PONY magazine – August 2021

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August 2021 £3.99 Issue 880 DJMurphy

No arena, no problem Could hacking really boost your dressage scores? Find out here!

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s there anything better than a hack in the sunshine with your equine bestie? We all love a chilled-out amble around the countryside, but what if that same wander could do wonders for your pony’s way of going, too? Check out our awesome exercises to help you get the best of both worlds.

did you know?

Riding on different surfaces improves your pony’s balance and builds his strength.

Twists and turns TOP TIP

Being able to bend your pony around your leg in either direction Don’t lose impulsion is super-important in a dressage while you practise test. From riding into the corner bending – your pony still to making the perfectly shaped needs to move forwards 20m circle, your pony needs to be as he would in a test! supple to score highly.

Practise bending him out hacking by riding shallow loops along hedge lines and even large circles if you have space.

Even changing the direction of bend every few strides along the bridleway will help supple your pony up and make riding a smooth change of rein loads easier. Remember to push your outside leg slightly behind the girth and turn your shoulders towards the direction of bend to help him, as he might not quite understand what you’re after to begin with.

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On and back Transitions are an essential part of any dressage rider’s toolkit – you’ll have to do lots during a test and a messy one could see your marks taking a nosedive. Luckily, they’re super-easy to practise out hacking, plus they’ll keep your pony focused if he tends to get distracted when you’re out and about.

Start with transitions between paces to test how attentive he is to your aids. He should move off your leg immediately and come back as soon as you still your seat and close your fingers on the reins to ask him to slow down.

The more transitions you do, the more Hacking often brings balanced he’ll be through them. You can quieter ponies out of their then focus on keeping him soft as well as shells, so if yours is slow in quick off your aids. the arena you might find Then, try some within the pace. This is he livens up with grass a bit trickier, and you’ll need to be superunder his toes. consistent with your aids so he doesn’t break into another pace. It can help to use a gentle uphill slope to practise, because your pony will naturally slow slightly when you want to collect him, as well as be less keen to make an upward transition because it’s harder work.

TOP TIP

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Pamper

party Follow This Esme’s grooming step-by-step

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here’s nothing better than giving Joey a nice, long pamper sesh, and he loves it just as much! Not only does it get his coat looking super-shiny, but it relaxes him, too.

Follow my guide to grooming so you can treat your fave pony to a special spa day, too!

Top tip

It’s a good idea to brush your pony’s mane before his body because it’ll stop the dirt falling on to his clean coat.

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Foot loose

dirt out of I like to start by getting all the f pick. hoo ty trus my g usin Joey’s hooves d you nee to This is the most important job could hurt your do before you ride, because it t. It’s a good foo his pony if he has a stone in rs them), too. wea he (if es sho time to check his ’re loose they if r, wea of s sign any I look out for ches) clen led or the nails in the hoof wall (cal call to e tim it’s you have risen, which all tell the farrier!

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Comb through

Next, I detangle his mane and tail. I use a special mane brush that helps it feel super-sleek. I often use conditioning spray on Joey’s tail, too, but I don’t use it on his mane if I plan to ride, because it can rub on to the reins and make them slippery!

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Brush off

l’s tidied Once Joey’s mane and tai y with a bod ole wh up, I go over his off all the ick fl can I y, wa s dandy brush. Thi coat his ed in dust and dirt that’s gather ! from him rolling the field

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Top tip

Stick to fleshy areas like his neck, shoulder and hindquarters when you’re using the rubber curry comb – avoid bony areas where it could hurt him.

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Pearly white

As Joey’s grey, he has a white tail, which has a tendency to get a bit yellow! So, I wash it regularly with purple shampoo that’s specially designe d to counteract the yellow colour. I hose his tail, soap it up, then rinse and repe at until it’s pearly white.

Circular motion

n One of Joey’s fave things is whe to b com y I use the rubber curr n massage him. He loooves it whe ts spo y itch his tch scra to I use it and it helps pull out underlying dirt, too.

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