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Check out Meg Elphick’s step-by-step guide to jumping skinnies
W
hether you’re an eventing aficionado or just want to try something new, teaching your pony to jump skinnies is a great way to give your training – and riding – a big boost. I like to add skinnies to all my ponies’ jump training, and there’s no reason why you can’t, too. Here’s how I do it!
WHERE MIG HT ? EM YOU MEETeTinH troduced at
Photos: Jon Stroud
Skinny fences ar of eventing, so the lowest levels as soon as you you’ll meet them oss-country get out on the cr practising ns ea m is course. Th portant if you them is super-im nter trail, or plan to go to a hu ver, you we Ho out eventing. if you go em th e se might also ey d th ’re a showjumping, an your pony’s great way to test w accurately ho d an straightness learning to jump you can ride, so them will benefit every rider and pony.
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Use your warm-up to get your pony off your leg using lots of transitions. This means that if he backs off the skinny later on, he’ll listen your leg when you squeeze him forwards.
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1. Wings were made to fly First things first, I warm up my pony around and between the wings – starting with them around 1.5m apart. I ride figures of eight and straight lines through them in walk and trot to get my pony used to going If your pony gets speedy between wings that when jumping, why not add are narrower than a a filler to make him think a usual fence. bit more about what he’s Then, I move the doing? They can be a great wings in until they’re way to back him off the fence a little!
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the same distance apart as the pole is long – in this case, around 1m – but you can make them as wide or narrow as you like. Just make sure your pony can fit through the gap! Make sure you canter through them as well as walking and trotting, because you’ll want to be ready to canter towards the skinny once you’ve warmed up fully and are ready to approach the fence in canter.
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New
best friend
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Take loads of videos on the day so you can look back afterwards with fresh eyes.
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Find your perfect pony with This Esme!
H
ow can you find out whether a pony’s your perfect match? I tried lots of different horses before I found Joey, and it’s super-important to know for sure that the pony you choose is the right one for you. Learn all about the pony purchasing process and find your perfect match here.
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Tell me what you want!
If you’re in the market for a new pony, the first step is to work out exactly what you want. Write down... • what you want to do together • whether you want a mare or gelding • the height and rough age you want • your confidence level and riding ability • the facilities you have • whether your new pony would need to live in or out, or a mix of the two • your budget, or the furthest away a yard could be if you’re looking at a loan or share Next, go through your list with your instructor and parents to make sure it’s accurate and they agree with all your points. This’ll help narrow down the sorts of pony you’ll look at. For example, if you lose confidence quickly, look for an experienced pony who won’t be affected if you’re worried. Similarly, if you love jumping, look for a pony with Less experienced ponies lots of experience over fences. can be really rewarding to work with, but before you consider one, make sure you have a great support network and are ready to spend lots of time working on the basics.
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Don’t be disheartened if it takes a long time to find the right pony. It’s better to see loads than end up with the wrong pony for you.
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Take a look
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Prospective ponies
With your list of requirements ready, start looking at adverts. There are loads of places to find ponies for sale, loan or share, such as... • PONY mag • PONY mag website • word of mouth • local tack shops • the Pony Club classifieds • social media • pony selling websites Don’t be tempted by a super-cute pony if he doesn’t meet your requirements! Make a shortlist of adverts for your instructor and parents to look over, then choose a handful together to contact for viewings.
Viewings are the most important part about buying, loaning or sharing a new pony. You’ll need to fully test him out and make sure you get on well. Think about what you want to do with him and make sure you have a go at as much of it as possible while you’re there. If you want him for showjumping, make sure you pop some fences – including fillers – while you’re there. You should also ask to catch, groom and tack him up to make sure he isn’t tricky to catch in the field or bites when you tack him up. He needs to be just as nice on the ground as he is to ride, because you’ll spend more time handling him than riding! It’s a good idea to go back for a second viewing to see if he’s different to the first time. You might spot new things with fresh eyes, too. Always take your instructor with you, because they’ll be able to see things you might not, and give an outside perspective on whether you’re a good match.
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