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Losing a pony
– how to cope
Warm-up like a pro!
Equine body language – explained! 9
Try our jumping quiz !
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November 2015 £3.49 Issue 805
Why not try endurance?
1.
at is it for? What is a groundline and wh e before the jump, It is a pole on the ground a strid jump. the on which helps the pony focus
2.
Eight faults.
front of the jump, It is a pole on the ground at the n to take off. which helps the pony judge whe It is the term for the bottom pole fill in the space.
3.
How many faults do you get for knocking down a pole in a jumping round?
Four faults.
on the jump to
Six faults.
Which of these is the correct sequence for the phases of jumping? Approach, take-off, moment of suspension, landing, getaway.
4.
Where should a rider be loo king when approaching a jump?
Approach, leap, in-the-air, come-down, getaway.
At the pony’s ears, to check he is locked on to the jump.
Approach, launch, bascule, landing, runaway.
Down at the base of the jump, to judge the take-off. Up and over the jump.
5.
Why do riders shorten their stirrups when they prepare to jump? To close the angles at the knees and ankles, to help maintain a balanced and secure position. To help the rider stand up in the stirrups when going over the jump. To enable the rider to use their legs more effectively when approaching a jump.
Y N O P e Th . 6 g n i p m u J z i u q now Think you kping? about jum e it with Well prov our quiz!
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Which of these is the best way to encourage your pony to jump well? To pat and talk to him, to let him know you are a team. To get the best approach possible, with balance, rhythm and impulsion. To kick at the very last stride, and to shout “HUP!”
7.
What is a placing pole, and what is it for? A pole on the ground one stride from the jump on the take-off side, to encourage the pony to meet the jump in the right place for take-off. A pole placed at the base of the jump, which helps the pony judge when to take-off. A pole used with another pole, placed on the top of the jump in a V, to encourage the pony to jump in the centre.
8.
What is a bounce fence? A bounce comprises two fences with a single stride between – the pony jumps the first, canters a stride, then jumps the second. A bounce is a fence built to encourage the pony to lift his feet higher over the fence. A bounce comprises two fences without a stride between them – the pony jumps one, lands, then jumps the second.
9.
What is the difference betwee na triple and a treble? A triple is an upright fence with three poles on top of each other. A treb le is a staircase fence with three pole s ascending. A triple is a combination of thre e fences in a line. A treble is a combination of three fences on a circle.
C
e
B
d
f
mostly
A
How did you do?
mostly
Wall Water Jump Planks
mostly
Gate Brush Fence Oxer
A triple is a single fence with thre e ascending poles. A treble is a combination of three fences.
Name the jump A. Brush Fence B. Gate C. Planks D. Wall E. Oxer F. Water jump
10.
Can you match the name to the jumps?
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You don’t know much about jumping yet – but hang on in there! There’s a lot to learn, but it will be fun learning it! Well you didn’t get them all right, and you’re a bit confused about some things but hopefully this quiz will have helped you increase your jumping knowledge. Are you on the British Showjumping Team? Maybe you should be – your knowledge about jumping is pretty hot!
Go that extra mile! Endurance riding builds a bond between you and your pony
Endurance riding is something anyone can do, on any pony! Find out more below!
H
ave you and your pony taken part in a sponsored or pleasure ride? Did you love riding over open and unfamiliar country, you and your pony, working together? It could be that endurance riding is for you!
What’s that then? Endurance riding entails riding along a set route, for a set distance, in open country. It isn’t just a case of riding flat-out from start to finish! Endurance riding requires the rider to work out their speed and gauge their ride to finish with a fit pony, within a good time. It’s a great challenge – just you and your pony, working together as a team. Remember, finishing too soon can be as bad as finishing too late!
Map reading knowledge is essential!
Getting started The Pony Club has five levels of endurance riding
competitions, from 10km rides at Level 1 (Robin), to rides up to 49km for Level 5 (Eagle). It’s the perfect way to introduce yourself and your pony to the sport, and progress as you get fitter, better and more knowledgeable.
Vetting In the longer rides, and those run by the governing bodies, your pony will be examined by a vet beforehand (to ensure he is sound and fit for the distance), and within 30 minutes of finishing (to ensure he is still sound and that you have not ridden him too hard). At the higher levels, the vet will also take your pony’s heart rate. A heart rate over 64 beats per minute results in disqualification. This is to prevent riders from going too fast and putting their ponies under stress and strain.
get lost! Don’t Competitors are given a map of the route – although the route itself will also be marked with spray chalk or fluorescent ribbons. Navigating the course is part of the challenge of endurance riding!
the prep! Do If you’re thinking of taking part in endurance riding, you’ll need to get your pony –
and yourself – fit! Most rides are undertaken at a trot, with some cantering, so the fitter the rider, the easier it is for the horse or pony to carry them comfortably. Riders competing in longer rides will have a back-up team, or crew, for support. The crew meets them at points along the route and offers drinks to both participants and refreshes the pony with water poured over his neck and quarters. This keeps the pony’s temperature down – especially on a hot day. For the lower levels, crewing isn’t really necessary, but do make sure your pony gets plenty of water to drink, and don’t forget yourself, either!
