All-New! More riding, More pony care, more fun!
PONYMAG.COM
THE UK’S NO1 PONY MAGAZINE
How to‹‹
read body language
your pony’s
Robert Whitaker’s
jumping secrets
ThE low-down on
laminitis
Plait
your position in
MINUTES!
CROSS-COUNTRY KIT
you need!
0 4
IMPROVE
COOL
770032 425980
pro
9
like a
April 2016 £3.99 Issue 811
speak pony?
Can you...
Ponies constantly communicate with us through their body language, but are we listening? Anna Sail et explains how to tune in to what your pony’s trying to tell you
T
o understand your fave pony’s body language, it’s essential to know more about his ancestors. Ponies are social prey animals who evolved to live on open plains. Being a prey animal means it’s essential to communicate clearly, quickly and quietly with their fellow herd members to alert each other to approaching threats, and respond quickly to danger. This means that your pony’s body language is super-advanced, and he will use very subtle ways to communicate with other ponies and you – if you’re listening!
Sight
Your pony doesn’t see the world in the same way as you. Whereas you have binocular vision, ponies have monocular vision, which means that they can see almost the whole way around and behind them, with only a small blind spot at their rear and one directly in front of them. Another blind spot, if your horse is standing with a straight head and neck, is directly above his back, where you sit. Because of where his eyes are, your fave pony is also very sensitive to movements diagonally behind him and, as a result, he can be easily startled by motion in this area. He can see clearly over very long distances, too.
34
PONY magazine
owgh?t, but it tagkhest n k u o Diedat yvision in pjuoosrtlifrom brigthotelinter
e gr to ad ies refuse cannot s hav nutes i m they e pon Ponie 0 yes 2 s why som , because it would e r i e i s y th e s r i x a h o into se b w sc rk. T to da bles or hor magine ho ply to walk I a . m t i e ! s s ou hole insid dark cted y big, black hat’s see w eone expe a e b om d to be if s at seeme wh
As pony lovers, it’s our responsibility to ensure we understand his body language to spot when he’s unhapp y or stressed before he shows it in other ways, such as biting, kicking or bucking Hearing
Your pony can move his ears independently and his hearing is amazing! He can hear lots of sounds that you can’t, which can explain why he spooks at things you didn’t even know were there – he may have heard the high-pitched squeak of a mouse in the hedge, for example. We often assume that our ponies are being naughty without thinking what might have caused that behaviour, simply because our senses aren’t so good.
Smell
Your pony uses his sense of smell to find out about other ponies, including their age and gender. This explains why he may want to stop and sniff droppings that you pass out hacking – he’s detecting lots of information about the ponies who passed this way earlier on.
PONY magazine
35
Shout Out! Amazing mum I’d like to give a shout out to my mum who has patiently waited for 27 years to get a pony and has finally found one. He is a coloured cob and, although he hasn’t been with us long, we love him to bits! This is a pic of him and his BFF!
Madlin Ridewood
Awesome April My pony, April, and I have a lovely bond, she is so caring and trusting. We both love to jump and can’t wait to get out competing this spring.
Sofia Hartley
MY PONY CLUB I am a member of the Llangeinor Hunt Pony Club. I’ve competed in lots of disciplines with my pony, Daisy. Pony Club camp was fabulous – we stayed in a field with a brilliant cross-country course, an indoor school and a showjumping arena. I was on the Horse and Pony Care team last year and we qualified for the PC national championships! Everyone at LLHPC is so friendly and helpful. We are always learning new things.
Philippa Allen 50
Welsh wonder This is Miranda, my Welsh Section A mare. She really loves a good groom and if I scratch her withers, she grooms me back very gently!
Scarlett Gale PONY magazine
Lily-Bean is...
Super Smudge
Sweet as honey
I have had my New Forest pony, Smudge, for a year and we have done everything together. We compete for the Pony Club in eventing and tetrathlon, do showing and he has even taken me hunting for the first time. He is absolutely amazing, I couldn’t ask for a better pony!
