Pegasus Monthly Challenges

Monthly Challenges

Being a Pegasus team member means not only attending your riding lessons, but also keeping active, healthy and continuously improving your horse knowledge. That's what our Monthly Challenges are all about!

When do the Monthly Challenges start?

On the 1st of every month, they will be posted on THIS PAGE as well as on our Pegasus info board in the arena.

What is involved with the challenges?

Each month there will be a task for each of the following categories:

1) Physical Fitness 2) Healthy Lifestyle 3) Equine Learning

There will be a verbal description for each task as well as a video if appropriate. If you need a little extra help, please contact Shannon by phone (519-986-1247) or email (sspeer@hopehavencentre.org).

What happens after I complete the challenge?

If possible, take a picture of your activity to show Shannon or even your instructor at your next lesson. You can also send by email to sspeer@hopehavencentre.org.

November 2022 Monthly Challenge

Hope Haven Invitational Prep and Performance

Direct Link To Page

Date

Monday November 21st to Sunday November 27th, 2022

During their regularly scheduled lesson time in our Fall Session.

Overview

Hope Haven Video Competitions provide equestrians of all (dis)abilities and diverse needs an opportunity for competition in the comfort of their home facility and with their familiar mount.

A unique advantage of our competitions is that we provide a list of compensating aids allowed for specific intellectual disabilities as well as physical impairments in order to encourage the highest level of independence for each competitor.

Competitions Guidlines

Please download and read Fall Invitational Guidlines

October 2022 Monthly Challenge

Physical Fitness

Physical Fitness Challenge

Leg and Core Focus

Instructions

With the colder weather approaching this activity will get your body moving and warmed up not only to start your day but to better prepare you for your lesson.

Within this month you have the choice to complete 1 or both options 2 times.

30 seconds of a walking lunges

10 core twists

Exercise 1 Modifications here

To modify walking lunges we would take a way the walk and make it a stationary lung. This modification video will help show and explain a simple and fun way to still get the benefits of lunges.

Exercise 2 Modifications here

This activity can be done from a seated or standing position, whatever method presents to be more comfortable for the individual.

Healthy Lifestyle Challenge

1 Minute Breathing Exercise

Complete 2 times

Instructions

Remember to always take a minute to breathe. This will help us in more ways than 1. It will help us recollect ourselves by helping us to relax, reduce our heart rate in moments of stress or uncertainty and so much more!

There are many ways you can include a breathing exercise in your daily life, below we have included a few options for you to try!

Equine Learning Challenge

Horse Care

Instructions

Our horses depend on love, care and commitment. We show them love through grooming, petting, housing, riding/ exercising and the occasional treat. Horses like us need care for their needs 365 days a year, in good weather and bad.

Test your knowledge and complete this activity by matching the pictures with the appropriate horse care component.

Horse Care Matching Activity

With the Answer Key and some fun facts attached!

September 2022 Monthly Challenge

Physical Fitness

Physical Fitness Challenge

Leg and Cardio Focus

Instructions

As we have shared before in previous challenges, cardio and leg strengthening are 2 very beneficial components that can always be worked on in preparation to a more successful riding lesson.

Try these 2 exercises to help strengthen and build strength and as well get your heart pumping!

12 Around The World Jumping Jacks. (2 facing forward, 4 facing to your left side, 4 facing behind your original direction, 2 facing forward in your starting position).
10 lunges

Exercise 1 Modifications:

Instead of jumping, stepping 1 foot out at a time. Alternating as you go.

Exercise 2 Modifications here

Healthy Lifestyle Challenge

Weekly Affirmations

Instructions

Affirmations can help strengthen self-worth by boosting both your positive opinion of yourself and your confidence in your ability to achieve your goals within everyday and as well towards your riding. Your challenge this month is to create 1-2 weekly affirmations whether it is for before you start your day and/or before a riding lesson!

Some examples can be found below to help create your own:

I am confident.
I am powerful.
I am strong.
I am getting better and better every day.
I love myself for who I am.
I create my own happiness.
My life is filled with abundance of goodness.
My challenges are actually opportunities.

Equine Learning Challenge

Horse Breeds

Instructions

We have learned about our horses colours, markings and more.. But do you know your horses breed?

This month we are challenging our participants to get to know and find some of our Hope Haven Breeds.

Take a look at this document and see if you can recognize any horses!

Hope Haven Horse Breeds Worksheet

With the Answer Key with our horses names here!

August 2022 Monthly Challenge

Physical Fitness

Physical Fitness Challenge

Leg and Arm Focus

Instructions

When riding or working with a horse it is always beneficial to warm up and engage our bodies first. This can be done with a nice stretch or a light to medium activity that helps wake your mind and body up and get your heart pumping.

Try these exercises below to help not only strengthen but stretch!

10 seconds marching on the spot
30 second arm circles & shoulder shrugs

Healthy Lifestyle Challenge

Sensory Scavenger Hunt

Instructions

This is a creative and simple way for you to explore and get back in touch with your senses and go on an adventure outside in nature! This is a form of sensory play which encourages learning through exploration, curiosity, problem solving and creativity!

Below we have attatched a Backyard Sensory Scavenger Hunt that you can do from the comfort of your own home and as well a Hope Haven Sensory Scavenger Hunt that you can participate in with the help of your instructor!

Backyard Sensory Scavenger Hunt

Hope Haven Sensory Scavenger Hunt

Equine Learning Challenge

Horse Markings

Instructions

Horses come with a variety of different markings ranging from big to small, blaze to stockings and a few more face and leg markings can be found here at Hope Haven!

How many do you know? Check out the handout below and see if you can match all the markings with their correct marking name.

Markings Match

Take a look at the horses on our website and see if you can match the horses with the correct markings!

ANSWER KEY

Contact

545747 Sideroad 4A, RR #2
Markdale, ON N0C 1H0

(t) 519-986-1247

Directions

Located on Sideroad 4a between
7th Line and 9th Line.

View Map

Benoit Dube - Executive Director
execdir@hopehavencentre.org

Barb Sheperd - Development Officer
partnerships@hopehavencentre.org

Robyn Allen - Program Manager & Physiotherapist
program@hopehavencentre.org

Michelle Lemire - Volunteer Coordinator (Interim)
volunteer@hopehavencentre.org

Emma Houser - Volunteer Coordinator & Instructor (PATH Int. CTRI, EC Instructor of Beginners)
ehouser@hopehavencentre.org

Danielle Rose - Equine Manager & Instructor (PATH Int. CTRI, EC Competition Coach)
drose@hopehavencentre.org

Ann-Ida Beck - Instructor (CanTRA CTRSI, PATH Int. CTRI, EC Instructor of Beginners)
abeck@hopehavencentre.org

Gillian MacNeill - Instructor (CanTRA CTRII, PATH Int. CTRI)
gmacneill@hopehavencentre.org

Shannon Speer - Recreational Therapist
sspeer@hopehavencentre.org

Gretel Stanish - Property & Barn Manager
gstanish@hopehavencentre.org