PONY Magazine – Spring 2015 (2)

EU TH

K’S

NO1NY O

PAGAZINE M

9 770032 425188

9 8

FREE

UK only

PONY desk

Spring 2015 £3.49 Issue 797

sticky notes

ReaerlieLnicfese Exp

ewed “ I i n t e r vri a s h ! ” Scott B

S!”

t HOY a n o w e “W

Start a horsey club! s t e g e i g g u D

new shoes Solve your

jump probs No impulsion Running out Jumping too high

g Amaziner s

pin-up post

MORE horsey goings-on at

ponymag.com

We meet Zara Phillips

When PONY met top eventer Zara Phillips, she sh ared some awesome advi ce and top tips for success!

PONY meets Zara Phillips!

Zara's achievments

m gold medals l Individual and tea n Eventing ea at the 2005 Europ ytown To on s hip Champions

d team silver l Individual gold an Equestrian rld Wo 06 medals at 20 (Zara was reigning Games on Toytown 2010) til world champion un 2012 Olympic l Team silver at the High Kingdom Games in London on 2014 World l Team silver at the on High Kingdom Equestrian Games

Introducing Howrse We asked Zara about her involvment with Howrse, the free online game for anyone and everyone who is horse and pony mad! Zara said: “I got involved in the game after it had started. I provide helpful and educational tips and help you look after your horse and get to the next level.

It’s great because it’s educational and open to everyone! You start right from the beginning with a foal and can choose either a horse or pony and choose their colour, so you can create your own pony if you want to. It’s also great for young people who don’t have their own pony or can’t go riding because it teaches them how to look after ponies. There’s lots of stable management as well as competitions!

I give lots of tips about how to gain a horse’s trust and build a partnership, which gives a good basis for new owners to go from.”

Go to www.howrse.co.uk to create your very own horse or pony and start playing!

We asked Zara What makes a good cross country horse?

“They have to be able to jump! They need to be athletic but also be able to use their brain – they do need to think. They also need to be brave and have to want to do it!”

n given?

What’s the best advice you’ve bee

to always rk Phillips) told me “My dad (Captain Ma think u yo ch tter how mu have a plan B, no ma course, a ng lki wa e hen you’r plan A will work. W route, t you will go the direc no matter how sure mething so se ca option just in always plan another the day.” freakish happens on

4

Zara and a friend from Howrse!

Zara Phillips is the in-game mentor and guide for the internationally successful equine game Howrse which is availa

r conquering nerves? fo e vic ad ur yo is t ha W u cope us, it’s about how yo “Everyone gets nervo u can figure tters. The quicker yo with nerves that ma tter you will your nerves, the be out how to deal with u. that works for yo be. Find something you’re on the horse or pony nd pe de It can often wi it ll all a great partnership, riding. If you’ve got come much easier.”

What are your secrets to success?

“No one has the answers. Everyone wants a quick fix but it doesn’t happen like that. You have to put the work in to get the best out.”

Zara's top tips for each eventing phase Dressage:

Learn your test!

Cross country:

It’s all about having fun and going out and riding. Go out there and do it!

Show jumping:

Stay relaxed. People can get too tense because the poles knock down easily, and end up trying to ‘lift’ their horses over the fences.

Quickfire questions Greys or bays?

Bays – I’ve probably had more success on bays!

Geldings or mares?

Geldings

Zara in action riding cross country on Lord Lauries (who’s a real horse!)

Hacking or schooling?

Schooling Dogs or cats?

Dogs

Top tip!

Hot weather or frosty days?

I don’t mind too much – I just hate the wind and rain!

Competing at home or abroad?

Abroad! It’s much more chilled out.

Badminton or Burghley?

Burghley.

Zara says: “If you have a new or a young pony, work on building a relationship and a bond before you go competing. If you go out too quickly it could work against you and you could end up going backwards. Be patient!”

Advice alert!

Zara says: “You have to go through the bad to get to the good. The more bad things that happen the more you learn how to deal with them and realise there’s always another day. The nature of working with animals is that there are highs and lows all the time!”

able as a free-to-play browser game for PC, Mac, iOS and Android mobile devices.

Turn to page 43 for an exclusive signed poster of Zara!

Log on to ponymag.com to find out more about Zara and her horses, plus more top tips and advice!

5

y n o p Riding school PART

problems

2

Riding school ponies are great – it’s official! But as they are ridden by lots of riders, at various levels, they have the perfect opportunity to learn a few sneaky moves.

But these features are your secret weapon. Read on to discover how to solve those Riding School pony problems!

Problem: Pony gets slower and slower going towards a jump How frustrating! How can you concentrate on your jump if your pony is running out of steam?

Is it important?

Yes! Getting a good jump relies on a good approach. The slower your approach, the more likely it is that your pony will just trot over the jump, or refuse it altogether.