Meet Honey! I love her more than anything,. We went to Pony Club camp together and she was amazing. We came second in the Chase me Charlie, jumping 1.05m!
Olivia Hutching
Cara Doig
I love reading PONY. I found the recipe for pony treats in the March issue and decided to make them. My mum’s horse absolutely loves them, too, even though he doesn’t usually like apples! Natalia
Jubilant Jimmy
Cute Ceri Without my pony, Ceri, I don’t know what I would do – I love her to infinity and beyond. She loves to hack and stands for hours to be groomed. Ceri is the best pony ever!
Ellie Rawlinson
This is Jimmy – he is my new pony. I have only had him a few months, but he has already taught me how to jump. Our goal this year is to enter our first show together, and I am really excited! We wouldn’t be where we are now without the help of PONY Mag.
Chloe Elias
SUPER-CUTE PETS Hettie and Margo owned by Freya
Pepe owned by So fia
Bear owned by Evie
ARIAT Awesomoneth pony of the m
Lily-Bean has been in my family for years, and has taught me and my older sisters lots. We do loads of different activities together, including cross-country, showjumping and dressage. When I first rode her I could only jump small cross-poles and now I am jumping 2ft 9in. Lily-Bean has given me so much confidence and fun. She will always be my best pony and I will love her forever.
Bella Righton
WIN
THESE BOOTS! The Ariat Stormstopper boot is supercomfy and perfect for a day on the yard. Available in brown or navy, in sizes 3–8.5. RRP £109.99
PONY magazine
51
n i W Whitaker! with a
Riding a bounce is great jumping practice for you and your pony. Plus, it’s loads of fun! Top showjumper Robert Whitaker shares his tips on how to tackle a bounce
Our trainer
Thanks to John Whitaker International for their help with this feature, johnwhitaker.com
Robert Whitaker is son of showjumping legend John and a successful international showjumper himself. He’s won the British Open Showjumping Championship three times, and has ridden on the British team on many occasions.
6
PONY magazine
Bounce facts
A bounce is a combination fen ce. Your pony jumps the first fence, lands and immediately takes off to jump the second fen ce without any canter strides in between.
Our models
Morgann Thirteen-year-old eightr he es rid Bloquet ris. year-old gelding, Bo ng thi ery ev of bit They do a ting together, but even have is their fave. They dminton Ba the at d ete mp co pionships. Grassroots Cham
You might find a bounce on a cross-country course, but won ’t come across one on a showjumpi ng course. They’re great training for you and your pony, so even if you don’t love cross-country, give them a go! Bounces are tricky as they nee d accuracy, impulsion and balance. Riding a bounce is a great exe rcise for you and your pony. It can help him learn how to hold him self together and jump from a shorter canter, which will add to your jumping toolkit and help improve your technique. Key things to remember are to
set up your pony on the approa ch and don’t rush into it.
Bounces need accuracy, impulsion and balance
I
f you have lessons at a riding school and are keen to try riding a bounce, ask your instructor if they think you are ready to give it a go. Only jump a bounce with an instructor present, never on your own. Get a feel for riding a bounce by using two poles on the ground, rather than two fences. Your pony will make exaggerated canter strides over the poles, which will help you understand what it’s like to ride a bounce.
Bounce exercise 1 In canter, ride through each of the stages before moving on to the next
Top tip!
Don’t just put up another fence straightaway, add a pole on the ground first. Adding a pole will help him get used to having something there before you tackle a bounce.
Stage 2. Put a pole three metres in front of the fence, to help your pony get in the right place for take-off.
Stage 4. Put up a crosspole where the second pole on the ground is.
Stage 3. Add a pole on the ground, three-anda-half metres after the cross-pole, where the second part of your bounce will be.
✁
Stage 1. Set up one cross-pole.
You may need to adjust the distance of the placing pole from the fence, depending on the size of your pony and the length of his stride. If he’s stretching to make the distance, move the pole closer, if he’s having to shorten his stride, move it out a bit further.
Now you’re riding a bounce! PONY magazine
➤ 7