I don't know about you, but I like to keep warm in the winter when I'm working my horses and when you are confined to a 60 x 120 indoor space that can become a challenge. There has been some interest in GAMES ON HORSEBACK so I decided to make it the theme of this winter workshop series.
Here Michael is practicing the Flag Race. He must keep his horse moving forward and soft to the left while he is reaching over to take the stick out of the bucket.
Games are a great way to hone your horsemanship skills as the smoother your run, the faster your time. A smooth run requires you to prepare your horse for what you are about to do so you don't go too far past things or turn too soon. You also get to practice on your balance.
Here is some of what the folks had to say about GAMES ON HORSEBACK.
"I really enjoyed the winter games workshop today. For me it was especially interesting to note that the competition aspect of the drills changed the way I focus. It was fun to develop a relationship to the horse in which we were both part of a team. I could sense that Babe was attuned and responsive to the environment much more so than if we were just riding around the ring doing our walk, trot, canter. What fun!" M.N.
"The workshop was a blast. I was surprised at the different challenges the games presented. The pony express relay presented a whole different challenge, as it was quite difficult to think about keeping pace with my partner, steering, and handing over the rope in the right place. It was a great way to work on some challenging skills while having a lot a fun!" O.K.
