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Care for an
Brilliant winter
MINI MINI MAG MAG
INSIDE INSIDE
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riding
inspo
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770032 425980 16 December 2020 – 12 January 2021
Feb 2021 £3.99 Issue 873
older pony
IS YOUR PERFECT MATCH?
PONYMAG.COM
Scales of Training: part two
ahofethae d
curve
Learn how you can improve your pony’s suppleness
M
aking sure your pony’s supple is really important, as it will allow him to bend and move his body without feeling any tension. He’ll be able to complete school exercises and dressage tests more easily, and he’ll feel much nicer to ride, too! We’ve got the lowdown on how you can help your pony become super-flexible in the school.
Collection Straightness Impulsion Contact Suppleness Rhythm
Suppleness is the second step on the Scales of Training. To become a total pro at the first level, rhythm, take a look at January PONY mag!
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PONY magazine
Top tip
You can check if your pony’s bending correctly by glancing down at his head. If you can just see the corner of his inside eye, it means he has the right amount of bend.
itionon your pony’s Primyoeu pstoarst wo rking
Before out your own need to think ab suppleness, you le, turn or curve, rc ci a u’re riding position. When yo your... make sure that e direction you’d and ahead in th up ok lo • eyes bend like your pony to and turned in xed, rolled back, la re e ar • shoulders u’re going the direction yo the circle to the inside of • torso rotates le, with your dd ards in the sa • hips face forw rther forward fu tly ned sligh inside hip positio e one than your outsid t a little to the inside rein ou s en op nd ha e • insid neck pony to bend his encourage your and the rein le, ab st d an stays still lling out • outside hand fa neck to stop him rests against his th wi , essed on the girth • inside leg is pr e ight in your insid we slightly more e tside on heel than your ou If you’re expecting your ed just behind ac pl is g le e • outsid ’s ny po ur pony to be supple, you yo t en the girth to prev t need to be, too! Why not do ou g llin fa hindquarters some pilates to become really flexible? It’ll help you learn to move each part of your body independently, which is really useful for riding.
Top tip
Feeling zen
For your pony to become truly supple, he’ll need to stay really relaxed. Start your schooling sessions by spending lots of time walking on a long rein as a warm up. This’ll help him get used to his surroundings and stretch out his muscles. Then, when you’re ready to start the main part of your session, make sure you ride a variety of bending exercises. They’re a great way to keep your pony feeling calm, as he has to relax one side of his body in order to bend. Here are some Make sure you’re in useful ones to try: a calm frame of mind • 20m, 15m and 10m before you ride, as your circles pony will pick up on • three- and four-loop how you’re feeling. serpentines
Top tip
• figures-of-eight • shallow loops
Turn over for a fab bending exercise
PONY magazine
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outdoor
living Essential info about caring for a pony who lives out
P
onies love going out in the field so they can munch on some grass, stretch their legs and hang out with friends. Loads of ry them live out happily all day eve e of tim or ther wea the r teve day, wha a extr e year, although there are som e. tim ter win challenges to face in keep Here’s all you need to know to this n ditio con t grea in y your pon winter if he’s turned out 24/7...
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PONY magazine
did you know? Ponies who live out may be calmer to ride, because they’re always on the move and use up lots of energy.
Best turned out
It’s more natural for a pony to be outside than in a stable, and it can be healthier for him, too. Moving around’s better for his muscles and joints, plus he won’t be breathing in dust from bedding and hay. He’ll also enjoy being able to interact with his pony pals all the time, too. Some owners find it easier to care for their ponies when they’re outside, but don’t think that it’s just an easy way to get out of your stable chores! While there’ll be no mucking out, you’ll still need to poo-pick regularly, and you may have to move an electric fence if you strip graze the field.
did you know?
Good ground
Your pony will only be able to live out all-year-round if his field doesn’t get too wet and boggy in winter. He won’t enjoy If your pony hasn’t lived standing up to his knees and out before, it’s best to hocks in mud all the time, wait until spring or summer plus it’ll put him at risk of skin to change his routine, conditions such as mud fever when the weather will and thrush. He’ll also need a be milder. friendly companion he can go out with, as ponies may feel stressed if they’re all alone.
Top tip
Top tip
Make sure you have a spare turnout rug for your pony, in case his usual one gets really wet or ripped.
Even if your pony lives out, you’ll still need to visit him at least twice a day to make sure he has enough food and water and isn’t ill or injured.
What to wear
Top tip
Try to give your pony some rug-free time, so he can scratch his itchy places and feel the sun on his back. He’s sure to enjoy a rug-free roll, too!
A pony who’s clipped will usually need a rug when he’s in the field. Choose one that’s waterproof and offers the right amount of warmth for the weather conditions (check out the handy rugging guide in PONY mag November issue). You may need to change it for a lighter weight rug in the daytime if the temperature’s likely to rise. If he’s not clipped, or you’ve only removed a little bit of hair, he might be okay without a rug, especially if the weather’s on the warmer side. However, for wet days and nights he’ll probably appreciate a rain sheet to help him stay dry.
Seeking shelter
Even if it seems like your pony prefers standing out in the rain to using his shelter, it’s really important he has somewhere he can get away from bad weather. A purpose-built field shelter’s ideal for this, but make sure it’s big enough for all the ponies in the field to reduce the risk of one of them getting cornered. Tall hedges and trees can provide shelter from the sun, rain and wind in summer, but they’re not so useful at this time of year after their leaves have dropped off.
PONY magazine
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