PONY magazine – March 2018

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A gorgeous outfit for your pony PONYMAG.COM

Jump Skinnies

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March 2018 £3.65 Issue 835

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Skinnies made simple

Find skinny fences tricky? No problem!

Here’s how to ace them every time

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skinny fence is one that’s narrower than normal. You might come across them during showjumping rounds, working hunter classes, arena eventing or on a cross-country course.

It’s a good idea to practise them in advance, so you’re not surprised when you meet one in a competition. They require accurate riding so your pony doesn’t run-out, but by breaking them down into a few simple steps, you’ll soon find it easy!

Approach too fast and you’ll overshoot your turn

Prepare in advance to get a straight line to the fence

Be precise

Accuracy is key when it comes to skinnies. Here’s what to think about to make sure you ace it...

Your canter It’s no good having a long, strung-out canter, as you’ll struggle to stay straight and in control.

Sit up tall, keep your legs firmly on and maintain a contact to encourage plenty of impulsion and bounce. A shorter canter is better than a longer canter for skinnies, but it’s really important to maintain the energy to encourage a good jump.

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Your turn If you don’t ride a good turn to the fence, you’ll end up on a wonky line, which is much more of a problem when you’re jumping skinnies, because you’ll risk a run-out.

Look around the corner to the fence as

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, you approach it, turning in plenty of time y stead to need you if halt halfa use and your pony. This will give you the best chance of getting him on a straight line and in a balanced canter, ready to jump the fence.

Your getaway You’ve jumped the fence – success! But don’t forget, ng and getaway are just as landi your important, especially if you’re jumping a course. Having a wobble on landing will affect your line to the next fence, so sit up, keep your leg on and stay straight!

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Step-by-step

If you or your pony haven’t had much experience jumping skinnies, the best thing to do is to break it down into a few easy steps to build your confidence up gradually.

Step 1: Wings Taking the fence away is the best place to start, so you only need to think about your accuracy and approach. You can either set up two fence wings closer together than normal and ride through the gap or ride over a narrow pole on the ground.

Whichever option you choose, think about riding a straight line towards it and keeping in the middle. Remember to stay straight as you ride away, too.

Step 2: Wide V-poles V-poles are two poles, each with one end resting on the top of the fence, spreading out in a V-shape with the other ends resting on the floor. They act as a channel to help guide you into the fence.

Build a small fence and place the V-poles on it. Start with them wide so the poles are resting on the far ends of the fence. This makes them more inviting for your pony and is a good way to introduce them to him.

Approach in a steady, balanced canter on a straight line to give your pony a chance to see the poles and work out what you’re asking him to jump. Keep an even contact to stay straight and wrap your legs around his sides to help channel him into the fence.

Step 1

Step 2

Top tip

Keep the fences low to start with until you’ve really got the hang of it!

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Don’t be a passenger You’ve probably seen those riders who just let their pony do whatever he wants – that’s not riding!

You only get out of your pony what you put in, so make an effort and it’ll soon be rewarded. Don’t hide away behind the other riders in your group – volunteer to take the lead and really think about your riding!

If you’re in a group lesson, there’ll be times that your instructor’s not speaking to you directly because they’re helping someone else. This doesn’t mean it’s time to switch off, though. Even if what she’s saying doesn’t apply to you at that very moment, it’s all useful info that you can use another time.

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Ask away Find your own space It can be tempting to let your pony follow his friends because it’s harder work to get him to leave them. But challenging yourself is the only way you can improve, so even though it’s sometimes tricky, stick at it and persevere. Having your own space means you can do so much more because you’ll have your pony’s attention.

If you didn’t quite hear or aren’t sure of something, it’s always best to ask! It’s not scary to ask or wrong to be confused – your instructor will be glad you’ve asked and more than happy to explain it again to help you understand. If you’re nervous about asking questions in front of others, wait until you’re riding closer to your instructor, then park up and ask. Remember, other riders might have the same question, so asking in front of everyone could help them, too.

Just because everyone else makes an excuse when they don’t get it right, doesn’t mean you should, too. All ponies can go into the corner and trot more actively, so it’s your job to get him to do it.

Pay attention Ever feel like you’ve missed a chunk of the lesson because you’ve been too busy daydreaming? Your instructor might have just given you the key to riding like Charlotte Dujardin but you were busy thinking about what’s for dinner and giving your pony a pat!

Likewise, although it’s good to learn from watching other people ride, focus on what you’re doing rather than looking at everyone else in your group.

Sit up, concentrate and soak up every little thing your instructor says.

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