CURE IT! l Your lesson may include a jump at the end. If your pony hasn’t been in front of your leg throughout the lesson, you can’t expect him to magically wake up when the jump is there. It’s up to you to get your pony listening to you and moving forward throughout the whole lesson! l Have you stopped riding? If you are a bit nervous about jumping, you may encourage your pony to slow down by sitting and doing nothing. Make sure you want to jump! l You may be asked to line up in the middle of the school, with everyone coming out of line to jump one at a time. This gives your pony the opportunity to doze off – so he may not be fully into jumpingmode when it’s your turn. When it is, ride your pony forward and get him moving – don’t just turn to the jump and expect him to morph into a mega showjumper immediately! l Look up and over the jump. Looking at the ground can actually encourage your pony to slow down, and even stop. Strange, but true. l Don’t forget your leg aids. It sounds simple, but lots of people don’t actually ride towards the jump!

12

Problem: Pony runs around the jump instead of jumping it This is a common problem. Ponies aren’t daft. They think they’ll just nip around the side and join their mates again.

Is it important?

Yes! This isn’t a jumping problem, this is a steering problem. You can steer, can’t you? You must be able to steer if you’ve progressed to jumping. So steer!

CURE IT! l It’s easy to forget your riding when the jumps are out. You’re so busy getting yourself ready for the leap, you can’t concentrate on anything else. But don’t worry about the jump until you are actually upon it! l Aim for the middle of the jump. Or, if the jump is next to the wall, why not aim closer to the wall and give yourself a fighting chance? l Most ponies who run around the jump are going too fast. This is the opposite problem to the last one. The faster your pony goes, the easier it is for him to run around the jump. Speed won’t get you over it. It will, however, get you around it – fast! l So slow down. Get control. Your pony should only go at the pace you ask for. Try small jumps from trot – you can always increase the pace when you’ve stopping running out! l If you feel your pony starting to run out – DON’T LET HIM! Stop him. Stop him at the jump and keep him there for a few moments. If you let him run out, it will just reinforce his habit. l The longer your run-up to the jump, the easier it is for your pony to increase speed and cart you around the side. Approach from a much shorter distance to help you.

Next month Eating on hacks and arguing with the other ponies!

13

put tom in order Tom has dismounted after his lesson, and is about to run up his stirrups and lead his pony out of the school. Can you put the pictures in the right order?

a

b

c

d

Brainbox

challenge Test yourself with our fiendish quizzes and puzzles. Go on, give your brain a challenge!

e

measurements and other stuff

What pace is trot, then?

true or false?

1

A: The left-side.

Which of these statements about riding are true, and which are false?

A: Trotting is a pace of two-time.

True r False r B: When riding on the right rein, your left hand is the inside hand.

B: The near side.

2

C: The close side.

How do you measure bone on a horse or pony?

True r False r

A: It’s the circumferance of the foreleg under the knee.

C:

B: It’s the bone in the dock extending into the tail.

When a horse is ridden in counter-canter, he leads with the outside leg.

True r False r D: When adjusting the girth when mounted,

it is correct to take your foot out of the stirrup.

True r False r E: Changing from walk to trot is known as an uphill transition.

True r False r F: A pony is only out of control if he is going

faster than his rider would like.

True r False r 34

What is the correct term for the left-hand side of a horse or pony.

C: It’s the height of the horse’s withers above his back.

3

How are Shetland ponies measured?

A: In hands.

One hand equals four inches (about 10cms) B: In cms.

C: In inches.

How would you measure these cu ties?

4

What is the name of the coat circles seen on horses?

A: Rings.

Can you identify these coat markings?

B: Whirls.

C: Whorls.

5

How should a horse or pony be measured?

A: On a flat surface, with a measuring stick at the lowest point of the back.

B: On a flat surface, with a measuring stick on the withers.

C: On grass, with a measuring stick at the poll.

6

Match the descriptions with the pictures.

A: Snip.

B: Star.

2

1

C: Sock.

D: Blaze.

3

4

5

E: Stocking .

Which is the missing piece of the puzzle?

jump expert!

Nice shape, but what’s it called?

1. A horse or pony should make a round shape over a jump. What is this shape known as?

A: Bascool B: Bascule C: Basskole 2. How many faults are awarded the following problems in a show jumping round?

How many faults A: One refusal ______________ for this?

B: A run-out ________________ C: A knock down _____________ D: A second refusal ______________ E: Rider falls off ________________ 3: What is the name given to two jumps without a stride between them A: A hop fence B: A bounce fence. C: A pop fence

a

c

b

d

4: There are five stages of a jump. We’ve given you the first one, can you name the rest?

1. The approach 2. ______________________________________________ 3. ______________________________________________ 4. ______________________________________________ 5. ______________________________________________

how did you do? The answers: Put Tom in order. The correct order is E D A B C. True or false? A and C are True. B and D are false. E is false – it is an upward transition. F is false – a pony is out of control whether it is going too fast or too slow. He should be going the speed his rider asks.

Measurements and other stuff. 1 = B. 2 = A. 3 = C. 4 = C. 5 = B. 6 A = 5 B = 4 C = 2 D = 3 E = 1.

A is the missing piece of the puzzle.

Jump expert! 1 = B. 2. A, B & C are each awarded four faults. D & E both result in elimination. 3. = B. 4. The five stages of jumping are: 1. The approach. 2. The take-off. 3. The moment of suspension. 4. The landing. 5. The getaway.

35