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Volunteering at Scouts is changing to help us reach more young people

Volunteering is changing to help us reach more young people

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Get show pony ready

Discover how to get your pony ready for a show at your local stables.
Plan a session with this activity

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You’ll need

  • Appropriate clothing and footwear for visiting a riding stables

Before you begin

  • Find your local riding school on the British Equestrian website.
  • Read the safety guidance before going horse riding.
  • Contact a local riding stables to arrange a visit for your group. Tell the stables about the badge requirements that the session will need to cover: how to groom a horse, how to tack up a horse, and how to clean riding equipment. Consider tying this in with going riding afterwards to save on cost and travel. Also mention any accessibility needs within the group.
  • It’s possible to be allergic to horses, hay, or straw. Talk to your group before visiting the stables to make sure everyone can take part.

Show ponies at the ready

  1. Everyone should meet the riding instructor, who will be showing them how to groom a horse, how to tack up a horse, and how to clean riding equipment. Everyone should carefully watch the riding instructor give a demonstration.
  2. Everyone should split into groups of three or four and let the riding instructor take them to their horse.
  1. Everyone has 20 minutes to get their horse ready for a show, and the riding instructor will be judging each team’s work. Each team will need to work together to stay safe around their horse and remember what they have been taught, so that they can correctly groom and tack up their horse, and clean their riding equipment.
  1. Once everyone has got their horse ready for the show, the riding instructor should look at each horse to see how well everyone did.

Reflection

This activity was about being a team player and learning to listen and communicate so that people could stay safe and look after their horse. How could good communication and teamwork help if people joined a local stables or pony club? What could go wrong if a team didn’t communicate? Why is it important that everyone knows the job they have to do? Grooming is also a way of communicating. What did people learn about the importance of grooming a horse? People could think about checking the health of the horse, or bonding to feel safer and more comfortable around each other.

Safety

All activities must be safely managed. You must complete a thorough risk assessment and take appropriate steps to reduce risk. Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Always get approval for the activity, and have suitable supervision and an InTouch process.

Animals and insects

Be aware of the risks before interacting with animals. Be aware of anyone with allergies, and make alternative arrangements for them.

Chemicals

This task involves the use of potentially harmful fluids or chemicals. Make sure you follow all relevant safety guidance. Make sure you dispose of them appropriately too, in line with safety guidance.

If anyone feels confident that they can all of the tasks, give them the opportunity to demonstrate their skills on their own.

If anyone struggles with allergies or accessibility, let them work closely with another person to demonstrate their knowledge.

All Scout activities should be inclusive and accessible.

Scouts Equestrian Activity Badge

If anyone particularly enjoyed this session, or a riding session, encourage them to join a local riding stables so they can carry on learning about horses.

If anyone has lots of experience with horses, let them help others under the observation of a skilled adult.