2022 Horse Camp: English Riding - Day 4
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English Riding: Day 4
Chores
Firs thing's first, we say good morning to our horses, and get them ready to start a full day of teaching the campers how to ride! Horses are very good listeners, and our two horses Sunny and Gris work really hard with our campers to learn how to perform the skills they need.
Riding around
Quite literally, riding in circles in a canter! It is a difficult skill to do, especially when you've just learnt the basics of horse riding. There is an instructor standing in the middle, and you have to gently guide the horse in a circle around the instructor. As they felt more comfortable, the campers could canter faster or more slowly.
Jeopardy!
Remember we said to memorize the different breeds of horse and pony? Well today's Jeopardy day! The campers sat in a semicircle, and split into teams. Each team got a button to press when they felt they had the answer, while the moderator holds out the photo with the horse on it. It was a fun game that had everybody laughing and at the same time, learning about the different breeds of horse!
English Tack/Leg Protection
One thing that is important to know about horse riding in general is how to properly tack a horse. Learning about English riding gear, and how to properly wrap a horse's legs for support. The campers were shown different types of riding saddles and discussed all the different kinds of buckles, straps, and sides that either help the horse, or help the rider. The campers also learned the importance of good tacking, since it could hinder both rider and horse.
The Digestive System
How does the digestive system of a horse work? That's a great question that the campers were able to answer today by using diagrams, and models. A great way campers can learn about the digestive tract of the horse, is to look at diagrams, and also to talk about human digestive systems in comparison, such as the fact that the human body cannot digest hay, but a horse can, due to the different ways their stomachs work.
Popsicles and Apples
Mainly for the horse, since we have some for ourselves, stored away for a really hot day! Since the horses are also outside for long periods of time, their body temperatures can rise much more quickly. So, we made some popsicles for them to enjoy, alongside apples as a sweet treat! After, it was time to do an obstacle course, weaving between cones, turning in circles, and even more!
Check out more Horse Camp Photos here!
