PONY Magazine - Spring 2019

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13 February – 13 March 2019

9 8 Spring 2019 £3.99 Issue 849

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STOP THE

scratch PREVENT SWEET ITCH m a e r d a n o o G

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XC

MADE EASY

This EsBom e osts your jumping confidence

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EXPLAINED

BUILD A BOND WITH YOUR NEW PONY PONYMAG.COM

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Cross-country Start your XC preparation in the arena

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he new cross-country season is just a few weeks away, so it’s time to get practising to make sure you and your fave pony are 100% ready for your first competition! Working on your cross-country skills in the arena will help build your own and your pony’s confidence, and you can introduce him to the different types of fence you’ll see out on course, too.

Top tip

If you’re feeling rusty about cross-country riding, book some lessons with your instructor.

Inside out An arena is the perfect place to practise if you and your pony are new to cross-country. This is because you can create fences that look like the ones you’ll see on a cross-country course, then introduce them to him in small, easy steps. Plus, you can build the fences so they knock down, which is less daunting than jumping solid fences straightaway.

Even if you’ve done cross-country before, it’s a really good idea to go over the basics in the arena, especially if it’s a few months since you jumped natural fences.

Top tip

You can work on your cross-country position in the arena, too. Stand in your stirrups for short bursts, which will help improve your balance and strengthen your lower leg.

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What you’ll need

You can create cross-country style fences using showjumps, but ideally you’ll need rustic or brown poles and wings, plus som e suitable fillers. If you’re really luck y, your yard may have some aren a eventing fences that you can use .

On the fence

DID YOU KNO There a W? re aren ae co

Here are some of the fences you can practise in an arena, and how to build them...

venting mpetitio ns you part in, c an take w build yo hich will help you ur confi dence b tacklin e g a full cross-c fore ountry course.

Plain rustic Start with an inviting fence to build your pony’s confidence, such as a small cross-pole using brown wings and poles. When your pony’s jumping happily, you can raise it to a small upright.

Corner You’ll often find a corner on a cross-country course and they can be tricky to jump, so practising them regularly in an arena will help you ace them at a competition.

You’ll need two sets of wings at one end, set approximately 1m apart to start with, and a low jump stand or jump block on the opposite side.

Raise one end of each pole using the wings, then place the other ends on the jump block.

Top tip

If you’re worried about your pony running out at a corner fence, place a jump pole against the skinny end to help guide him into it.

Top tip

When jumping a corner, imagine a line that goes from the narrow end to the middle of the wide end and aim straight for this imaginary line.

Top tip

Keep the fences small to start with and build up gradually over several sessions to the height you’ll be competing at.

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s e o d y h W ONY...?

P Y M Get to

ur pony’ o y f o m o t t the bo

s behaviour

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ometimes your fave pony may behave in a way that’s pretty frustrating, but rather than getting upset with him, it’s really important to work out why he’s doing it. Ponies don’t do things just to be naughty or annoying, and he’s sure to be trying to tell you that he’s worried or unsure about something.

IT’S ONLY NATURAL

The way your pony behaves has a lot to do with what his natural instincts are telling him. This is because ponies are prey animals who would be hunt ed by predators in the wild. They’ll be on high alert for potential dangers and wary of getting into situations that could increase the chance of them becoming someone’s lunch! So, next time your pony spooks at a plastic bag, or is reluctant to walk into the restricted space of a trailer, you’ll understan d that he’s just trying to keep himself safe.

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Top tip

Unusual behaviour can be caused by pain or discomfort, so if you’re worried about your pony, ask your vet to check him over.

SPILL THE BEANS

t over, knocks his feed bucke The problem Your pony this es do ly on t No or. the flo spilling his dinner onto he’s an ments – it could me waste food – and supple eat. not getting enough to bably pony grazing, you’ll pro ur yo tch Why? If you wa ves mo n the ss, gra a bit of notice that he nibbles g s a munch before movin ha d an tch pa er oth to an him kes ma g nstantly movin on again. In the wild, co eat tors, so standing still to da pre to le less vulnerab al tur na his st ain ag es t go with his head in a bucke instincts. pile pony’s feed on top of a Solve it... Spread your und it aro ve mo n ca or, so he of hay placed on the flo while eating.

Top tip

Putting your pony’s feed ration in a tr eat ball is a great way to let him eat while moving around.

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