Team Goals

As most of you know our program here is about much more than just riding horses. First and foremost it is about being in community with one another and feeling like an essential part of the team. We ARE the Prairie Winds Horse & Pony Team!! 

It's a sport

Horseback riding is like any other sport which requires at least 3-4 practice sessions per week during the good weather season including once or twice a week coaching. 

Developing leadership & focus/concentration 

 There will be many chances to practice leadership. You are the leader of your horse or pony.  You are also leading other kids by your example . Try to be "in the moment". Kids have to focus and concentrate to develop skills and not be thinking or worrying about other things.

Developing patience and gentleness.

We will practice being gentle with the horses especially quiet hands. This has a lot to do with balance on the horse. It also has to do with muscle memory and development. Horses have moods and we have to be patient with their mistakes and keep calm when they're afraid. They pick up on our negative emotions and can become afraid or not cooperate. Most horses will not tolerate roughness or anger. They will get rid of you in a hurry if you hurt them . 

Physical fitness & mental fitness

In between riding sessions: Bicycle riding , squats, abdominal crunches , and practicing upright posture with shoulders back and tummy firm at all times when sitting and walking. This is great for developing and keeping body core strength & health!! At least 8-9 and preferably 10 hours of sleep at these ages . Healthy food and drinking a lot of water & milk, get rid of pop and sugary juices & video games !! Sleep and diet and avoiding being hunched over an electronic device will lead to a good healthy child's body that is ready to be an athlete and to master control over the mind that is so important when safely working with horses and developing skill. Other areas to practice: being able to respectfully voice fears or preferences and developing patience; setting & respecting our own and other people's limits and boundaries ; being kind, helpful, and caring in our actions & speech and keeping our voices on low volume; being good models and affirming those who are being good models that we are trying to follow; gratitude - saying thank you to coaches and any help you receive; and developing focus- being in the moment - not thinking about what's next . 

Work ethic. 

I have some work to do related to the horses.

Come often even if just to work. Work can include feeding and caring for horses; Picking up rocks, mowing, cutting brush in fence lines, and repairing fences in the pastures; repairing or constructing corrals, jumps, and other equipment; clearing branches and fallen trees on riding trails, cleaning manure out of barn to reduce flies; and spreading manure on pastures. 

Dealing with insect & weather discomfort 

During warm weather we use fly sprays and masks & check for mites  & gnats on ears , throats , between front legs, and along the belly going back to the udder/sheath areas. Moisture increases insect problems. During hot and humid weather we have to keep our horses and ourselves cool and not let it affect our behavior toward each other or our horses. In cold weather dress in layers. 

Horse spine health & muscle health

As part of grooming before getting saddles or bridles on I'd like to start implementing a 5 minute session in which we massage horses spines , flex their necks , and do a few squats and cross toe touches ourselves. Neck flexing and toe touches can also be done in the saddle right after mounting. 

Riding

The 2 main goals are developing the ability to control speed and direction . We need to use the same commands on all the horses so kids can ride any horse as they develop skill. 

Ask Tell Demand. Always say the horse's name before giving a command. Whoa when mounting and use mounting block without stirrups whenever possible to avoid twisting the horse's spine. Horse should stand quietly until you are ready to Walk. Legs are gently touching horse at a stop. Ask is kissing and saying Walk and moving hips back and forth quickly but slightly. Tell is keeping on Asking and adding a gentle squeeze with legs. Demand is last resort and involves continuing to Ask and Tell and also tightly squeezing lower legs and even bumping certain horses who are slow with lower legs and feet. Trot and Canter are commands for faster speeds.

Slowing down is saying Easy or Whoa (only if stopping!), sitting back into the saddle, taking pressure off legs, slight pull on both reins toward your tummy, immediately release when they slow down or stop. Turning to control direction relies on use of voice commands & legs first, and then reins. Of course this is more complex and coaches will help kids learn it!! For example Here is command to turn toward an object such as a pole or barrel. Come and snap fingers is getting the horse to come to you on the ground.  

Team members are welcome on any good weather day as long as an instructor is present. Drivers please pay attention to weather and ground conditions when deciding to come and when parking .  Please use the driveway and turn around for parking (graveled areas) if too much mud.