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Circles Serpentines Figures-of-eight Shallow loops
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Fa b u lo u s 0 4
April 2015 £3.99 Issue 798
posters!
How to ride ponies who rush at jumps
Equ ine hoo ves , ski n and tee th gui des
Shape up! Why use shapes? pes keep your pony focused Interest Different gshaidea s of his own! – which stops him inventin
helps you ride Discipline Riding setyousha’repes doing something wrong accurately. You’ll soon tell if bly. when your shape goes all wob
Stretching your pony’s muscles Supplenessmak es them more flexible, making in different directions – and you. everything you do easier for him
s If your pony isn’t sure Responsivent es l he’l concentrate and always be
what
you’re going to ask nex ready for your next aid.
his
ry time your pony turns he puts Impulsion Evehind leg to stay balanced. Changes weight over his inside him to keep both hind in direction and shape encourage balance and making his legs under him, improving his steps stronger.
e, p a h s t a h w d? what spee
y shape if u can ride an
Yo
your pace is
right.
, especially new shapes g in is ct ra p r s. is perfect fo sharp corner those with ge the rein if you chan t u b , es ap most sh is ideal for r diagonal. change you u change anced. If yo al b e b st u m ge leg. Your canter eeds to chan n y n o p r u ber that yo e rein, remem
Walk Trot
Canter th
s e p a h s t Ride grea
with the an cope c e h o s oth nced on with b pony bala in. Push ou can re Y f Get your . o s s in e g re chan n both o t c n you ta e n h turns and co rein w a steady ne leg or e o th m legs into h o it fr tact w pressure lose con r e increase v e n t turn, bu want to ur body e. id er (as yo rk a m other s a corners starts at – use the e n A shape o t a s rn your ) and end arker. Tu m ith h passes it c a e r in line w d afte they stay to look o before an t s e s rg ip h fo and d don’t n a , s e shoulders n t li r straigh curves o ! d a e h up and a
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Want some new ideas for your schooling? Need inspiration for riding different shapes? Lorraine Jennings is your girl!
what can go wrong?
Wobbly lines! Look up and ahe ad – you can’t ride accurately if you don’t look where you’re going. Crooked lines. Keep your sho ulders and hips turned so they match the line of the shape and your pony will do the same. Don’t forg et to straighten up after a curve, it’s a common mistake and the main reason ponies are crooked after a turn or circle. The wrong lines. Falling in (co ming inside the line you want to take) or fall ing out (going too wide) spoils many shapes. You r pony can’t do either if you keep your han ds together because his shoulders can’t drift apa rt. Push on from both legs and you’ll push his qua rters up behind his shoulders, shortening his bod y and making him easier to control.
Circles, squares and diamonds use the same tangent points (the four points that determine their size). It’s up to you whether you ride straight lines or curves between them.
Half circles inclining back to the track. Ride 10m or 15m half circles followed by a straight diagonal line that returns to the track between E/B and the corner marker.
1/2 13m circle
1/2 10m circle
1/2 10m circle 1/2 13m circle 1/2 10m circle
1/2 13m circle
1/2 10m circle
Three- and four-loop serpentines divide the school with even loops and straight lines. Three-loop serpentines have three, half 13m circles. Four loops comprise of four, half 10m circles.
5m
3m
Three metre or five metre shallow loops are ridden between markers on a long side. They’re measured at their widest point opposite E/B. They’re curves that are ridden against the direction you’re going – a loop on the right rein curves to the left and on the left rein it curves to the right. Your body should turn in the direction of the curve.
Shape challenge! Ride a different shape on each long side and when you pass A/C. How many can you do? Your pony can do any shape if you use clear aids. Imagine someone is watching you – could they tell what shape you’re riding? If they can’t, he can’t either!
Figures of eight use circles of 10m or 20m joined over the centre line with two strides in a straight line, or half 10m or 20m circles joined with diagonals
This month: Practise these shapes in walk and trot. Next month: More ideas, and how to ride shapes in canter. 9
Hoof
health DYK? Hooves should come in matched pairs. Front hooves are rounder than hind ones, but both fronts should look the same, as should both hind ones.
Be picky! l Pick out your pony’s hooves at least once a day – more if you are riding in a sand school, or out hacking, to ensure hooves stay healthy. l Picking out hooves offers you the perfect opportunity to check your pony’s hoof health. l Always pick out hooves from heel to toe. This avoids digging the hoofpick into the frog, which is sensitive and easily damaged. l Healthy hooves smell of hooves – they shouldn’t smell damp or musty. l Check the sole of the hoof, look around the walls for signs of cracking or flaking and, if your pony is shod, check his shoes and clenches to ensure his shoes are on tight. l Never lift your pony’s hooves too high – it will be uncomfortable for him. This is especially important if you care for a small pony. l Always put your pony’s hooves down gently after you have picked them out. It’s only polite!
Duggie’s talked us through shoeing, and here’s more about hooves. After all, No Foot, No Horse, is a saying worth taking notice of!
