Pin the Trotter to the Track!
Remember “Pin the Tail on the Donkey?” This game works the same way except we use a harness race track! Each child receives a horse and sulky/trotter with a number on the front and tape on the back. The child is then blindfolded and asked to stick the horse and sulky/trotter on the track poster. Whoever gets closest to the finish line is the winner! Great for all ages.

Clean the Stall
In this game, children race each other in “mucking out” a stall. Don’t worry, this game is totally mess-free because we use air-filled balloons, plastic shovels, and bins. Children use the shovels to pick up a balloon from the stall areas at one end of the room, then race to the bin at the other end of the room. Whoever cleans up the most balloons wins! So much fun, it has become our most popular game. All ages.

                                                 Horse Shoe Toss
Aim for the bucket and win! In this game, children use plastic horseshoes and toss them into three buckets with different point values. The team or person with the most points is the winner! All ages.

                                                 Horseshoe Hunt
In this game, children search the museum for colorful paper horseshoes. There is even a real silver horseshoe! Whoever can collect the most shoes is the winner! This game is a lot of fun for all ages.

                                                 Hot Horse Shoe
This game works just like “Hot Potato.” Children pass a big plastic horseshoe to music. When the music stops, the child holding the shoe steps out of the circle and gets a turn to sit in our sulky. The last person in the circle is the winner! Fast, silly, and LOTS of fun! Another of our most popular games. All ages.

                            Harness Racing Museum Scavenger Hunt
Children must use their deductive powers to find clues hidden throughout the museum. Each clue leads to the next and takes the children through our most enchanting exhibits. If they can find the clues and follow the directions they contain, there is a treasure waiting at the end! Requires reading skills. Ages 7 & up.

                                                  Buddy Pacers
Two children stand on a set of special skis with ropes attached. Together they must move the left plank, then the right skis…and will end up moving just like a pacing horse! Two teams will race each other across our yard or inside the museum, depending upon the weather. All the children will have a chance to “pace,” and the fastest team will be the winner! Ages 6 & up.

                                                 Wagon Wheels
Using our big, padded crawling wheels, children must race each other across the yard or inside the museum. The wheels are the same size as those found on wagons from the 1800’s!
The fastest “wagon wheel” is the winner! A fantastic game for all ages.

                                      Outdoor Games
The following are outdoor games and are available from May through September only. The temperature must be at least 75 degrees.  For each outdoor game you choose, please ALSO choose an indoor game in case of inclement weather. These games involve the use of water, and the probability that the children will get wet.  Lots of paper
towels are provided!

                                                Clean the Paddock
This is the summer version of Clean the Stall! Water balloons are placed all over our enclosed lawn. The children split into teams and race each other in picking up as many water balloons as they can by using a plastic shovel. No hands! Break a balloon, and you have to go back and get another one! This is an outdoor game and is available form May through September only.  Sure to be a hit for all ages!

                                              Water Balloon Race
In this wet and wild game, children stand in an oval (the shape of a racetrack!) They pass a water balloon from person to person.  If you break a balloon, you get to sit in the center of the track. The game gets interesting when it comes down to two people at opposite ends of the track! This is an outdoor game and is available from May through September only.  All ages.

                                           Water Bucket Brigade
For this game, children split into two teams and form two long lines. At the start of the lines there's a “trough” full of water. At the end of each line there's a horse’s water bucket. Each child receives a pitcher. The first child in line must fill their pitcher from the trough, then trot back and pour water into the bucket, then pass the pitcher to the next person in line for their turn. This has to be done as quickly as possible, because the first team to fill their bucket is the winner! This is an outdoor game and is available from May through September only.  All ages.