Riding School Games

Horseback-riding schools use games to assist new students with balance and confidence. Riders and horses easily become bored with the same routine, so all riders, including advanced and professionals, partake in riding games to give themselves and their horses something new to do. Riding games known as Gymkhana are believed to have begun in the middle ages, when knights would prove strength in events such as jousting.

  1. Diaper Races

    • A thrilling activity for riding schools is the Diaper Race. This game uses the entire student body in team races. The first rider lays out a diaper at the end of the riding ring, then the next rider races down on horseback dismounts and then lies on the diaper. The other teammate rides down and pins the diaper on the teammate. Then the diaper-wearer must run full speed on foot to the other end of the arena without the diaper falling past the knees. The first rider back with diaper on and above the knees wins.

    Crossing the River

    • Crossing the River is a suspenseful game, similar to musical chairs, and is usually played by six to eight riders for smaller areas, to 20 to 30 riders for large arenas. The course is laid out using two sets of two poles approximately 10-feet long. Each set of poles is placed end to end on the ground 15 to 20 feet from each other to make a bridge. Riders then ride a figure eight around the poles while music plays. When the music stops, the riders on the bridge are disqualified.

    Horseless Horse show

    • The Horseless Horse show is great for all ages. The horseless show is based on show jumping. A miniature jumping course is created and contestants go through the course jumping as a horse. Whoever clears the course without knocking a rail down is then sent to a jump-off. The jump-off is a shortened course with higher or more challenging jumps. The one who clears the round in the shortest time wins. High-jump events consist of single fences up to four feet high and are a crowd favorite.

    Three Legged Sack Race

    • A must for children, the Three Legged Sack Race is the perfect game for kids to learn about team work. The sack race begins on horseback, as two or more teams gallop as fast as they can to the other side of the arena. They dismount, pick up the sack and quickly put one leg in, then run back in sequence with their teammate and their horses in tow behind. The first team back wins.