Show Jumping Game
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I’m pretty sure all horse-crazy kids have tried to create their own showjumping courses at home. I remember using everything from broomsticks to wrapping paper tubes. These fun memories I had from when I was a kid were a big inspiration in the creation of this game. It can be played in just about any room, or outdoors, and the supplies can all be found in your home.
supplies needed:
- six paper towel tubes or three wrapping paper tubes
- duct tape (colored duct tape is fun)
- printed game cards
- iPhone timer, clock, or stopwatch
How To play:
Gather six paper towel tubes or three wrapping paper tubes. Use duct tape to attach two paper towel tubes together, then wrap the duct tape around each end for decoration. (Colored duct tape can be found at Dollar Tree, Walmart or Amazon.) Or use it to decorate the wrapping paper tubes. (Links available on the Supply List post)
Next, clear out an area in the middle of a room where there’s enough space to lay out the tubes (a.k.a. jumps) and skip or gallop around them. Be sure to move any chairs, tables, or other obstacles that could be in your way. You could also take these outdoors if you need more space. If using them outdoors, find a few rocks and place them in the tubes to keep them from blowing around.
Print the jump cards from the Horse Camp curriculum and cut them out. I printed ours on cardstock so they’d last longer. Use the last three blank cards to create your own jumping patterns. Mix up the cards and stack them face down. Draw one card and arrange your jumps to look just like the pattern on the card. Once your jumps are in place, have a partner time you while you complete the jumping pattern. Then, switch places and time your partner while they complete the course. The person with the fastest time gets a point. Keep going until you’ve completed all of the jumping patterns on all of the cards.
My daughter who’s three years old absolutely loves this game! I gave her minor instruction at the beginning and she was able to catch on pretty quickly. We went through a few of the cards and then I let her make up whatever patterns she wanted. This game is very open-ended and kids can easily make up additional rules, add more jump “poles” or even use a blue towel for “water” jumps. The more creative they are, the more fun it becomes!
For more details, alternative ways to play, and even more games, download the Horse Camp curriculum. If your kids are looking for reading material to supplement the game, I highly recommend National Velvet by Enid Bagnold. For younger readers, the Bramble & Maggie series by Jessie Haas is our current favorite.
Download Horse Camp
