PONY magazine - August 2013

R E M E M BE R

A

DR ESSAGE

TEST

THE UK’S

N O1 PONY

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MAGAZIN

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Meet Gypsy

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Cob Blackjack!

Perfect pole work!

9

Quizzes!

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● What makes a

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“I co ul dreadn’t hav m po e my ny!”

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SCHOOL

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W HILE

YOU

H ACK! 24/06/2013 16:09

Working ou Riders often moan that their ponies find schooling boring but you could try schooling while you’re out hacking, says Lorraine Jennings. Your pony won’t even know he’s doing it!

Get his attention There’s no better place to teach your pony to pay attention than on a hack.

With so much going on around him it can be quite a challenge BUT is your mind on him? You can’t really complain if he spooks or starts looking around if you’re busy chatting to a friend or daydreaming, can you?

If you want to school out hacking then do it! It’s not fair on your pony if you change your mind half-way along.

Take up a steady contact and push him on so he looks straight ahead, and he’ll soon realise you mean business.

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Get him going Is your pony is lazy? Are you sure? You could be using more leg than you need. Try sitting still between two markers – like a gate post and a tree. Will your pony walk from one to the other without you using your legs, or does he grind to a halt?

Your pony should go forward until you tell him not to. Keep your legs resting against his sides unless he slows down. If he does give him one sharp nudge with both heels to wake him up.

Still nothing? Use your whip. One sharp tap should do it. Don’t feel bad. One tap behind your leg is far kinder than 10 sidenumbing kicks.

Try it! It’s hard to do nothing but if your pony is going forward don’t nag! Sit quietly and let him to do his job. The less you do, the clearer your aids become.

out(side)!

Check your brakes!

Not all ponies are lazy and most love hacking so it’s good to make sure you can stop. But that doesn’t always mean using your reins.

Why not try something new? ● Have you ever tried slowing down using your knees and thighs? Get your pony walking on so you can really feel a difference. Then press your thighs and knees into the saddle as hard as you can. This puts pressure on his shoulder muscles and he’ll slow down. Try it with a few friends. How slow can you all go without squeezing your reins? ● Your weight can also help slow your pony down.

Try sitting up, which pushes all your weight down on the saddle, and breathing out, which relaxes all your muscles. Your pony will feel you relax and do the same. It’s a great aid to use for downward transitions so give it a go!

Practice makes perfect in trot Sitting trot isn’t easy but have you ever tried practising uphill? If your pony is using his hocks – and you’re keeping a steady contact – his back will round under you, making it far more comfortable for you to sit.

Try it! Find a hill, put your stirrups down a hole or two and give it a go!

Try it! Using the above techniques, see if

you can ask your pony to go from canter to trot without using your reins! Tricky!

Diagonal diva Once you can see what’s happening on a straight line you’ll find it easier to work out your trot diagonals on a circle. Look at your pony’s shoulders and work out which one is going forward as you rise – and back as you sit. Practise changing diagonal by sitting for an extra beat.

Keep calm and canter on Cantering is easier out hacking because you don’t have corners to worry about, and your pony is less likely to lose his balance and break into trot. The more you do the easier it will feel. Remember your first ever trot? Awful wasn’t it!

Your canter will get better with practice, too!

Try it! Practise on straight tracks so you can work on sitting into the saddle and pushing your pony into a good rein contact.

Try it! Find a straight track and ask a friend to ride their pony in front of you so you won’t have to worry about keeping your pony going.

So you see, there are plenty of schooling techniques you can improve on out hacking – and you should both enjoy doing them!

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Be a can-do rider!

Are you a can-do or a give-up sort of rider, or somewhere in between? Find out by tackling our mini quiz, then work on our ideas to turn your riding around!

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You’ve fallen off in the lesson again! What is your first reaction?

I wish I’d taken up ballet

Come back Podge, all is forgiven.

Everyone falls off, it’s my turn today!

Why is it always me who falls off, and never anyone else?

