Welcome to e-Tips!
Welcome to e-Tips brought to you by My Horse University and eXtension. If you are an adult, you have probably parented, instructed or mentored a young person involved with horses. It is important that our young equestrians are taught safe horsemanship and good animal welfare practices to ensure a successful future for the horse industry. This month we are featuring information to help work with young riders. Be sure to register for the October 20th Webcast entitled The Top 10 Tips for Coaching Youth Riders. Enjoy!
Did you know...? Using Learning Style Preferences to Teach More Effective Riding Lessons
Karen L. Waite, M.S.
Michigan State University Extension
 Try to think back to when you first learned to ride a horse with any finesse, i.e., when you learned to ride correctly as opposed to just staying on. For some of us, it may have been years ago, for others a few months, or for some who prefer to “just ride around”, not at all. As a 4-H or Pony Club leader, it may be hard for you to remember what it felt like and how difficult it may have been to have someone teach you, among other things, where to put your legs, hands, arms and head and oh yes, to “GET YOUR HEELS DOWN”! The odds are good that it may have been frustrating for you at times, depending on your physical ability, enthusiasm, motivation , the cooperation of your horse and, of course, your instructor. The odds are also good that now, as an instructor, you’re experiencing some of the same frustrations you did when you first learned to ride, because your students “JUST AREN’T GETTING IT!!!” Read on...
Additional resources on learning styles and riding...
After reading this article, please review our sample lesson plans, tailored for each specific learning style:
Lesson Plan 1
Lesson Plan 2
This Month's e-Tips
 Developing a strong riding program for young riders entails using a variety of instructional methods. The following tips will ensure your riding program meets the learning styles of all of your students.
- Provide studentswith an opportunity to visualize what they arelearning by using riding demonstrations, videos and pictures.
- Provide age appropriate verbal explanations and allow students to discuss what they are learning with you and the other students.
- Provide students an opportunity to learn by doing.
- Make sure that your lesson plan incorporates all of the learning styles (visual, auditory, and tactual).
- Observe the way your student learns best and incorporate that style of learning into your lesson plan.
Question of the Month
Choose the best answer:
Horses will:
a) readily eat toxic plants
b) usually avoid toxic plants if given an alternative forage source
c) are more susceptible to ingesting toxic plants on over grazed pasture
d) are more susceptible to ingesting toxic plants on over grown pasture
e) b and c
f) a and d
Click here for the answer!
Photo of the Month
Don't smash the pumpkins! Katy Young takes Conor through his first event course at the 2007 Mill Creek Pony Club Schooling Horse Trials in Kansas City, Missouri. Photo by Merrick Studios.
Want your extraordinary equine featured in the next Photo of the Month?
Send your photo along with your name and a little background info to info@myhorseuniversity.com.
Write "Photo of the Month" in the subject line. |
October 2008
In This Issue
News & Updates
Join us for a FREE live Webcast!
Top Ten Tips for Coaching Youth Riders by Karen Waite, M.S.
October 20, 2008
7:00 p.m. EST
Growing Places Online
Online course for people interested in starting or expanding an agricultural business
Begins October 13, 2008
Manure Application Webcast
Discusses beneficial impacts of manure application on soil and water quality
NCSU Introductory Level Horse Judging Short Course
October 25, 2008
North Carolina
Take an Online Horse Management Course with My Horse University!
Ask the Experts
eXtension invites you to Ask the Experts your horse-related questions
Free Horse Learning Lessons
eXtension's team of horse experts have developed specialized lessons on various topics.
NEW! MHU Horse
Nutrition Course
Give your horse the edge with proper nutrition by taking the new online Horse Nutrition Course.
NEW! MHU Arabian
Horse Judging DVD
Learn how conformation affects a horse's performance.
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Purina Mills is a proud sponsor of My Horse University and eXtension.
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