Ride That Pony

Name and Purpose

Ride That Pony is a singing circle game where players take turns galloping around the group and dancing with a partner.
It builds rhythm, joyful movement, social connection, and the confidence to be in the spotlight briefly.

a.k.a.

Age / Group / Time / Space

Ages 8-16 | 10-30 players | 10-20 minutes | Open indoor or outdoor space large enough for a standing circle

Materials

No materials required
Optional: recorded version of the song or a simple clap/drum rhythm to support the melody

Quick-Run Card

Players stand in a circle and clap a steady rhythm together.
One volunteer gallops around the outside of the circle while the group sings the first verse.
The galloper stops in front of someone and both perform the front/side/back partner dance moves for the second verse.
The galloper and partner swap; the new person gallops next.
Continue until everyone has gone. Finish with the full group doing all motions together.

Setup and Boundaries

Clear a circle of space large enough to gallop around without bumping anyone
Signal: one raised hand from staff = slow down; two raised hands = stop and gather
Clarify front/side/back motions before starting so everyone knows what to expect

How to Play

Players stand in a circle, clapping a steady beat together.
One volunteer starts in the middle or steps outside the circle to gallop.
Full group sings: “Here we go, ride that pony, ride around that big fat pony, this is how we do it.” The galloper moves around the outside of the circle with a galloping step and a swinging arm motion.
The galloper stops in front of someone of their choosing. Both face each other and do the partner moves while the group sings:
- “Front to front to front, my baby” (face each other, swing arms in a circle in front)
- “Side to side to side, my baby” (jump to stand side by side, same arm motion)
- “Back to back to back, my baby, this is how we do it” (jump to stand back to back, same arm motion)
The two players swap places. The new person becomes the next galloper.
Continue until everyone has had a turn. Close by having the whole group do all the verses and motions together.

I-OPt Options

A (Active): Gallop around the circle; perform the full partner dance
S (Support): Lead the clapping rhythm; help newer players remember the words or motions
Q (Quiet): Sway or step in place rather than galloping; do smaller versions of the motions
O (Observer): Watch from the edge of the circle for a round or two; join the clapping; step in when ready

Inclusion Adaptations

Walk variation: the person circling may walk around the outside rather than gallop; the game still flows
Seated circle option: players sit in chairs; circling player walks around the outside; partner moves are adapted to seated arm motions only

Stewardship Moment

No materials needed; no cleanup required
Ask: “We made something together just with our voices and movement. What does it feel like to create something as a group without any gear?”

Consent

Pre-brief: “In this game, the person galloping picks someone to dance with. For anyone not comfortable being chosen or doing the partner moves, just give me a quiet signal and I’ll let the galloper know to move on to the next person.”
Mid-game check: After the first few rounds, pause. “How is everyone feeling? Anything we should adjust before we keep going?”
Opt-out/re-entry: Any player may step back from the circle at any time. Raise your hand to the galloper to be passed over. Re-enter the circle whenever you like.

Risks and Mitigation

Galloper running too fast around the circle: remind the galloper to gallop, not sprint; circle should have enough space
Partner moves feel awkward or too physical for some players: brief the full group before starting that all motions can be adjusted to feel comfortable; staff model the motions first
Shy players hesitating to step into the galloper role: let players pass their turn and re-enter later; never force the spotlight

Warm-Up Suggestions

“Clap Pattern”: group claps a simple rhythm together and passes it around the circle to build the beat before the song starts
“Gallop Practice”: everyone gallops in place for 10 seconds together before the first round

Debrief Questions

What? “What did it feel like to gallop around the circle while everyone watched?”
So What? “What helped you feel more comfortable as the game went on?”
Now What? “Where in camp life might you give someone else a moment in the spotlight?”

Cleanup and Reset