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4

You’ve been given Speedy on the lesson, instead of Podge, and it’s not going very well.

What’s your reaction?

It’s not fair, I’m not ready for Speedy.

I’m going to get to grips w with Speedy, however long it takes!

You’ve entered the clear round jumping and it’s almost your turn.

What goes through your mind in the collecting ring?

I don’t suppose I’ll get a clear round, but I’ll have a good go!

I bet everyone else gets a clear round except me!

I wish I’d entered for something else.

3

You’re out hacking and your pony shies at nothing in particular, leaving you hanging around his neck. What are your thoughts?

Brilliant! I’m so getting better. That’s the first time I haven’t hit the deck when Puffin’s shied!

Hacking is always a mistake. I should have stayed in the school.

I wish I could ride as well as Sandra/Harry/Jade.

How did you do?

Come on, it’s not that bad! You’re so busy telling yourself you’re rubbish, you can’t see how you’re improving. And you are – or at least you would be, if you could just give yourself some credit.

Mostly

You’re so busy comparing yourself to other riders, you’re blocking your own progress. Come on, don’t waste your riding time! Get positive and make the most of every lesson and ride!

Mostly

You have a great attitude, and are likely to be getting the most out of every lesson. Okay, riding has its ups and downs, but your can-do attitude is really helping you to improve!

Mostly

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So what’s the plan?

Make the most of your riding!

Give yourself some credit!

So you’ve worked your way through this mini quiz and you didn’t come out on top. What now? Is there any hope for you? Can you still turn things around and make the most of your riding?

YES! Of course you can. You can always turn your attitude and your riding around – just as long as you’re determined enough. Here are some ideas to get you on your way to being that can-do rider you want to be!

You may not be the best rider in the world but you can ride better than all those people who never get on a horse! Make a list of all the riding accomplishments you have achieved: walk, trot, canter, jump, steering, stopping, rising to the trot, mounting, dismounting, running up your stirrups, leading a pony.... the list goes on and on! Remember how many skills you had before you started riding: NONE! Wow! Look how far you’ve come already!

Acknowledge y our achievem ents If you ride at a rid ing school, list th e number of ponies you have ridden and what they ha ve taught you.

We bet some of them are not just beginner ponies . Every single po ny you ride teache s you something . Say what each pony has taught you – and what they m ight teach you in the future. It mig ht look like this: ● Poppy: Tried to eat grass with me for the first half-an-hou r, but I stopped he r during the last ha lf of the ride. ● Simon: Very bo uncy trot – but I ca n sit to it now. ● Misty: Very lazy, but I got her to ca nter last week.

Soon you’ll see how your skills are increasing!

You’ll still get disappointments , but look at the big picture, and don’ t sweat the smal l stuff! You’re be tter than you th ink!

Believe in yourself

And finally...

If you’re a rider who thinks everyone is a better rider than you, think again. They probably think you’re better than they are!

What makes you think they’re not nervous?

Everyone gets the jitters sometimes, but the good riders recognise their feelings, and then get on with the job. You can do that, can’t you? Yes you can! Be positive and give yourself goals to work towards. You can do it!

We all ride because we love horses and ponies, and we all want to be good riders. Top riders had all the same fears and worries you have now, but they worked through them. If they can do it, so can you!

Come on, tell yourself you’re the next big thing, and work towards that goal. That’s what having a can-do attitude is all about! Smile and celebrate your achievements – it will make a huge difference to your confidence!

✗

✔

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Can you spot a goo 1

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Do you know what makes a brilliant riding school? Try our quiz to see if you’re a riding school inspector in the making!

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You know a good riding school when you see one! Well done, you!

A free-ride policy for p eople who beginners ar lead the ound the sc hool and te keep their h ll them to eels down.

Value for m oney. A goo d riding sch charge more ool may , but it shou ld be worth it.

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Well, it seems you’re not really looking for the right things. But you probably know a lot more now, so it’s all positive!

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Hmmmmm. Really? Did you understand the question? Try again!

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