Challenges & Tasks

Now that you have all the natural riding principles in place, it’s time to task and challenge them so you can put them to purpose.

One Rein Tasks

(Halter & 12′ Line or Horseman’s String)

1. Place 2 buckets 4ft. apart. Try to ride through them at a walk, then at a trot.
2. Now try to back up through the buckets. You could even make a little laneway with the buckets and see if you can back all the way through.
3. Place a bucket and try to ride a circle around it keeping an even distance between you and the bucket all the way around.
4. Follow the rail with one rein.
5. Put two markers down next to a fence about 20ft. apart. See if you can ride sideways between these markers (horse facing fence). Once you can do 20ft., double it.
6. Set six buckets or barrels in a line, 12 ft. apart (you can measure this distance with your 12 ft. line). See if you can weave through the markers using only one rein and keeping it on one side, first on the right side, then on the left side.
7. Do the same weaving task but this time toss the rope over the horse’s head from every turn.

Do all the same tasks with one rein and Carrot Stick

(Then see if you can do them with just the Carrot Stick, leaving the rein on the horses neck)

1. Squeeze through buckets (4ft. apart) at a walk, then at a trot.
2. Back up through the 2 buckets. Then back up through a lane of buckets.
3. Circle around a bucket keeping an even distance between you and the bucket all the way around.
4. Follow the rail, aim for 4 circuits without touching the rein
5. Sideways between distance markers (horse facing fence). Once you can do 20 ft., double it.
6. Weave through the markers.

Two Rein Tasks

(Use your Natural Hackamore)

1. See how far you can back up using only soft pressure; put markers at 6ft, 12ft, 24ft, 36ft. How much progress can you make on this over the weeks?
2. Place several poles parallel to each other, 4ft, apart to make a lane. See if you can trot down the lane without stepping out of it. Try a short distance, them longer distances as you get more confident.
3. Mark out a circle that is 22ft in radius (44ft in diameter. You can do this by using the PNH 22ft line, securing it in the centre of the circle with a peg or someone holding it: walk the circumference and drag your foot to make out the circle. You can even sprinkle lime or chalk to mark it out in white). Put a straight line or pole about 22′ feet away from the circle. Walk, trot or canter across the line and bend to a stop within the circle.
4. Same line and circle, cross the line at a walk or trot and see if you can come down to a 9 Step back up as soon as you enter the circle and without crossing out the other side. Then drop your reins and stand relaxed without the horse taking off.
5. Mark 2 lines, parallel and approx. 36 ft apart. Do 4 Yo-Yos using the 9 step back up at the walk, then try it at the trot.  See if you can do it without crossing the lines.
6. Go sideways between some distance markers. Also, put a pole parallel to the fence and 12 ft aways. See if you can go sideways and not cross backwards over the pole.
7. Place 2 buckets, markers or barrels 4 ft apart. Make a starting line 40 ft. in front and a finishing line 22 ft behind. Trot or canter across the starting line, through the barrels and come to a 9 step back up, without crossing the finish line, all the way back to the barrels. (You could even back through the barrels if things are going great!)

Do all the tasks bareback!

Share this...

Facebook

0