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June 2017 £3.49 Issue 826
Readers’ confessions:
Stuck in a water bucket!
n e e r g n e e r The g
s s a gr prepared for t e g , y r t n u o c s s ro jumping or c w o h s g n i o g e ’r u o y r b guide! fa Whethe is h t h it w s s ra g jumping on
L
ots of competitions take place on grass over the summer, with venues making the most of the extra space available. It’s a good idea to practise jumping on grass before you compete on it for the first time so you know what to expect.
Safety first
Before you start riding, consider the area where you’re planning to jump. Make sure there are no rabbit holes in the field and that the fencing is safe and secure. Use an area that’s as flat as possible, too. Even if you’re jumping in a specific schooling field, check the ground is suitable. It shouldn’t be too hard and rutted or wet and deep, as either extreme can put extra strain on your pony’s legs. If you’re unsure whether the ground is suitable, check with your yard owner or instructor first, and make sure you have permission to ride in the field, too.
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PONY magazine
Let’s go!ponies to be more excitable than
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Your pony may be excitable
at first...
Top tip
Be aware that your pony’s more likely to fall out when you’re riding in a field, as there aren’t any fences to guide him. Wrap your legs firmly around his sides to keep him straight.
p will help settle him ...but a go od warm-u
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M E L B PRO bust K C A H YOUR Does your fave pony cause trouble out on a hack? Follow our guide for stress-free hacking this summer 10
PONY magazine
Move on out
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here’s nothing quite like a super-fun hack with your fave pony, especially with friends on a sunny summer’s day. Hacking should be relaxing and enjoyable, but it can quickly become nerve-racking if your pony’s playing up and not listening to your aids.
Top tip
Napping is usually a behavioural problem, but it’s important to first rule out pain if it’s happening frequently. Back or tooth pain is a common cause of napping – your vet will be able to identify this.
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Napping is when your pony refuses to move in the direction you’re asking him to go – this can happen if he has to leave his friends. He might plant his feet, go sideways, or spin around. It’s a common problem for ponies to be reluctant to leave the yard to go on a hack, but it doesn’t have to stop your hacking. Here’s what you can do to solve it.
Go back to basics Is your pony responsive to your leg aids? When you apply leg pressure, he should react straight away and move forwards – if he doesn’t, work on it in the school before going hacking. You can use upward and downward transitions to help with this, because they keep him focused and more responsive to your aids.
Use your schooling Try a brief schooling session, including lots of transitions, before you go out hacking. With your pony in a schooling frame of mind rather than thinking about his friends, he’s more likely to move away from them without a fuss.
Take a friend While your pony might not want to leave the yard on his own, he’ll be more willing if he has a friend with him. Ask someone on an experienced pony to come with you so your pony can follow them out of the yard without a fuss.
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PONY magazine
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Get the
gloss
Want to get your fave pony gleaming? Follow our coat care masterclass to find out how
S
ummer is finally in sight, which means you can wave goodbye to your pony’s superfluffy winter coat and say hello to his sleek summer one. As well as looking great at shows and competitions, a shiny coat is a sign of good health. There are lots of things you can do to make your pony sparkle even more, and impress your yard mates at the same time, too!
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PONY magazine
Elbow grease
Daily grooming is the best way to get your pony’s coat healthy and shiny. As well as getting rid of dirt and dust, it stimulates the production of the natural oils that give his coat its shine. Grooming also encourages blood flow, keeping his skin healthy and in good condition. Once you’ve groomed off any mud, a body brush is the best way to work up a shine with firm, short strokes.
top tip
Use one set of grooming brushes for each pony to stop any skin problems spreading. If you have to share, disinfect the brushes between each use.
Squeaky-clean
Top tip
Let any mud dry before you groom your pony. Brushing wet mud pushes it further into his coat and can stain, but dry mud is much easier to flick off.
It’s a good idea to give your grooming brushes a clean every month or so – dirty brushes just transfer dirt back onto your pony. To do this... l squirt a little washing-up liquid into a bucket and fill it with warm water l one brush at a time, place it into the water and use your fingers to work the soapy mixture into the bristles to get rid of grease and loose hair l rinse the soap off with clean, warm water and leave the brush to dry bristles-down l repeat for the rest of your brushes
Sweat alert
As well as making your pony super-itchy, dried sweat can make his coat scurfy and brittle. Get rid of it by sponging off sweaty patches after you’ve ridden or grooming it off when dry. If it’s a warm day, you can hose him or use a no-rinse wash to give him a good cool-down and leave his coat sweat-free.
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