High Hopes TR Sidewalker Handbook

Sidewalker Manual Updated March 2020 If you need a copy of this manual in an ADA Compliant format please do not hesitate to ask our Office Manager.

High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Inc. 36 Town Woods Road, Old Lyme, CT 06371 Call: 860.434.1974 Fax: 860.434.3723 highhopestr.org @highhopestr.org #horsesandhumansimprovinglives

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Table of Contents The Role of the Sidewalker ......................................................................... 3 The Volunteer Team ........................................................................................ 4 Communication is Key ................................................................................... 4 Types of Verbal and Visual Support ...................................................... 5 Types of Physical Support ........................................................................... 7 Participant Behavior Management ........................................................ 11 Emergency Plan ............................................................................................... 12 “Emergency” Dismount ................................................................................ 12 Fallen Rider or Medical Emergency .................................................... 12 Sidewalking is a learning experience ................................................ 13

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The Role of the Sidewalker The sidewalker’s primary role is to walk alongside the rider and provide support as indicated by the instructor. Support may be physical, verbal, or visual to reinforce the instructor’s directions. Sidewalkers help communicate instructions to a rider and provide moral support.

A sidewalker often becomes a role model to their rider, helping to encourage independence. One or two sidewalkers may be assigned to each rider depending on the rider’s needs.

Sidewalkers should arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of their session. Upon arrival, please check the daily sheet to confirm the rider you will be working with. You may then greet your rider, assist with their helmet (the list is on top of the first aid cabinet to the left of the helmet wall), and wait with the rider until the instructor indicates it is time to mount.

Please do not allow riders to enter the barn area without a staff member’s permission.

Please stay with your assigned rider throughout the whole lesson and guide them back to the lounge when the lesson is complete.

SIDEWALKERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RIDER WHILE HORSE LEADERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE HORSE

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The Volunteer Team Communication is Key Communicate with other sidewalkers and horse leaders…you are a team!

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Alert the horse leader if a rider is attempting to cue the horse with leg or rein aid.

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This will initiate the horse’s response to the rider’s attempted cue, helping the rider understand cause and effect. (see positive reinforcement below)

Use same hold as opposite sidewalker as directed by your instructor (or as necessary) Try not to talk while the instructor or other sidewalker is speaking to the rider.

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This will help ensure clarity and minimize distraction.

Some riders need more prompting than others- please discuss your individual riders needs with your instructor.

It is important to always give rider time to think and then respond (processing time). After waiting about 10-15 seconds, repeat the phrase if necessary.

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Types of Verbal and Visual Support Repeat Instructions: Useful When: Rider has trouble hearing instructor, rider has trouble focusing, or additional processing time is needed Example: Instructor says “Johnny show me your half seat”. Sidewalker (SW) repeats “Johnny show your half seat”

Truncated Language: Short and simple words and sentences Useful When: Rider has a short attention span or rider has limited verbal skills Example: Say “hold reins” instead of “Johnny please hold your reins”

Positive Reinforcement: Use often, especially when rider makes an effort or an attempt.

• •

Praise is a powerful motivator.

Letting the horse leader know that the rider attempted a task will help reinforce that attempt.

Example: When Johnny makes an effort to steer to the left, say, “Good try Johnny! You want Nifty to go left!” The horse leader will then know to steer Nifty to the left, which will reinforce Johnny’s attempt. This will help Johnny learn that moving the reins to the left will steer the horse to the left.

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Give specific praise

Example: Say “Johnny I love how you held your half seat for 10 seconds” vs.

“Nice job Johnny”

Demonstration or miming: Useful When: Some riders learn best visually, or have difficulty hearing/understanding.

Example: When rider is asked to point to the left, SW models the action of pointing to the left so the rider sees this and copies the motion

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Sign Language Useful When: Rider has limited verbal skills or some riders need a "visual bridge" to understand spoken language

Walk On

Halt or Stop

Trot

Saddle

Ride

Sit Tall

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Types of Physical Support A variety of sidewalking techniques are used according to rider’s needs. The instructor will indicate which type of support should be used. (Please use caution never to force movement or use excessive pressure when applying any of these techniques.)

Counter Weight: Holding weight in offside stirrup

Useful When: Rider is using stirrup to mount Why: Helps to keep the saddle centered and prevent the saddle pulling on the horses back when the rider puts their foot in the stirrup.

Sidewalk (no hold): The sidewalker walks beside the rider (lined up with the rider’s leg) and is prepared for assisting when/if indicated by instructor.

Useful When: Rider is in a balanced position and needs only verbal or visual prompting.

Correct: Sidewalker is close to the rider and in alignment with the riders legs

Incorrect: Sidewalker is too far away and not ready to assist the rider

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Arm over Thigh The sidewalker places the arm closest to the rider perpendicular to the rider’s thigh and grasps the front edge of the saddle flap.

