PONY Magazine – May 2016

Behind-the-scenes at Badminton Horse Trials

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May 2016 £3.49 Issue 812

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Perfect your

jumping

Thanks to KBIS Insurance for their help with this feature. To find out more about the KBIS NSEA Training Bursary, visit kbis.co.uk

rhythm

Our trainer

Izzy Taylor competes at four-star level and has completed some of the ld, biggest events in the wor and ton min including Bad d Burghley. She represente 3 201 the at Team GB and 2015 European Championships, and is sponsored by KBIS.

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PONY magazine

Whether you love cross-country or showjumping, a good rhythm when jumping is the key to success. Top eventer, Izzy Taylor, gives her tips to perfect your rhythm

Why is rhythm important?

Our model y has

12-year-old Popp old owned her 11-yearcount Vis ’s ey orl Ch , ng geldi ars. They (Victor), for two ye mpete co d an g tin en ev love and 0, 10 BE d at BE90 an under d an ars ye 14 the won Bursary KBIS NSEA Training in 2015.

Our model

and Amy is 16 years old mare, old arye nve se owns ey Th ). elly Red Shelly (Sh ping jum ow sh in ete comp ars and and won the 15 ye ining Tra EA NS IS KB over .

15 20 in Bursary

A consistent rhythm around a course, whether showjumping or cross-country, is essential for a successful round. A good rhythm is where a pony’s hoofbeats are even and regular, and it helps ponies to stay in balance.

Warm up In order to get a good rhythm over a fence, it’s important to first establish a balanced, rhythmical trot and canter before you begin jumping.

Work on a steady, even trot before you begin cantering. A trot that is too fast or unbalanced will affect the rhythm of the canter. If your pony’s canter isn’t balanced, he might misjudge the take-off and add in

Shelly’s paces were too fast with Amy’s reins too long...

an extra stride before the fence, or take off too far away.

Once his paces are balanced, start by jumping a cross-pole. It can be tempting to push your pony towards a fence, especially if you think you won’t meet it correctly, but remember your pony has two eyes! He can judge the fence, too. Your job is to keep the rhythm and let the fence come to you.

...but from a balanced canter, Amy gets a good jump

Top tip!

Before yo jumping u start , make your ca nter is b sure a and eve lanced n.

An unbalanced approach meant Victor met the fence in the wrong place and took off too early...

...but a balanced, rhythmical approach produced a good jump

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PONY magazine

this month: Breathing

This month, our paper is all about breathing and your pony’s respiratory system. Answer as many of the questions as you can, but don’t worry if there’s an answer you don’t know – you can still send us your paper for marking. This paper is based on the feature that appeared in the October 2015 issue of PONY.

1

Which of these make up a pony’s respiratory system?

Large airways, small airways and lungs Lungs only

✁

Small airways and lungs Large airways and lungs

2

5–8 Exactly 25 30–40

6

Why is it important to take extra care to regularly muck out the stable of a pony who suffers from respiratory issues?

Sense of taste

Because ponies with respiratory problems have a very sensitive sense of smell, so they don’t like the smell of poo

Digestion

You shouldn’t muck out every day when your pony has respiratory problems, because it creates dust that will make him cough

Sense of smell and communicating (snorting, squealing and neighing)

Colic, mud fever and thrush Sweet itch, arthritis and laminitis

Because ponies with respiratory problems need to lie down more than other ponies Because ammonia in urine can irritate the respiratory tract

Ridden performance

4

The tubes through which blood flows into the lungs

Nothing. It’s a made up word

A pony’s respiratory system enables him to breathe. What else does it help with?

Which of the following are respiratory problems?

Another name for the small airways

Small sacs where the exchange of oxygen into a pony’s bloodstream takes place

How many breaths should an average, healthy pony take per minute when he’s at rest?

10–20

3

5

What are bronchioles?

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A common respiratory issue is RAO. What does RAO stand for?

Reduced Available Oxygen Recurrent Airway Obstruction

Equine flu, strangles and lungworm

Recent Airway Obstacle

Tetanus, ringworm and over-reaching

Reluctant Air Organ

PONY magazine

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Shout Out! Best buddies This picture is of my best friends and our ponies on a hack to the beach. The tide was out and the beach was covered in seaweed, but we didn’t mind. We went for a gallop, it was so much fun!

Robyn

Marvellous Minstrel I’ve had Minstrel for just over a year and he has been the best friend ever. I don’t know where I would be without him. He always looks after me and is a total star. I love him so much!

Jessica Holloway

MY PONY CLUB Jumping Jiggi Meet Jigsaw! I call him Jiggi, he’s my best friend. We plan to do lots of showjumping, cross-country and go to Pony Club camp this year.

He’s the most amazing pony I could ever wish for. Thank you, Jiggi!

Alex Dixon 46

PONY magazine

When I first joined the Mid Suffolk Pony Club and went to my first rally, I didn’t know what to expect, but I had so much fun! I’ve been going to rallies ever since and last summer I went to camp. I was a bit nervous about going, but everyone was really supportive and helped me loads. I’ve come on leaps and bounds since I started, going from cross-poles to jumping confidently around courses.

The instructors are lovely and are great at boosting my confidence. I can’t wait until my next rally!

Kiri-jay Orris

Pony pirate!

This is my first pony, Rihanna, dressed up as Captain Jack Sparrow and me as Elizabeth Swann. I love Rihanna to bits, she’s the best pony ever.

Ruby Forbes

Lovely Loula

Zazzy is...

ARIAT Awesomoneth pony of the m

I want to say a special thank you to my pony, Loula. She’s a fab pony and always looks after me. I love her so much!

Abbie Lucas

I’d like to shout out to everybody at Buxton Riding School.

Especial y the amazing pony, Georgie, who has helped me overcome my fear of jumping. I’ve ridden there for more than five years and I love it!

Jess Redman

Wonderful Bertie I absolutely love reading PONY mag! This is Bertie and I riding on our local beach. Bertie loves licking everything, especially his treacle lick. He also loves rolling in the field after it rains and getting all muddy!

Amber Black

Confident Casper Before I got Casper, I’d lost all my confidence and I was about to give up riding. When my mum found Casper, it was love at first sight. Without him I wouldn’t be the rider I am today. We have an unbreakable bond. He’s an incredible pony and always makes me laugh. He’s my best friend.

Holly Foskett

SUPER-CUTE PETS Holly owned by Charlotte

Yasmin owned by Sophie

Smokey and Sweep owned by Lucy

Beneath all the cotton wool is Zazzy! He’s so versatile and never complains, I think he trusts me 100%! We whizz around cross-country courses, try our best at dressage and we’ve even had a go at polo! He’s the best pony ever, he didn’t mind being in this fancy dress costume and he can even bow for a polo!

Lolly Dogger

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PONY magazine

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