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How about starting with a sponsored ride?
It’s official!
Endurance GB is the governing body for endurance riding. Riders between eight and 13 years old can join Junior Riders. Junior riders must be accompanied by an adult rider in competitions. Riders aged between 14 and 21 years old are termed Young Riders. Scottish Endurance Riding Club offers junior membership to riders between eight and 15 years old. Irish Long Distance Riding Association welcomes junior riders between the ages of six and 14. Graded and Pleasure rides run by EGB/ SERC/ILDRA are not competitive but riders still need to complete the rides between the stated speeds (which means you can be eliminated for going too slow, as well as too fast!). Ponies are vetted before and after each ride.
Special endurance tack is light and colourful All pix: The Pony Club
Why not ride with your friends?
for! to aimrace ng endurance Somethi in the world? toughest the And
The Mongol Derby. This 1000km race through the Mongolian Steppe has been running since 2009. Riders stop every 40km at local horse stations where they choose a fresh (semi wild!) horse to tackle the next leg – if they don’t part company first! The race is based on the postal route established by legendary leader Gengis Khan in 1224.
Running up at a vet inspection
Routes are marked to help riders find their way
Sponsored by
The Glory, by Lauren St John The epic tale of a girl, a boy, and a 1,200-mile horse race across the American West! The Glory, by Lauren St John (author of The One Dollar Horse) is published by Orion, price £6.99 paperback 15
Feeding fieldkept ponies
feeding fieldkept ponies requires careful management. Read on to find out why!
Hard feed required? During the winter, grass is at its least nutritious and can be poor, meaning it won’t provide ponies with many nutrients. Ponies who live out need a substitute to grass, such as hay or haylage, to ensure they are eating enough to remain healthy. Some ponies may also need some hard feed, particularly ponies in hard work who are competing and hunting, ponies who are in poor condition and older ponies who struggle to maintain their weight when the temperature drops. Hard feeds shoud be split into two feeds, fed morning and evening, so that a pony does not ingest a big feed all in one go, as this can cause problems with digestion. For ponies in light or no work, hay may be enough. Be sure to weigh hay and hard feed to ensure you are giving your pony the correct amounts.
Hay there! Check out our top hay facts! l Ponies who live out need hay during the winter, as a substitute for grass. It provides the bulk that is needed in their diets. l A good sample of hay is sweet-smelling, light greenish-brown in colour, crisp and free from dust. l Good hay is made in dry, sunny weather when grass is coming into flower and before it has gone to seed. l When feeding a new batch of hay, it should be introduced gradually by mixing it with hay from the previous year.
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Watchpoint!
Hay should not be us ed before November of the year it has been made. Before then it is not mature enough to be fed, an d feeding it may cause digestive problems.
Watchpoint!
w or brown in Hay that is dark yello ioration and ter colour suggests de y. may be mould
DYK? Hay keeps ponies warm. The process of a pony eating and digesting hay acts like a central heating system, and helps to maintain his temperature.
How to hay way to feed it. Be Feeding hay loose in piles in the field is a practical and natural there are no that so ponies, are there than hay of piles sure that there are more stuffed into a is hay where used, be also can racks Hay piles! the over arguments would ponies of herd large A large rack (often circular) and ponies all share hay. antly consist could ponies nt domina less ise otherw require more than one hay rack, share. miss out on their covered by a Slow hay feeders, which are usually large buckets or containers from them in feed trickle can they as hay of grate, allow ponies a constant supply the winter, during fields in use for handy are They grass. woud the same way they when grass may be limited.
Watchpoint!
Field-kept ponies require as much water per day as stablekept ponies. It is important to check your pony’s water trough at least twice a day and in icy weather, break any ice that may be covering it. Thirsty ponies will be reluctant to eat dry hay, and may lose condition as a result.
Watch the frost Beware worms! All ponies need a worming programme to ensure they are healthy and free from worms. This is particularly important for ponies on grass 24/7. Ensuring pasture isn’t overgrazed, and resting paddocks where possible, as well as regular poopicking, can help reduce the risk of worms being contracted.
Frosty grass can be dangerous for ponies who suffer from, or are at risk of, laminitis. This is because frost-covered grass has a high fructan (sugar) content. During these times it is best to restrict grazing, or feed hay instead.
Watchpoint! A dull or particularly thick coat on a pony could be an indication that he is lacking nutrients. Field-kept ponies may benefit from an extra supplement or field lick or salt block to ensure they get enough vitamins and minerals.
PONY ACADEMY
Go to ponymag.com to check out our pros and cons of owning a field-kept pony!
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