Know your pony ‘s hooves CLEFT OF FROG SEAT OF CORN
BARS POINT OF FROG SOLE WHITE LINE WALL OF FOOT
Hoof problems Thrush A fungal infection, thrush can be spotted by it’s smell and a black discharge from the frog. Thrush is caused by poor stable management – and wet bedding. Ensure your pony’s bed is always well mucked out and as dry as can be. Your farrier can also help by keeping your pony’s frogs trimmed, as well as his hooves.
Corns Bruising between the frog and the hoof wall at the heel can result in corns. They are often caused by a shoe being left on too long, and the foot growing too long, and can cause lameness. Poulticing may help.
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Picking out hooves is a vital part of hoof care
Feeding for hoof health Any deficiency in our diet soon becomes evident in lacklustre hair and poor finger and toenail quality – the same is true for ponies and their hooves. Good nutrition is essential. If your pony’s hooves are prone to cracking, flaking or breaking, seem very slow to grow or can’t keep shoes on for long, always consult your farrier and ask a qualified nutritionist for help. Additional minerals and vitamins can be really beneficial, as can specially formulated supplements, designed for hoof health. Biotin is the most common ingredient in supplements for good hoof health.
What ‘s the weather forecast? Climate can also affect your pony’s hooves. Hot, dry weather results in dry hooves, and wet and muddy conditions soften the hooves – just as staying in the bath for a long time softens our fingernails. Moisture is vital to hoof health, but use hoof treatments sparingly. There are some great moisturisers on the market that can improve your pony’s hoof quality – why not ask your farrier for his recommendations? Hoof oil always looks lovely – but not all hoof oil has many health benefits, so choose carefully.
Moisturise your pony’s hooves
Think when you ride!
Take care of legs and hooves when riding on the road
Your pony’s hoof health also relies on your care when riding. Avoid riding on rough ground – especially at faster paces. Tarmac roads are unforgiving on your pony’s hooves and legs, and hoof trauma can cause laminitis, so always limit your speed. Your pony’s frog is his anti-concussion device – don’t test it to the limit! Always pick out your pony’s hooves before and after a ride as you never know what he might pick up in his hooves!
Go to ponymag.com to see our videos on how to pick out your pony’s hooves!
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Palominos The most glamorous horse colour, a palomino will always turn heads. How can anyone fail to be impressed by a horse with coat of gold, and a mane and tail of snowy white? They’re totally golden horses!
f o m a e r C the crop!
ut palominos, How much do you know abo s and ponies? You’ll know cremellos and dilute horseyou ’ve read our feature! a whole lot more once
How to get one
Royal horses The word palomino comes from Spain, and translated means young dove, or like a dove. It is also the name of a white grape used to make sherry, and a Spanish surname. Queen Isabella de Bourbon of Spain (1605-1655) was reputed to have kept 100 palomino horses in her stables, and no-one but royalty or those of noble birth were permitted to ride horses of this colour. She sent a palomino stallion and five mares to her Viceroy in New Spain (Mexico). Even today, the colour palomino in Spain and Latin America is called Isabella.
both red and Cream dilution genes affect horse to a the te dilu and nt, black pigme horse with a ut lighter coat colour. A chestn es a palomino. om bec e single dilute cream gen omino, from pal of des sha There are many , and white our col den gol k dar a to pale cream eptable. acc are s markings on the face and leg s or ple dap k dar t, sen If the sooty gene is pre ple peo e som h oug alth , ear markings may app dislike these.
Cream horses
Cremello
Horses with cream coats, pink skin and blue eyes are known as cremellos. They may have white markings but if not, the legs may be slightly darker. Cremellos have a base coat colour of chestnut but their double dilution gene dilutes the chestnut colour to cream.
A gorgeous Cremello
ino A beautiful golden palom y tograph
pic: Emma Bearman Pho
Perlino
These horses have a bay base colour but with two cream dilution genes they are born perlino, varying from pale off-white, to pale coffee colour. Their manes and tails may be darker than seen in cremellos. These may be described as pale coffee coloured.
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Smokey Black A black horse with a single dilute cream gene will be born a smokey black.
Palomino and cream genetics l Double dilute horses always pass the cream gene on to their offspring. Single dilutes pass the cream gene on 50% of the time. l A cross between a cremello and a chestnut will always result in a palomino. l A cross between a double dilute and a palomino could be any colour with a cream gene – a single or double dilute – depending on which genes are passed on.
Trigger – the palomino’s PR!
os was Trigger, the mount of One of the most famous palomin billed as The Smartest Horse in Roy Rogers. Born in 1934, and stallion could do many tricks the Movies, this dark palomino making his debut in The – and appeared in many movies as Maid Marion’s mount. 8), (193 d Adventures of Robin Hoo face (1952), where he has a Look out for the film Son of Pale starring role!
a colour, not a breed. Remember! The palomino is
A pale palomino
Check out this smokey
black foal!
pic: Voras Hill Stud
Cremello Sameon Silver Lily Pic: Sameon Stud
A glamorous Perlino Pic: Orchid Stud
Want to find out more? The British Palomino Society promotes all palominos, cremellos and cream dilutes. Find out more at www.britishpalominosociety.co.uk. Look out for palomino classes at shows. If you want to know more, why not ask someone who is showing? But wait until after the class!
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