Stick Horse Rodeo

Bronco Tag

1. All but two players pair up and scatter around the playing field, at least 40 square.
2. Each pair becomes a bronco, with one player in front (the head), and the second in the back (the tail) with arms around the partner's waist.
3. The other two players become the runner and the chaser.
4. The chaser gives the runner a head start and then pursues him or her.
5. If a tag is made, the two exchange roles.
6. At any time, the runner may join a bronco by clasping the waist of the bronco's tail.
7. The tail thus becomes the new head, and the old head is displaced and becomes the new runner.
8. Broncos may buck and dodge to prevent the runner from joining them, but they may not push a runner away.

Barrel Racing

1. Set up three coffee cans in a triangle for each rider.
2. Students will pretend to ride horses around the cans in a cloverleaf pattern. Students may trot (hop), canter (skip) or gallop (run).
3. The rider must ride around at least three cans without turning one over.
4. Use a timer, and have someone record the times. The rider who finishes fastest wins.

Rope Activities

Preparation

• Secure ropes
• Teach shapes. Students work in groups to create shapes while holding onto the rope.

Barrel Racing

1. Set up three coffee cans in a triangle for each rider.
2. Show students how to ride their horses around the cans in a cloverleaf pattern.
3. The rider must ride around at least three cans without turning one over.
4. Use a timer, and have someone record the times.
5. The rider who finishes fastest wins.

Wild Cow Milking Contest

1. Fill a rubber glove with water, and poke a small hole in one or two fingers.
2. Have someone hold the rubber glove.
3. Each participant will "milk the cow," filling a spoon with water.
4. Once the spoon is full, the participant will return the water to a cup at the starting line.
5. Keep going until all have participated.
6. The group with the most "milk" wins.

Team Pig Herding

Each team member blows up a pink balloon and draws a face on it with a marker.

1. Team members place their pigs on the ground and herd them to the finish line with fly swatters.
2. First team to get its "herd" to the finish line wins.

Calf Roping

Set up two bales of hay, three feet apart.

1. Place a saddle on the back bale and a bucket on one end of the front bale to simulate the calf's head.
2. Allow one child to sit in the saddle and try to throw a hula hoop over the calf's head.
3. Each child gets three tries.

Flag Relay

1. Divide children into two teams.
2. Place two bales of hay with a flag stuck in each one, about 20 feet away.
3. The first child on each team will ride to the bale of hay, take the flag, return to the team and hand the flag to the next person in line, who will then carry the flag back and stick it into the bale of hay.
4. Continue until all children take a turn.
5. First team to finish wins.

Boot Relay

Students put on man-sized boots, race to a certain spot with them on, race back and take them off for the next team member.

Scatter Square Dancing

Preparation

Use blue grass, pop, rock or country & western music - anything with a quick, steady beat. Teacher is the caller.

Background

The square dance is an American institution. It began in New England as the first settlers and the immigrant groups that followed, brought various national dances. We call them folk dances now, but at the time they were just the popular dances of the day in the countries of their origins. The schottische, the quadrille, the jigs and reels and the minuet are some examples. After a week of toil carving space out of virgin forest and building new homes, the settlers would gather in the community center on Saturday evening and enjoy dancing their old-world favorites. As the communities grew and people of different backgrounds intermingled, so did their dances. As the repertoire increased, it became increasingly difficult for the average person to remember the various movements.

1. Share background information, and explain the calls:
   • Right arm swing - Lock right arms at elbow, and dance in a circle.
   • Left arm swing - Lock left arms at elbow, and dance in a circle.
   • Do-Si-Do - Cross arms in front, and dance around your partner.
   • Right Hand Star - "High five" right hands, and dance in a circle.
   • Left Hand Star - "High five" left hands, and dance in a circle.
   • Honor Your Partner - Curtsy or bow, and say a kind greeting.
   • Hit the Trail - Keeping the beat to the music, move about the dance area. Partner up and walk through the calls.
2. Start the music, and give the calls, There is no "righ"" order.