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More saddle time means more time for fun and games.

If your kids are home on summer break or find more time in the barn thanks to longer daylight hours, it can be challenging to keep them entertained and engaged while horseback. Adding a few age- and experience-appropriate games can add to their fun while keeping them safe and confident while horseback.

Job No. 1: Safety

I always recommend riding with a helmet. Any fall from a greater height than your own is potentially fatal. Thus, if a 3-foot-tall child is riding a full-size horse, that’s a potentially fatal fall. Additionally, the majority of 4- to 6-year-old children shouldn’t ride independently. They don’t have the strength or control, nor the ability to follow directions in an emergency. These riders require close attention and a handler on the ground or ponying their horse. Once a rider reaches age 7 to 10, you’ve hit the “sweet spot.” These riders have better hand/eye coordination, can follow instructions, and can do what you tell them correctly. Teens might be at the peak of their physical abilities but can lack good judgment.

Safety is of utmost importance, but so is having fun. Being scared is not fun! Every rider has vastly different thresholds for trying new things and overcoming fears, so be sure to match any activity to the rider’s own curiosity and confidence. Pushing for more than they can handle won’t get the result you want—nor will it be fun.

Now for the Fun!

There are many fun horseback activities. Here are a few with age recommendations that can apply to other fun games you might want your young rider to try.

Game: Grooming and Beautifying
Age: 4 years old on up; a good way to encourage teen riders to interact with young ones.
Insights: Little girls especially love brushing and braiding and painting. Dolling up their horses can teach them good groundwork sense, strong handling skills, and how to build bonds with different horses.

Game: TP Ride
Age: Independent riders, 7 years and up.
Insights: Before starting, ensure that the horses you’ll use to play get along. Give each pair a 6-foot length of toilet paper. Each rider must hold one end of the toilet paper while you call out maneuvers such as riding in circles, backing up, and more—all without breaking the toilet paper.

Game: Ride a Buck
Age: Skilled riders, ages 11 and up.
Insights: As kids get older, they get more money-motivated! Have each rider place a dollar bill under their thigh while in the saddle. Call out maneuvers for them to complete while keeping that dollar bill in place. The rider who keeps their bill the longest gets all the cash.

Game: Trail Treasures
Age: Independent riders, 7 years and up.
Insights: Riding the same trails day in and day out can get boring. With a little effort, you can increase
the fun. Try leaving small treasures on the trail or creating a scavenger hunt. You can even find trails
that offer horseback geocaching.

Fun and safety don’t have to be mutually exclusive. With a solid understanding of your rider’s age and skills, and knowledge about your horse’s abilities, you can find endless opportunities to have horsemanship-building fun in a safe way all summer.

[Learn: How to Give Invisible Guidance]