PONY magazine – November 2017

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Jump doubles LIKE A PRO!

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November 2017 £3.65 Issue 831

Gorgeous

Double

up

Getting in a muddle with doubles? Find out how to nail them every time with our handy guide

D

oubles are two fences on a straight line that are either one or two strides apart.

There’s normally at least one double in a showjumping course, so it’s important to jump them well to keep those poles up!

As there are two fences to jump one after the other, your accuracy and riding become even more important – if you make a mistake over the first fence, it’ll be trickier to clear the second. But don’t worry, there are a few simple things you can try to make sure you get it right every time!

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First things first

Before you start jumping, it’s super-important to think about your canter. When it comes to jumping doubles, impulsion, not speed, is key. This means your pony needs to have a forward, bouncy canter and be in front of your leg. You can achieve this in a number of ways while you’re warming up by... l riding plenty of transitions to keep your pony focused and listening to your aids l lengthening and shortening

his canter stride to make sure he’s forward off your leg l riding half-halts to keep him balanced and prevent him rushing Once you’ve achieved a bouncy canter with plenty of impulsion, your pony’s less likely to land from the first fence and run out of energy before the second, which normally results in a refusal or run-out. Keep his impulsion to jump clear through the double.

Top tip

Keep the fences small until you’ve mastered it – it’s more important to focus on technique than the height of the fence you’re jumping!

Build it up

If you’re not confident jumping doubles, the best thing to do is take it back to basics. Start with two poles on the ground, one stride apart – check out our handy cut-out-and-keep stride guide on the next page to help you set it up!

Canter your pony over the poles. Think about maintaining a balanced rhythm and staying straight across both.

Once you’ve got the hang of riding over the poles, build a small cross-pole in the place of the second pole and ride through again. When you’re confident with Your pony might want that, build the first to jump the poles, so be pole into a small prepared to go with him in fence, too. your jumping position if he does.

Top tip

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Eyes on the prize

Looking down at the fence as you jump is an easy habit to get in to, but it’s especially important when you’re riding doubles to remember to keep your eyes up. Look at the first fence on approach and, as soon as your pony starts to take off, look up at the second part of the double.

As well as letting your pony know where you plan to go, it’ll keep you straight and balanced through the double for a good jump out. Looking down means you’ll risk a wobbly line and be more likely to have the second part down.

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PREPARING FOR THE R

AD

Here’s how to get roadwork savvy without even leaving the yard

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Building your roads There are a few different ways you can use poles to set up a road system – be as inventive as you like. The main thing you’ll need set out to practise is a junction where you can turn left and right.

Here are some ideas...

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t-junction

efore you ride out on the road, it’s important to be sure you know what to expect, what you should be doing and how to deal with a tricky situation. Practising in the school is the perfect way to get to grips with the rules of the road and it’s something different to keep your pony interested, too.

Top tip

You could use cones to set up a roundabout or traffic lights.

Top tip

Riding in the school with all your high-vis kit is a good opportunity for your pony to get used to it, especially if it’s something different, such as an exercise sheet.

roundabout

crossroads

proper positioning When you’re riding on the road, you should be travelling in the same direction as the traffic, on the left-hand side. Avoid letting your pony drift into the middle of the lane, because it makes it harder for other road users to pass you and it’s a more dangerous place to be as there’s less space for a car to pass you widely.

If you’re riding with a friend and the road is wide, you can ride side-by-side. But as soon as the road narrows or there’s a bend or traffic, you should ride in single file.

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CO NF ID EN CE

building blocks All riders have a confidence knock from time-to-time.

Check out our top tips for building it back up

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hether you’ve had a scary experience or a fall, it’s easy to lose confidence and feel more nervous than you used to. People experience these nerves and fears in different ways – you may try to avoid the situation that made you worried in the first place, become anxious (that butterfly feeling in your stomach) or find yourself freezing and stiffening up as you anticipate something going wrong.

Whatever you’re feeling, it’s important to try to build your confidence back up so you can enjoy riding again. Start slowly and work at a speed that feels right for you – putting the right foundations into place will help your riding in the long run!

Slow and steady

Top tip

As long as you and your pony aren’t injured, it’s best to get back on as soon as possible after a fall. The longer you put it off, the more nervous you’re likely to feel.

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If you haven’t felt confident enough to get back in the saddle yet, the best thing is to start on a sensible pony. Your instructor will be able to suggest a super-safe, calm pony for you to try for your first ride back.

Spend some time with your pony on the ground, grooming and chatting to him. The more you get to know him, the more comfortable you’ll feel around him, especially when you’re riding.

A helper on the ground can give confidence

Top tip

Find an instructor who works for you – don’t be afraid to swap until you find someone you click with. The right instructor will improve your confidence in leaps and bounds.

Back in the saddle

When you’re ready to get back on, start simple – a lunge lesson is a good idea, or even just having someone walking alongside as you ride can put you more at ease. Keep sessions short to begin with, then gradually increase the length of time you ride for, introducing trot and canter when you feel ready.

Regular lessons will really help you focus on your riding and improve your position in the saddle. The better your position, the more secure you’ll be, which will help you feel safer and more confident.

Top tip

Take deep breaths when you’re feeling worried.

It’ll help keep the nerves at bay and give you the chance to relax and think positively.

Think yourself confident

Positive thinking is a really powerful tool when it comes to building up confidence. It’s easy to let negative thoughts fill your head, but these can take over and stop you riding properly.

Instead of letting them affect you, visualise the thoughts getting smaller and smaller until they disappear.

Then, fill your head with more positive thoughts, such as ‘I know how to do this, I’ve done it before, it’s going to be fine’. Repeating these thoughts in your head can help you feel much more calm and confident, instead of worrying about what could happen.

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