Calmer, Smarter & Braver Horse Obstacle Course
The following Obstacles list was sent to me by Celenia in CA. I thought it was such a great activity that I asked her to send me information to post so more folks could benefit. In most situations this is a group activity, with many people volunteering props to offer a wide range of obstacles for the CSB course. However, if you are doing this at home, you can pick a few to try and build from there. This is a great, safe way of making your horse obedient to your commands, learn to trust you and become calmer, smarter and braver on the trail. In many cases it is a good idea to have an assistant to help you. Be careful and know your horse.
A blue star indicates that the brave horse pictured is a curly!
DOWNLOAD ENTIRE PROP LIST
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Indy Owned by Celenia |
SPECIAL NOTE ! To make this a fun interactive activity, we would LOVE to have an example for each obstacle featuring a CURLY! As you can see we have MANY empty photo slots that need to be filled! Wouldn't that be a wonderful way to prove the steady temperament and willingness of our horses? Come on everyone, give at least 1 obstacle a try and have those cameras ready!
Email PICS to me and I will upload it next to the activity you accomplished. Oh, and please be sure to mention the name of the horse, (reg # if you wish) and name of owner. Thanks and Have fun! |
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OBSTACLE |
PHOTO |
COMMENTS |
Car Wash
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Create a mist over your streamers in the hot weather!
***FEATURED CURLY: COYOTE KNITE, owned by Jo Ann Huston |
Decoys

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Available at Cabellas or ebay etc. Ducks etc.
****FEATURED CURLY: COYOTE KNITE, owned by Jo Ann Huston |
Blowing tarp

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A BIG tarp that blows in the wind. Use fans or leaf blower if there is no wind.See http://www.kbrhorse.net/tra/course01.html
***FEATURED CURLY: COYOTE KNITE, owned by Jo Ann Huston |
Fan

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Use streamers, pin wheel, crepe paper, etc. that move in the wind.
******FEATURED CURLY: COYOTE KNITE, owned by Jo Ann Huston |
Flag alley
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Flags can be found at the dollar store: http://www.kbrhorse.net/tra/course01.html
******FEATURED CURLY: COYOTE KNITE, owned by Jo Ann Huston |
Trampoline

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Person jumps up and down while horse stands by or circles. Props to add to this exercise would be pom poms, helium balloons, etc.
***FEATURED CURLY, FIFI owned by Mendy & Mike.
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Tickle Tunnel

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A free standing PVC stand with receptors to hold noodles. Walk your horse thru the middle.
***FEATURED CURLY, KC PRINCE CHARLES - STALLION Owned by Cozy Nook Curys |

Pole Kites
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Person holds pole that is attached to a kite, held over a horse. Avail at places like Cabellas
**Featured Curly: Lakota owned by Michelle Ives |

Pipe |
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This pipe is very scary, because its long, corrugated, you can't control its movement, it zips and flings, its hollow and echos, and its corrugated, so it makes this awful zzzzippp echoey noise when it moves. All the horses are freaked out by it at first.
**Featured Curly: Lakota owned by Michelle Ives |

"playing the pipe" lol |
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Here I'm cracking up, because she discovered its really cool to "zip" her lips along the grooves.... She was playing it like a harmonica!
**Featured Curly: Lakota owned by Michelle Ives |

Starter Pistol |
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Get your horse used to the sound of a pistol. Be sure to allow plenty of room.
** Featured Curly: *
Legend of Curly's Gold
owned by Bernice |

Apple Bobbing |
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Garbage can w/ water & apples. Teach horse to bob.
**Featured Curlies: *Cheyene AP Jubilee and *Prairie Espresso Dream (owned by Conroys)
Video Clip - this was a HOOT! |

Back Pack |
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Get person to walk around wearing it. Encourage horse to be curious about it's contents ie cell phone, treats etc.
***Featured Curly: *Mead's Buckskin Billy (owned by Laura Kibler) |

Ball, BIG |
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Introduce horse to balls. 4 feet size and 6 feet size. rolling, moving and bouncing.
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Featured Curly: *Red Running Star
BONUS PICTURE! TRY this! click to enlarge |
(owned by Green Mt. Curlies) |

