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Keep your pony
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October 2019 £3.99 Issue 856
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THE CHANCE TO MEET
Mary King
GREAT
k r o w d n u o r g
This Esme shows you how to build a bond with your pony on the ground
R
iding your pony isn’t the only way to exercise him, and I love doing groundwork because it’s great fun and has loads of benefits, too. It’ll help make your pony more polite to handle, adds variety to his exercise regime and it’s a great way to build a super-close bond with him. You’ll even find that the in-hand schooling you do with him will improve his ridden work, too!
S WHY MICKEY LOVE G ROUNDWORK ork, but I do a lot
undw Any pony can try gro ’s semi-retired and he as ey ck Mi h of it wit It’s great because it . en isn’t ridden very oft means we get to enjoy keeps him active and together! loads of quality time pony or one that If you’ve got an older they may enjoy re, mo y can’t be ridden an ur always check with yo groundwork, too. But ep ke u yo re su make vet that it’s OK, and . him for sy ea s thing
WHAT YO
Photos: Lucy Merrell
U’LL NEE I lead Mic D key in his normal headcolla r, but you can use a bridle if y ou need a bit of extr control. A a s always , safety’s importan t, so you should w your ridin ear gh boots tha at and gloves, an d t’ll protec t your fee are easy t but to move around in .
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PONY magazine
Top tip
Why not lead your pony through all the moves in a walk and trot dressage test? You could even ask a friend to score you!
EXERCISE ONE: ROUND WE GO Start by leading your pony around the arena in walk. Make sure you stay by his shoulder, and have a little slack in the leadrope to help keep him relaxed. Then, practise making a few simple halt-walk
transitions to make sure he’s listening to you. When you’re ready, you can perform some easy school shapes, such as 20m circles, and see how straight your centre lines are!
EXERCISE TWO: SUPPL E UP I like to do exercis es that help keep Mickey supple, and weaving in and ou t of bending poles is great for this. Set them approx 7-9m apar t and begin in walk, but up the pace to trot if you’re feeling co nfident! Another way to wo rk on your pony’s supplen ess
is to use the poles to help you perform a serpentin e. So, walk in a straight line be tween the first two poles, ma ke a smooth curve to the right and go between the seco nd and third poles. Then curve to the left and head straight between the next two poles.
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ace fillers every time
Fix your
ips t p pony’s phob o t r u ia o f spo oky fences with o
I
f your pony acts like every showjumping filler’s a fire-breathing dragon and slams on his brakes when you try to jump them, it’s super-frustrating. But you can achieve more clear rounds by building his confidence and teaching him to fly over spooky fences, no matter what If you spot a spooky filler on colour or shape they are! a course, stay positive and believe your pony will jump it. Then he’ll be less likely to refuse or run out.
top tip
Keep
th e r h y t h m
Photos: Lucy Merrell
Don’t let your worries about a spooky fence change the way you ride, as this ’ll just tell your pony it’s something he needs to be scared of! Instead, focus on staying in the same canter rhythm around the whole course, so he doesn’t think it’s any different to the oth er fences. Your pony’s canter should be pos itive and bouncy, to give him enough pow er to push off from the ground and clear the fence. It might be tempting to go a little faster to encourage him over, but you risk losing control . Holding him back is another common thing to do, but that just takes away all the impulsion your pon y needs to jump.
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Don’t look down nce of clearing You’ll give yourself the best cha , if you keep your llers fi oky any fence, including spo over it as you shoulders back and look up and fence will bring approach. Looking down at the your pony. This cing your weight forward, unbalan ause it’ll be bec p jum to n will make him less kee shoulders off and legs fore his lift to harder for him the ground.
top tip
To help you keep your eyes up when you’re jumping, choose something in the distance to look at, such as a tree or the arena fence.
getting to know you!
top tip
Make sure your pony’s not reluctant to jump because he’s in pain. Ask your vet to check him over, and book a visit from your saddle fitter, too.
When you’re schooling, always introduce new fillers gradually, to build your own, and your pony’s, confidence. Here’s how... 1. Walk around or between the fillers a few times, to show your pony they’re not scary! 2. Build an easy fence, such as a cross-pole, then place a filler on either side, next to the wings. Pop over the fence a few times. 3. When your pony’s jumping the cross-pole confidently, move the fillers a little bit closer together. Jump the fence again, then raise it to a small upright. 4. Gradually bring the fillers in closer to the middle of the fence, until they’re right underneath the pole.
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S I T I N I M LA ION PLAN T PREVENT
Find out how to reduce the risk of this painful condition
L
ng, and it’s aminitis doesn’t just strike in spri The warm, wet really common in autumn, too. e of year tim weather we often get at this ary. So, sug and lush makes the grass grow ing eat y, pon r you for sty not only is it extra-ta risk of ed eas incr an at him put ld too much cou and keep him laminitis, too. To help protect him learn as you t tha nt healthy, it’s really importa n. ditio con the ut abo much as you can
The lowdown
Laminitis is really painful and causes sensitive tissues in your ponies hooves to become inflamed. In severe cases, the pedal bone in his foot can move. There are a few things that put pony’s at a higher risk of laminitis, including... ● being overweight ● eating too much sugar and starch ● having a hormonal problem, such as PPID (pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction) and EMS (equine metabolic syndrome) ● stress ● concussion to his feet from working on hard ground
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PONY magazine
signslant for any signs of lamispot ldthbeesupe r-vigi
You shou right help as t your pony the ge n ca u yo so , nitis Look out for... soon as possible. orter steps ● lameness ere he’s taking sh wh , lk wa y er tt ● a po ight than usual , to take the we on his hind feet ● leaning back the other off his front feet from one foot to ht ig we s hi g in ● shift ual ore often than us ● lying down m g much hotter in el fe his hooves ● the outside of than normal lse bbing digital pu ● a strong, thro
How to take your se pony’s digiturapolnyp’sul yo You can feel for e back of his th at lse pu l ta digi ally good idea to fetlock. It’s a re it, so you know learn how to find r him. Then it’ll what’s normal fo if there’s a be easier to spot w... ho ’s problem. Here b and finger um th ur yo 1. Run ’s leg, until down your pony es of his sid e you reach th fetlock. s against his 2. Gently pres el the pulse. skin until you fe anything If you can’t feel just the ad , ay aw straight sure you’re amount of pres using.
DID YOU KNOW?
As well as b eing a sign of laminitis, a strong digit al pulse can m ean your po ny has a hoof absc ess.
Top tip
If you think your pony has laminitis, it should be treated as an emergency, so call your vet out straightaway.
top tip
Having your pony’s hooves seen regularly by your farrier will help keep them healthy. Plus, they’ll be able to spot any changes in his feet that could be an early warning sign of laminitis.
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