How to Play with Your Horse/Pony

Trying Simple Activities

Sit in your horse's pasture for some peaceful bonding time. Sometimes playing with your horse doesn’t involve doing anything at all. Find a comfortable spot in the soft grass, and don’t be surprised if your horse comes and stands near you. You and your horse will both benefit from having some calm bonding time together. Feel free to walk or run with your horse, but be careful to stay clear of its feet! If you want something to keep you occupied while you’re sitting with your horse, you can read a book, draw a picture, or even talk to your horse. You could even share a picnic! Pack something for yourself to eat, like a sandwich, and bring along some treats for your horse. Fruits and vegetables make great treats for your equine friend! Try offering your horse carrots, apples, raisins, or celery. Most commercial horse treats are also okay.

Braid your horse's mane if you enjoy grooming. If you’re gentle, your horse will enjoy being groomed, and it’s a good bonding activity for both of you. Carefully brush out any tangles from your horse’s mane, then braid it. You can braid it in a French braid, you can do several smaller braids, or you can come up with your own creative design! Leaving the braids in too long can damage your horse’s mane, so take them out after 1-2 days.

Dance with your horse for an easy way to have fun. As long as you keep your dance movements relatively controlled, your horse will probably be entertained by your dancing and the sound of the music. If you’re patient, you might even be able to teach your horse some simple dance moves, like the Hokey Pokey or a simple side-to-side step! Try not to play anything too aggressive, and don't jump up or flail your arms too suddenly. You could startle your horse, and it might rear or bolt.

Take your horse for a walk around the neighborhood. If you live somewhere quiet without a lot of traffic, take your horse by the reins and go for a walk. By walking alongside the horse, you can give your horse a chance to explore somewhere new while still helping to control its movements. This will be helpful if your horse sees anything that startles it. Also, by encountering different situations, your horse will become more comfortable with a changing environment, and it will be less likely to spook when you’re riding it on a trail. Tip: Don't take your horse on a road with a lot of cars. It could get spooked, and you or the horse could be seriously injured.

Give your horse a toy to play with. To keep your horse entertained, try giving it a new toy, like a ball with a handle on it that your horse can throw around, or even an extra-large ball made of a durable material that the horse can kick and chase. You can also buy toys that are made to dispense treats when your horse pushes them around. Your horse will love being rewarded just for playing! It’s best to use toys specifically designed for horses. Toys for smaller animals, like dogs, might not be durable enough to stand up to a horse, and they could even pose a choking hazard.

Playing Advanced Games

Build an obstacle course for your horse to navigate. Use poles, tires, barrels, and orange cones to set up an obstacle course for your horse to go through. Then, mount your horse and carefully guide them along the path you’ve made, making sure not to let them trip on anything! In addition to being a fun activity, this will help you get better at controlling your horse’s feet! You could also draw lines in the sand or have an adult cut lines into the grass to make a maze instead of an obstacle course! You could also make a hopscotch course, where you have to complete a certain action for each box. For instance, you might have to turn around in a circle if you stop in the first box or take 2 steps back if you land in the 4th box. Tip: Include items in your obstacle course that you might encounter when you’re out riding your horse. That way, the horse can get used to those objects in a safe environment. For instance, you might use plastic bags, which can often startle horses. Place the bags on a barrel or weight them down with rocks. Then, walk the horse past the bags, keeping your body at ease.

Get a friend to play Simon Says with you and your horse. Make up index cards with different commands you can give your horse. Then, have someone else call out the commands that are on the card. If your horse is comfortable with that person, too, then you can take turns playing! Some commands you might write down could include, “Take 2 steps forward,” “Make your pony wiggle its ears,” or “Have your horse lower its head.”

Put on your own horse show. Groom your horse so it looks its very best, then invite some friends over and show off your horse! Show off any tricks your horse knows, and ask your friends to score it. If you have friends who have horses too, you can enter all of the horses in the show! You can even make a ribbon or certificate to give out as a prize!

Play Capture the Flag on horseback if you’re an experienced rider. If you’ve been riding for a while and your horse is easy to control, you can play games like Capture the Flag while you’re in the saddle. Set up a pole with a flag hanging from it, then ride as close to the pole as you can and try to catch the flag. This game is fun whether you’re the only one playing or you have players split into teams. Make sure to never lean out too far from the horse, or you could fall.