When was your last touchpoint with your rider’s family outside of their lesson time? As a riding instructor for individuals with special needs, regular communication with families, caretakers, and caregivers is critical. Open communication helps establish trust with the family and allows you to collaborate on goal setting to individualize your support. It also makes…
Wearing a helmet is crucial for ensuring the safety of riders, as it significantly reduces the risk of head injuries. This becomes particularly important when working with neurodiverse students, who may have unique challenges when it comes to wearing helmets. If you have an individual who is new to riding, here are some things to…
How to tactfully use focus to enhance your teaching. Teaching riding is largely about helping someone communicate with horses through movements of our body. The movements that we are trying to help our riders achieve are fairly unique to riding and require a process called motor learning to happen. Check out the post “The Progression…
As summer approaches, equestrian enthusiasts anticipate the thrill of horseback riding summer camps. These camps are not just about saddling up and trotting around; they’re about creating lasting memories, fostering friendships, and igniting a passion for horsemanship. So, what sets apart the BEST horseback riding summer camps? Let’s delve into the essential elements that make…
When teaching a new skill, you’ll want to teach the “what”, “why”, and “how”. Your “what” is what the identified skill or topic is, your “why” would be why it’s important for them to know and the “how” is what the rider will do to make it happen. The challenge is, many instructors get lost…
I had an experience with a rider recently that really got me thinking… How long do you wait? The lesson’s objective was to demonstrate varied seat positions on uneven terrain during a trail ride. A little background – this particular rider has been learning 2 point little by little over many lessons. I have been…
Warm ups are not only beneficial for your rider but also for your horse! In designing the ultimate warm up for your lesson you will want to include a balance of warming up that benefits both the horse and rider. For the purpose of this article we will focus on instructional design of the warm…
So much should be happening EVERY time you meet your rider before a mount. While it may simply look like a “Hi” or a “Hello” there should be a lot more taking place. Here are the most important 3 things to do when your rider arrives: 1. Observe them – early and often. If you…
The Balancing Act: The Demands of a Therapeutic Riding Instructor + tips for success! As a therapeutic riding instructor, the role is far more than teaching individuals how to ride a horse. It’s about orchestrating a symphony of needs, desires, and expectations while maintaining a safe and enriching environment for all involved. Here’s a glimpse…
Good Job! Yes! Great! Well Done! Perfect! – Meaningless words with good intentions We are all guilty of doing it. After 20 years of teaching, I still catch myself occasionally saying “good job”. But there are tons of reasons to get away from the generalized compliments and shift to specific praise! What is specific praise?…
