Themed Lesson Plans That Work - PATH Intl

5 Themed Units5 Lessons each25 Lesson Plans

General lesson organization2) Brief overview of the five themes3) Lesson by lesson explanation1)Please ask questions as we go. These lessons work forthe way our classes in Pullman, Washington go, andshould be adaptable to many situations. I hope theselesson plans encourage and equip new instructors.Seasoned instructors should also find lessons to easilyadd into their programs.

1)2)3)4)5)Drill TeamWestern DressageChallenge CourseCavalettiGymkhana

1)2)3)4)5)Warm UpReview as necessary**Main Content**Summary**Game**

1)2)3)4)5)6)7)8)Stay on the rail until instructed otherwiseIf your horse is faster then pass on the insideIf it happens that you are too close to a slower horse,then make a circle to the inside to add space betweenhorses“On the rail”“Inside” and “outside”Safety bubble around a horseNo random rail stopsPass left shoulder to leftshoulder if travelingopposite directions

1)Teach how to salutehalt, reins in one hand, nod head, arm/hand straight down2) Practice new maneuvers3)Game: egg and spoon partner relay buckets

1)Practice new maneuvers2) Game: basketball

1)Practice new maneuvers2) Game: mailbox and match ring to cone color

1)Practice new maneuvers2) Game: Mickey Mouse cards match draw from tubs

1)Ride the entire Drill using marching music2) Game: Twine partner game

1)Learn the location of the dressage lettersmake word cards, shuffle each rider’s stackriders go to each letter as they spell the words2) Teach how to walk down the center line A-C or C-A3)Game: horseshoes on rail salute

20 meter circle at walkstart at B or Etravel right or leftinvite one student at a time- others on railfollow the leader2) Game: tortoise and hare1)

20 meter circle at trotstart at B or Etravel right or leftinvite one student at a time- others on railfollow the leader2) Game: Horse photos into buckets with their nameson1)

Change rein/reversediagonal FXH/ HXFdiagonal KXM/ MXK2) Game: Lady bug1)

http://www.usef.org/ ssageTests.aspxGame: Verbal Red Light/ GreenLight

Spread four objects around arena- go both waysback through parallel polesweave conesthrow beanbagsturn in flour square2) Game: Old Maid1)

Spread four objects around arena- go both wayspole squarerope gatehorse shoes on railwalk/stop cones2) Game: sort horse photos1)

Spread four objects around arena-go both waysmailbox- sort mail into two tubsbasketballpaired conesW poles2) Game: go fish1)

Spread four objects around arena- go both waysback Legg and spooncircle coneswalk over plywood2) Game: musical cones1)

Give each rider an instruction pageexplain course to side walkersthe rider works with team to interpret instructions2) Game: Red light/Green light using colored cones1)

Two point positionground polesrise out of saddlelean forwardhands up neckshort periods of timehair barrette hand positionhair barrette eye focus2) Game: categorize grooming tools1)

Practice two point over cavalettiground polesraised cavalettithrow in sitting trot across diagonal2) Game: match toy horse markings1)

Make an X shaped cavalettiground polesraised cavaletti2) Game: Hula hoops and assorted toys,throw on cavaletti1)

Two point across diagonal2) Game: secret object in saddlebags1)

Final Jump CourseEarn a horse/person sash2) Game: relay race with grooming tools1)

Barrel Racewalk or trot courseinvite one student at a timefollow the leader2) Game: tortoise and hare1)

Flag Raceput barrel at one end of the arenaflag in a coffee can with sand in itpick up flag without stoppingwalk or trot courseinvite one student at a timefollow the leader2) Game: move pole to cone1)

Pole Bendingpoles are traditionally 21’ apartwalk during weaving part of patternwalk or trot the straight part of the courseinvite one student at a timefollow the leader2) Game: leis on a pole one color per rider1)

Figure 8 Raceset poles at opposite ends of the arenawalk or trot courseinvite one student at a timefollow the leader2) Game: stop on the colored star whenmusic stops1)

Key Hole Raceset poles on the corners of a 12’ squarewalk or trot courseinvite one student at a timefollow the leader2) Game: leis on pole put on proper color1)

Small artificial tree on jump standard Assorted ornaments from thrift shop Riders get ornament from instructor Ride to tree Side walkers help to hang the ornament Ride to instructor until tree is decorated Play Christmas music

Four hula hoops at one end of the arena Four buckets of foam shamrocks at the other end Riders go back and forth delivering the shamrocks

Hang the fence tubs around the arena. Put 2 white buckets down the mid line of the arena. Distribute eggs in each fence tub and each bucket so they are mixed upand spread out. Give each rider a saddle bag to collect eggs in. Assign each rider a specific color of egg to collect in their saddle bag. Play music during the Easter egg hunt. Materials:Over the rail feed tubs2 white buckets4 saddle bagsEaster eggsCD player with CD (check batteries)

Each rider team has a bucket to collect things in Each rider is given a list of things to find 4 each: twine, plastic ring, plastic egg, beanbag, saddlebag, horse shoe, spur, halter, girth, foam star, boot,brushSomething to tie up bales ofhaySomething to wear on yourwristSomething to eat for breakfastSomething to throw throughthe lady bug gameSomething a cowboy could put Something a horse wears onhis lunch intheir footSomething a cowboy uses onhis boots that are made ofmetalSomething to put on a horse’sheadSomething that goes around ahorse’s bellySomething that sparkles in theskySomething made of leatherthat a cowboy wears to rideSomething to make a horse’shair smooth and clean

4 large cones Letters on arena rail 4 rings in 2 buckets 1 ball in a bucket 1 empty bucket 1 pole on ground 1 pole on risers 1 halter hanging on arena rail 2 plastic horse shoes in 2 buckets Small rainbow cones in line for weaving 1 English stirrup and leather hanging on arena rail

Bback your horse up 3 stepsDfind a blue cone and ride a circle around itOfind a halter on the arena rail and take it to your teacherPstroke your horse gently on his maneQgo to the nearest cone and walk in a circle around itTfind a ball in a bucket and drop it in a different bucketVtell your team 2 things you like about your horseZgive your horse a “thank you” pet

Aride in a figure 8 pattern around 2 of the large cones Bback your horse up 3 steps Cfind an English stirrup on the arena rail and take it to your teacher Dfind a blue cone and ride a circle around it Ego to the first letter of your name Fgo to the first letter of your horse’s name Gfind a horse shoe in a bucket and hang it on the arena rail close to the letter “H” Hfind a green cone and ride a circle around it Igo to a pole on blocks and walk your horse over it, repeat if you horse’s hooves hit it Jfind a ring in a bucket, take it to a cone of the same color, and drop it over the cone Kwalk your horse over a pole on the ground Lfind a star in a bucket, take it to a cone of the same color, and drop it on the ground Mgo to the last letter of your first name Nat a walk, weave your horse through the small colored cones Ofind a halter on the arena rail and take it to your teacher Pstroke your horse gently on his mane Qgo to the nearest cone and walk in a circle around it Rgo to a large red cone and walk around it in a large circle Sstretch your arms out like bird wings as you walk to the next letter Tfind a ball in a bucket and drop it in a different bucket Ugo to your teacher and tell them what color your horse is Vtell your team 2 things you like about your horse Wgive your horse a big hug on the neck Xwalk to the nearest cone and stop Ystand up in your stirrups and walk-on for 5 steps Zgive your horse a “thank you” pet

Game: Mickey Mouse cards match draw from tubs . 1) Ride the entire Drill using marching music . 2) Game: Twine partner game . 1) Learn the location of the dressage letters make word cards, shuffle each rider’s stack . .