Ready Set Trot and Ride a Horse equestrian programs offer students a unique opportunity to try a new sport while developing their motor skills and learning values such as team work and respect.
Equestrian Australia have a range of package options to suit your school’s needs and can cater for both primary and secondary school programs.
Primary School Programs
Equestrian Australia primary school programs are summarised below.
Ready Set Trot Playground Skills includes seven sessions of engaging and interactive games and activities to introduce students to the world of horses. This program is teacher delivered, utilises basic sports equipment and can be delivered in any large open space.
Ready Set Trot Unmounted Incursion includes five sessions - four sessions of the Playground Skills horse-themed games and activities, with a horse visit to the school grounds on the fifth session. The first four sessions can be either coach or teacher delivered with the final session horse visit facilitated by an accredited EA, PCA or RDA coach.
Ready Set Trot Mounted Excursion includes five sessions - four sessions of the Playground Skills horse-themed games and activities, with a visit to a riding facility on the fifth session for pony rides. The first four sessions can be coach or teacher delivered with final session mounted excursion facilitated by an accredited EA, PCA or RDA coach.
Secondary School Programs
Ride a Horse is an interactive program that will encourage students to be more active and engaged in sport while learning fundamentals skills associated with Equestrian. There are three coach delivered packages available for secondary school students in Year 7 and 8. These programs include 5 sessions of hands-on activities that are all delivered offsite at a local Equestrian Centre by an accredited EA, PCA or RDA coach.
Equestrian Experience is a new hands-on experience designed to introduce students to the sport of Equestrian. The program is delivered in an interactive manner and students will develop an understanding of Horse Management, learn new skills and have the opportunity to ride a horse.
Ready Set Vault is designed to develop students' Equestrian skills, Stable skills and also Active Gymnastic skills. Initially these skills will be developed in a controlled environment with the opportunity to experience Vaulting on a horse towards the end of the program.
Assisted Equine Learning delivers a hands-on experience involving horse management and stable skills and includes opprtunities to interact and work with a horse. The program activities are designed to address leadership, teamwork, communication, self esteem and behavioural issues.
Equipment
Basic school sport equipment is all that is required to deliver the Playground Skills programs.
All other program equipment will be supplied by the Equestrian Centre and Coach who delivers the program.
Teachers
Teachers can deliver Ready Set Trot – Playground Skills in Sporting Schools by meeting the requirements below. The Ride a Horse program is not available for teacher delivery.
Coaches
To become a coach and deliver equestrian in Sporting Schools please ensure you are working towards the following requirements:
- Be aged 18 years or over
- Hold a current Working With Children Check
- Confirm adequacy of insurance
- Equestrian Australia Introductory Level Coach or above; or
- Pony Club Australia Preliminary Level Coach or above; or
- Riding for the Disabled Association Australia Level One Coach or above.
Note: There are no coaching qualifications required to coach the playground skills component (without a horse) - simply visit the Resources section above to download the Ready Set Trot Playground Skills resources.
Coaching Providers
Sporting Schools is an Australia-wide program in partnership with over 30 national sporting organisations (NSO), of which the Equestrian Australia is one.
Equestrian Australia coordinates all Sporting Schools programs and do not require external coaching providers. For further information please contact Equestrian Australia.
Planning Considerations
- Teacher assistance will be required for groups larger than 30 children with a minimum of two teachers required to assist with the final session.
- Package prices may be subject to change depending on the availability of the coach, whether hired transport is required to the riding facility and if travel cost is required for the coach.
- Coaches may also request a set amount per student for pony rides; therefore, the final price will be dependent on the number of children in a class.
- A horse visit requires a safe open space with suitable footing for the horse to stand on and appropriate parking near by for a horse float.
- Students will be required to wear closed in shoes and long pants when horseback riding.
- Programs can be individually structured to suit.
Equestrian Australia Resources
Teachers and coaches who enrol to deliver Ready Set Trot are provided with a Ready Set Trot Delivery Handbook and Ready Set Trot Activity Sheets.
These resources include easy lesson plans and activities to reinforce horse knowledge and are suitable for ages 4-7, 8-10 and 11-12 years. It is the perfect wet weather or extension resource.
Enrol online to access these Ready Set Trot delivery resources.
Equestrian Australia
Contact: Athlete Pathways Team
Email: rideahorse@equestrian.org.au
Phone: 02 8762 7777