Egg & Spoon

Egg & Spoon

What you'll need

• Spoon
• Darning egg (far cheaper than buying lots of eggs) or a golf ball (you can buy a darning egg in the sewing section of Wal-Mart)

Preparation

• None

Game

Rider hold the egg on the spoon while riding around the arena.

Variations:

• Hold the egg in different positions: eye level, out to the side, in front, in opposite hand
• Close eyes while holding egg and spoon
• Walk/trot/canter around arena
• Walk/trot/canter over poles
• Jump a small crossrail
• Switch hands while at the walk/trot/canter
• Stand in saddle
• Two-point position

Added Benefits:

This exercise teaches quiet hands. It challenges the rider to keep the hands steady and still and quiet, without extravagant excess movement. Focus is on keeping the lower body moving with the horse, as desired, and keeping the upper body still in order to keep from dropping the egg. With a darning egg, the rider can drop the egg as many times as needed, and it still won't break, even if the horse kicks it.

Thanks to Catherine and Angel for being willing participants!