switch off

Oh - and I assumed they were kids but this is good for adults too
I've found that making things fun teaches much more than schooling. Try play some games - even in the big arena (at the walk or trot). Pick up cans off barrels (helps with balance), bending poles. Try some simple changes (trot, walk, trot) to make the child think about what they are doing. Ride with one hand which means they can't really yank too much. The "pulling out the teeth" might come from lack of confidence that they can control the horse.

- and patience and time will make a difference. I've worked with a child for a year and she's now riding like a star - the confidence and she looks forward to her lessons instead of tears and being nervous.

Good Luck

[dreamy]

hi there,
I've taught a few of those kinds of pupils, and what I've found is, you take away the saddles! most kids love riding bareback-and it is so good for their balance and position. It also helps them to be more in tune with their mounts, and gives them more to think about too...you could take it slow to begin with, off the lunge, and do games and very basic figures to build their confidence. What I do is put a stirrup leather or something to hold onto around the horses neck, and they can hold onto it for balance instead of the horses teeth! there is actually so much you can do bareback, I even had my first jumping lessons with no saddle when I was little! hope that helps