The summer holidays are very much upon us, and even though pony mad children often want to spend every minute of every day – come rain or shine – at the stables with their favourite steed, we thought we’d share some alternative options too! These are perfect for rainy days, groups, and when said horse or pony is enjoying some well deserved downtime! Let’s get started:
Movie time – luckily there are a lot of films that feature horses and ponies. From classics like Black Beauty and The Horse Whisperer (also good for any Robert Redford fans!) to more recent films like Spirit. Or, why not go slightly rogue with Racing Stripes?!
Books– just like films, there are lots of ‘horsey books’ out there, from the old favourites like the Jill series by Ruby Ferguson all the way to modern day picks like Esme Higgs’ (aka ThisEsme) The Starlight Stables Gang.
Time trials – not quite a gymkhana game, but add in some tack and it’s pretty close, right? How about putting a bridle back together against the clock? Not only useful from a stable management point of view, but you might also get a clean bridle to boot.
Getting arty – head to YouTube, find a ‘how to draw a horse’ video, and get arty! You can find out how to do pretty much any activity on YouTube and drawing is one of them! Alternatively, use pens and paper to plan out showjumping courses and exercises or even learn dressage tests (hint – use different colours for different gaits to make it all the more memorable!)
Lego – fun for all the family (until you stand on it!), Lego can be a great way to get the creative juices flowing, three dimensionally! Build a yard, an arena, a show jumping course, a cross country course and get your mini figures aboard whatever kind of animal/vehicle you have at your disposal! Time a round if you want to be extra competitive.
Baking… for ponies and people. Biscuits and scones can be made into pony themed shapes- just draw out/print off a paper template and cut away. Ponies, horse shoes, rosettes, riding hats, riding boots and saddles all make easy to cut around guides. And if you’re feeling really adventurous, you could always consider some pony baking too. Have a Google for some tasty treats, or why not check out PONY’s recipes here?
And, of course, we’re always keen to meet young riders at RB Equestrian. Bring your riding hat or body protector along and we’ll check its fit for free, or we can help you find anything else you need in store for horse or rider!
