Horse Riding

Horse Riding

One day the students at our language school went horse riding. None of us had ridden a horse before. We were excited and nervous.

The horses varied in size. My horse was small and dark brown. My friend, Masa, rode a large white horse. All the horses had saddles, stirrups, bridles and reins. We all wore helmets.

First we rode around the farm. We went through many gates and across many paddocks. Jimmy, who is the scientist at our school, was curious about his horse. He pulled hairs out of the horse’s mane to study them. The horse objected. It bucked Jimmy off. Everyone shouted with laughter.

I wanted my horse to go faster so I kicked its sides. It began to trot. Trotting is very uncomfortable. I bumped up and down in the saddle. Later, we rode along side of the road. There was a lot of grass and our horses were hungry. It was difficult pulling their heads up. We enjoyed horse riding very much. We all agreed we’d like to do it again.

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A. Read the story and then answer these questions.

1. Who is telling this story?
The girl is telling the story.
2. Had any of the students ridden a horse before? (Write the sentence which tells you the answer).
None of us had ridden a horse before.
3. What did a) the horse wear? b) the students wear?
a)The horses wears saddles, stirrups, bridles and reins and the students wore helmets.
4. Where did they go a) first? b) later?
They went around the farm first and later they went along the side of the road where there is lots of grass.
5. Why was Jimmy bucked off his horse?
Jimmy pulled a hair out of his horse’s mane.
6. What do you do when you want a horse to go faster?
You kick the horse’s side to make the horse go faster.
7. What did the horse want to do at the side of the road?
The horse wanted to eat.

B. Fill in the missing spaces in the story below to describe a person’s experience of horse riding.

Our horses _varied__ in size. My _horse_ was small and _dark_ _brown_.
First we __rode__ around the __farm_. We went __through__ many __gates__ and __across__ many __paddocks__.
Jimmy pulled __hairs__ out of his horse’s mane. The horse __object___. It _bucked__ Jimmy _off__. Everyone _shouted_.
We all __agreed__ we’d ___like__ to go _do_ _it_ again.

D. Use the clues below to complete this word-stair. Draw the word-stair into your book.

1. When his horse trotted he _bumped_ in his saddle.
2. when he wanted his horse to go faster he _kicked_______ it.
3. Many different kinds.
4. He _pulled__ the horses head.
5. He __kicked__ his horse to go faster.


One of the most popular places for horse riding is around Queenstown in the South Island. Guided horseback tours take visitors to old gold mining sites.
Longer horse riding treks are popular in both the North and the South Islands. These treks can take from three to five days. Pack horses carry the food and camping gear. Sometimes horse riders stay in huts or shearing quarters but often they sleep in tents. Guides lead the trek through wilderness country where there are no roads.

E. Read the story and then answer these questions.

1. Where do guided horseback tours take visitors?
Around Queenstown in the South Island.
2. What is an old gold mining site?
An old gold mining site is where the miners dig for gold long time ago.
3. Where are longer horse riding treks popular?
Both North and South Island.
4. What is a pack horse?
Pack horse carries food and camping gear.
5. Where do horse riders stay on longer treks?
Sometimes they stay in huts or shearing quarters.
6. What is wilderness country?
Wilderness country has no roads kind of like Texas.
7. Would you like to go on a longer horse riding trek? Why?
Yes!!Because I haven’t ridden a horse before in my life.