Useful When: The Rider has: Poor sitting balance, erratic movement/behavior, a medical emergency (i.e. seizure) The Horse is: Trotting (rider sitting) or demonstrating a fear response, unexpected movement such as tripping.

Correct: Sidewalker is holding the saddle connected to the horse, not just the rider.

Incorrect: Sidewalker is holding the rider, not connected to the horse.

Hand Over Hand Prompting: Useful When: The rider needs assistance to use their reins to communicate with the horse.

Correct: The sidewalker’s hand is directly assisting the rider’s hand.

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Heel or Ankle Hold: The sidewalker places hand (all 5 fingers together) on inside of rider's ankle. This position allows the sidewalker to gently draw heel forward, back, down, or away from horse's side without manipulating joints, keeping the rider in an aligned position in order to benefit from the horses movement or to prevent the rider from giving the horse incorrect cues.

Useful When: The Rider is: Learning to post or 1/2 seat, has poor leg position or alignment, to promote independence, in case of emergency to keep riders body alignment The Horse is: Trotting (rider posting or 1/2 seat) or displaying signs of discomfort due to rider’s leg position, unexpected movement such as tripping

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Useful When: When foot slips out, during a drop/pick-up stirrups activity, or when safety feature needs to be corrected. The “s-curve” should face out away from the horse, this feature allows the rider’s foot to come out of the stirrup in case of emergency.

Correct: Stirrup on the ball of the rider’s foot

Incorrect: Incorrect: S-Curve facing in

Incorrect: Foot too far in

Incorrect: Foot too far out

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Participant Behavior Management When Positive Behaviors Occur use Reinforcement!

Encourages the rider to continue participating and behaving in an acceptable way. It should also be used if a rider has stopped unacceptable behaviors. So make use of things like: • • • • •

Praise Release of Hold High five Offering Object of Interest Giving a Token *Always check with instructor before giving a rider anything*

When Negative Behaviors Occur: Always alert the instructor of serious negative behavior such as: • • • •

Hitting Hair pulling Attempting to dismount Removing helmet while mounted

Things to Avoid: • •

Reaching up with both hands Trying to control rider’s upper body

Firm Verbal Correction: Use simple positive suggestions, given in a stern voice to correct the unwanted behavior such as "hands down," or "quiet voice”.

Arm-Over-Thigh Hold: Use when rider is demonstrating inappropriate movements such as: • • •

Attempting to dismount prematurely Laying down on horse Bouncing in saddle

Hand-Over-Hand: Use as a movement prevention technique when a rider is: • •

Avoiding holding onto saddle or reins Excessively flapping, clapping, or waving

Always remember to be aware of how the horse is reacting to the rider’s behavior

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Emergency Plan Although High Hopes always aims for the highest level of safety within the lessons, unexpected circumstances can come up. Instructors, sidewalkers, and horse leaders are all trained with various scenarios in order to prepare them for the chance of an incident.

“Emergency” Dismount During riding lessons, the instructor performs rider mounts and dismounts. However, in certain situations, the instructor may ask volunteers to perform an emergency dismount as follows: •

The instructor calls for an emergency dismount

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The horse leader halts and heads off their horse

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One sidewalker will inform the rider of the emergency dismount

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Both sidewalkers will make sure the rider has removed their feet from the stirrups

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ONE SIDEWALKER WILL PERFORM DISMOUNT. To perform the dismount, place your arms around the rider’s waist or holding onto pants. Then, pull the rider off by bringing their hips to your hips while walking backwards to safely move away from the horse.

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Horse leaders must keep the horse a safe distance from rider

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Once the rider is dismounted, please await further direction from the instructor

Fallen Rider or Medical Emergency Should a rider fall from a horse, become injured or have a medical emergency during a lesson—all activity will stop. The instructor is responsible for managing the incident, including applying any first aid needed. Designated volunteers may be asked to assist by retrieving a first aid kit, calling for emergency medical assistance (911), and/or locating the rider’s pink emergency medical form (located in “rider” file drawer in program office). In the event of a fallen rider, the horse leader will move the rider’s horse away from the rider, then halt and head off the horse. All other horse leaders are to halt their horses and head them off. Sidewalkers of the fallen rider remain with the rider until directed otherwise. All other sidewalkers are to apply “arm over thigh” support and stay with their riders, waiting for further direction from the instructor. No one, including riders’ parents, should enter or leave the arena without direction from the instructor.

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Sidewalking is a learning experience At High Hopes we thoroughly enjoy having new volunteers join our team. Not only is this a learning experience for you but also for the staff and participants of High Hopes. Each volunteer brings their own experiences and interests to High Hopes.

Although we covered the general material required to be a sidewalker, the majority of the learning will be hands on in the ring when you are working with the participants. That being said, instructors may give suggestions or comments to ensure the activity is safe and enjoyable for everyone.

For additional training and volunteering opportunities please contact the Volunteer Coordinator or the Volunteer Manager.

Thank you for participating and we appreciate your dedication to High Hopes.

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