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Bucket Ball What you'll need
- Medium or large bucket
- Large whiffle balls (can be bought inexpensively at Wal-Mart in the
sporting goods section)
- OR foam balls (about double the size of your fist)
Preparation
- Set the bucket on a chair or mounting steps at one end of the arena,
with nothing around it to run into
- Stand at the opposite end of the arena with the balls
 Game
Rider goes to you for a ball, rides to the other end of the arena,
and deposits the ball into the bucket. Repeat until all balls have been
used.
Variations:
- Walk, trot, or canter to the bucket
- Rider stops at bucket before throwing ball
- Rider keeps going past bucket and throws ball in while moving
- Rider stops a certain distance away for a far throw
- Use a smaller bucket for a more challenging throw
- Have two riders doing this at the same time, without running
into each other
- Throw the ball to the student instead of handing it to them
- Weave through cones on the way to the bucket
Added Benefits:
This game teaches riders the skill of coordination, due to the
challenge of getting a ball into a bucket while continuing to
control the horse at the chosen gait. It's hard to keep a horse
trotting right past the bucket, and throw the ball in at the same
time! Games like this help take the focus of concentrating on
everything at once and focus on having fun, which usually ends up
helping students ride better anyway.
Thanks
to Catherine and Angel for being willing participants!
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