PONY Magazine – October 2021

mega PONY BOOK +

sCRATCH ART

6

CARDS

KIT

AN IMAL

SCRATCH ART

scratch

art x6 2021.i

ndd 1

Scratch Art Set. Manufactured and imported by Co-Prom, Chichester, PO18 9DL, UK. www.coprom.co.uk. Tel; 00 44 (0)1243 575247. Batch Code; CPH2568. Warning! Not suitable for children under 36 months.

Small parts, CHOKING HAZARD. Always wash hands after using.

Adult supervision recommended. Made in China. Please retain this information for future reference.

22/01/2021

08:23

SCRATCH ART ANIMAL

scratch art envelope 2021 NEW.indd 1

MEET!

Elphick event

yard

jumping machine

routine

Autumn A utumn w wardrobe ardrobe

PONYMAG.COM

DJMurphy

770032 425973

Oct 2021 £4.99 Issue 882

essentials 25 August – 21 September 2021

XC

The dream

5 ways to know your pony’s a

9

G Geett

Ready

Ponies

1 0

08/03/2021 09:26

Win! g org eou s

j odh pur s why we

golden oldies!

l o o h c s @ id k y e s r o h e h T t o p s How to

Off

the leg Check out This Esme’s handy guide to getting your fave pony moving forwards

T

here are loads of great things about quieter ponies – they’re guaranteed to keep you safe and you’ll never be worried about getting run off with, however exciting your group hack might be! But sometimes you just need a little more sparkle – here are my fave exercises to use.

TOP TIP

Use your voice to help encourage your pony – clicking your tongue and talking to him can give him a boost.

6

PONY magazine

Cracking canter

TOP TIP

Need a refresher on the aids for canter? Remember to sit tall, push your outside leg slightly behind the girth and look around the turn.

Whether you’re riding in a field or arena, use the space you have to open up your pony’s canter. Often, he’ll find this super-fun and feel more positive about his work.

Here’s how...

1. Ride large around the arena in trot, asking your pony for canter when you reach the corner.

2. As you canter onto the long side,

3.

take a light seat and push your pony forwards, keeping your hands soft, but with an even feel down both reins.

When you get back to the short side, sit in the saddle and enjoy the energy you’ve created. Your pony should feel bouncy and energetic.

PONY magazine

7

L A I R T R E T HUN READY

Get prepped for your comp with Team PONY’s top tips!

L

ooking for a mega-fun comp that’ll boost your confidence, too? Hunter trials are the perfect solution. You’ll have the best time cantering round the course with your pony, testing your skills and building your unbreakable bond. Here’s how to gear up for a hunter trial and feel ready for some fun.

FEELING FIT

Fitness is sooo important in any discipline, but hunter trials can be hilly and lengthy, so making sure your pony’s fully fit is key. You’ll need to be prepared to ride a course that’s up to five minutes long, so make sure you’re doing plenty of canter work to super-charge your pony’s fitness levels.

TOP TIP

Get to know the terrain you’ll be riding on. If it’s super-hilly, practise riding up and down plenty of slopes beforehand.

14

PONY magazine

SETTING THE PACE

Did you know you can get penalties for going too fast as well as too slow? Most hunter trials are based on an optimum time, which is revealed after the last competitor has completed the course – the combination closest to this time wins. Get used to riding your pony in an even rhythm and at a consistent pace.

TOP TIP

Try not to disrupt your pony’s rhythm by asking him to go faster, it’s more important that he completes the course happily with some energy left in the tank.

Make sure you’re doing plenty of canter work to super-charge your pony’s fitness levels

OUT & ABOUT

A trip to your local cross-coun try course is the ultimate way to get prepped for a hunter trial.

You can test you and your pon y’s skills over different fences, such as ditches , hedges, drops and combinations. It’s also a grea t way to brush up your skills riding on grass it’s superimportant to be able to ride bala nced turns on the course! Remember to have a go at stringing a few fenc es together to work on your rhythm between fences, too.

Take your pony to the gallops or find somewhere out hacking that has plenty of space to practise cantering in a steady rhythm.

TOP TIP

PERFECT PAIRS

The ideal way to have some fun with your bestie, hunter trials often have pairs classes that’ll boost your pony’s confidence, too. A dressing fence is one you jump together – penalties will be given to combinations not in sync! So, practise with your pal at home by setting up two fences side by side to help you nail it on the day.

GEARED UP

TOP TIP

Canter around your arena at home with your friend to establish your rhythm and speed – count the strides out loud to help you.

Skull caps and body protectors are a must at hunter trials – checking yours meet the required safety standard is super-important, too. But when it comes to your outfit, be as brightly coloured or as smart as you’d like.

It’s the perfect opportunity to wear your fave matchy-matchy set!

PONY magazine

15