Wind spinners |
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the kind that poke in the ground, they can be found at most dollar stores.
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**Featured Curly: *Mead's Buckskin Billy.
BONUS PICTURE! TRY THIS! click to enlarge |
(owned by Laura Kibler) |

Silly String |
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Get your horse used to being spray with silly string. Horses have been injured at parades when surprised by children with silly string.
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**Featured Curly: *Mead's Buckskin Billy.
BONUS PICTURE! click to enlarge |
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Magic Tarp |
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helper pulls a tarp ahead of the horse that is walking behind. When horse steps on tarp, helper stops.
Featured Curly: *Mead's Buckskin Billy & Laura
Another photo of Laura and Bill here |

Dirt bike |
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Introduce your curly to motorized vehicles while in the safety of your own backyard.
Featured Curly: *Mead's Bucksking Billy & Laura |
Boxes

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Scatter empty boxes around of all sizes and shapes. Have your horse walk around, under and through them.
Photo sent in by Ann Washington |
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OBSTACLE |
PHOTO |
COMMENTS |

Dress Up
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Introduce your horse to variety of clothing items: leg wraps, shipping boots, sheet, blanket, sleazy hood, hoof polish, mane ribbons, rubber bands, tail wrap, hats, fly mask, streamers, easy boots etc.
Featured Curly: *Independance Zarina, owner Ashley
Also featuring: Levi Ap Jubilee & Cuervo
Click name to view photo |

Platform/Box |
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For a horse to stand on.
Featured Curly: *Prairie Espresso Dream, aka Reese with beginner rider, Derrick.Also Featuring: Chey owned by Robbin |

Star Cavaletti |
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http://tteam-ttouch.com/horseplayground.shtml
Featured Curly: *Katrina's Fire Walker (owned by Green Mt. Curlies) |

Umbrella |
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Get your horse acquainted with Umbrellas....over above and behind.
Featured Curly: *Levi AP Jubilee with owner, Anna |

Bridge |
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Teach your horse to step on & over a wooden bridge.
Featured Curly: *Prairie Espresso Dream, aka Reese with Denise Conroy, rider. |

Bubble Wrap |
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Horse steps on bubble wrap that is placed on a board.
**Featured Curly: *Praire Espresso Dream (owned by Denise Conroy) |

Drag Item |
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Pull various things behind your horse: gunny sack, aluminum cans, inner tube, plastic milk jugs.
****Featured Curly: JJ (owned by Erin Anderton) |

Drag Item #2 |
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Photo sent in by Ann Washington. Curly dragging a branch |
Gate

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Rope Gate.
Attach interesting items to the gate ie balloons, bells and streamers.
Photo sent in by Ann Washington. |
Mailbox w/ flag
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Put fun items in mail box (carrots, apples, cookies)
Photo sent in by Ann Washington |
Barrel Back
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Backing between Barrels
Photo sent in by Ann Washington |
Blocks

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Motorcycle Blocks
Photo sent in by Ann Washington
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Step overs
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Step over obstacles
Photo sent in by Ann Washington |
Tire Obstacle
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Tractor Tire Obstacle
Photo sent in by Ann Washington |
Metal Grate
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Metal Grate step
Photo sent in by Ann Washington |
Rain Slicker
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Rain Slicker obstacle
Photo sent in by Ann Washington |
Tall Narrow
Bridge
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Latice Bridge Walk over
Photo sent in by Ann Washington |
Concrete step
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Concrete bridge
Photo sent in by Ann Washington |
| Hanging things |
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hang items from trees such as sheets, bat image etc.
****Reserved for Erin & JJ |
| Hula Hoop Squeeze |
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See the demo: http://www.kbrhorse.net/tra/course01.html
***Reserved for Tracy and Cheyene |
| Tarp Sprinkler |
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Trap is set up over fence and sprinkler is set up outside fence to hit tarp with water spray.
****Reserved for Erin & JJ |
| Rope w/ trash bags |
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Rope w/ trash bags and plastic bags every few feet tied to a fence. When person pulls the rope, the entire rope moves!
****Reserved for Mendy & MIke |
For Inspiration, I thought you would enjoy viewing the photos below. Thank you Nancy!
Harmony Acres Parade Horses - Michigan
Nancy demonstrates despooking during clinics at the Michigan Horse Expo

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