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February 2018 £3.65 Issue 834
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I
t takes practice when it comes to finding the perfect take-off spot for a fence. Some riders find it comes to them naturally, while others concentrate so much on trying to see a stride that it affects how they ride to a fence, which can create a sticky situation. Whichever group you fall into, you’ll feel much more confident about jumping and be more ready to move up a level if you ace your striding into a fence every time. Luckily, practice really does make perfect and there are a few exercises you can use to help you along the way, too.
Can’t seem to meet the fence at the right spot? Find out how to get the perfect stride every time!
Flatwork foundations It sounds dull, but flatwork is super-important when it comes to jumping well. If your pony’s balanced and rhythmical in his paces, you’ll be able to adjust his stride when you’re riding a course of fences, which will help you place him at the perfect take-off point for each fence. While you’re warming up, ride transitions within and between paces. This will keep your pony focused on what you’re asking him to do and engaged through his body.
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PONY magazine
Top tip ra ng exercises are fo
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Exercise 1: Canter poles Getting a good approach and stride into a fence is all about having an active and rhythmical canter. Canter poles are a really useful way to help you achieve this, as they encourage your pony to take bouncy, evensized strides and stay balanced.
What you need: Four canter poles set 2.7m apart down the long side of the arena.
What to do: In canter, ride over the poles, aiming to stay straight through the middle. Ride over them a couple of times, approaching from both reins.
2.7m
Think about: Keeping
2.7m
your leg on to maintain the impulsion, while keeping a soft contact to allow your pony forward. Look up and ahead, rather than down at the poles.
Top tip
Use the st ripes on th e poles to help you st ay in the m iddle.
2.7m
Turn over...
PONY magazine
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tneesss ffoundations Want to get your pony in peak condition? Here’s how to get started...
W
hether you compete your pony or just have fun together, it’s really important that he’s fit enough for his job. Being fit will not only help him clinch some red rosettes, but it will go a long way to keeping him sound, too. There’s so much you can do to improve your pony’s fitness and having variety is really important. The foundations, however, are often best put in place while you’re hacking because you’ll have lots of space to work with and things to keep you interested. Getting fit can be split up into four phases to help you achieve it safely for your pony. When your pony gets fitter, his... l cardiovascular system (heart and blood vessels) becomes more efficient l muscles build up and are more effective l bones, tendons and ligaments get stronger l recovery after exercise becomes much quicker
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Top tip
Phase 1: Long and slow
If you don’t have Aim: Increase the distance much access to hacking, you can work The first thing you need to do is increase the on his fitness in a time and distance your pony can go for. If you’re field. starting to build his fitness from scratch, begin with a short walking hack (about 20 minutes), then make it a little bit longer each time you ride. Keep extending your rides until you reach a time you’re happy with – 90 minutes is a good aim. It should take you around four weeks (riding four times a week) to build up to this if you’re starting from nothing.
Phase 2: Short and speedy Aim: Increase the pace
Did you know?
The next thing you want to achieve is going a bit faster. This doesn’t mean you’re ready to take your pony galloping – it’s still important to take it steady. The best way to do this is make your rides shorter, but add in some short trots. Over the next few weeks, make your trots longer and more frequent, and add in some short canters too.
You can use hills to make your pony work harder. They change the way he uses his body so he’ll be working different muscles.
Phase 3: Faster for longer Aim: Work harder for longer Now it’s time to start making your rides longer again, keeping the level of intensity (how hard your pony’s working) the same. It’s important to think carefully about when to step up your pony’s training – if you do it too soon, you risk injury, but too slow and he won’t make much improvement. Avoid making your rides longer and harder at the same time – first increase the time, then decrease it again when you start to make it harder work. Keep building until your pony is working harder for longer.
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Top tip
Don’t forget to warm up your pony and cool him down every time you ride.
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Kate has asked Ruby to canter to the back of the ride – what are the correct aids for canter? A) Sit up, loosen the reins and put both legs on slightly behind the girth B) Big squeeze and say ‘yeehah!’ C) Sit up, ask for inside bend, then put your outside leg behind and inside leg on the girth
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Mallow didn’t canter the first time Ruby asked him, but rushed into a fast trot instead. What should Ruby do?
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Ruby’s just realised that she’s forgotten to check her girth since she started warming up. What should she do if it needs tightening? A) Come off the track, dismount, tighten it and remount B) Turn into the middle and halt out of the way, staying on board while she tightens it C) Halt where she is, stay on board and tighten it straightaway
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Kate asks everyone to get into a ride and Ruby is second. How much space should she leave between her and the pony in front? A) One pony’s length – she should be able to see the pony in front’s hocks between Mallow’s ears B) Three large human strides C) Three seconds – she should count from when the pony in front passes a marker until she does
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Ruby is now at the front of the ride and Kate has asked her to ride a change of rein across the long diagonal from H. Which of these would be correct? A) H to M B) H to B C) H to F
A) Keep giving him the canter aids and he’ll eventually canter B) Bring him back to a steady but active trot, wait for the next corner, use a half-halt and ask for canter again C) Slow him down, then ask again after two trot strides
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Kate suggests that everyone takes their stirrups away to practise sitting trot. What should Ruby do with her stirrups? A) Cross them over Mallow’s withers, right first then left B) Leave them dangling by Mallow’s side C) Cross them over his withers, either way round
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Another rider in the group asks Kate if they can do some jumping. She agrees on the condition they can remember the five phases of a jump. What would you tell Ruby the answer is? A) Approach, jump, flight, land, exit B) Run up, big push, flying, come down, run off C) Approach, take-off, flight, landing, getaway
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Ruby heads towards her first jump – what sort of canter should she have?
A) Fast and flat B) Bouncy and balanced C) Slow and steady
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