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Spring 2016 £3.49 Issue 810
“I beat the odds to win!”
Conquer cros Want to be the next Pippa Funnell? Learn to tackle cross-country like a pro with our fab guide!
Cross-country riding tool kit! These are the essential skills you will need for effective cross-country riding. If you can tick them all, you’re ready to go! I can... q adjust my pony’s canter q balance my pony on the approach to a fence (I am balanced if I can turn and ride a 20 metre circle well at any time) q create a bouncy canter on approach to a fence q maintain a light and even contact q move my pony forward from my leg when I want to
Types of fences When riding cross-country, you will encounter lots of different types of fences, as well as obstacles such as ditches, steps, water and varied terrain. Different types of fences need to be ridden in different ways to make sure you give your pony the best chance of jumping them well. Here are some of the fences you might encounter on a cross-country course, and how to ride them.
Simple logs are invitin g
Logs Many cross-country courses feature logs or roll-top fences, which are really inviting for ponies. You don’t need to change your pony’s canter – just keep a good rhythm and he’ll easily jump a log fence out of his stride.
Upright Upright fences include gates, walls, post-and-rail fence and stiles. They need extra balance and control, and a short, bouncy canter on approach. Reduce the speed of the canter from your crosscountry pace so your pony has time to look at the fence. Uprights can be difficult for ponies to judge – and are easy to hit – so it is essential that you approach them correctly.
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Spread Spread fences can look a bit scary, especially on more advanced courses, and may be put on a course to test your bravery. However, ponies often find spread fences easier to jump than uprights, as they can round their bodies over the fence more easily. Approach a wide fence with purpose, and make sure your pony is in front of your leg and moving forward with impulsion. If he is going too slowly, or his canter is lazy, he will find it difficult to clear the width of the fence. Maintain an even rhythm into the fence and keep your legs on to encourage your pony to lengthen his stride slightly before take-off, so he can produce a powerful jump.
ss-country! Part
one
Brush A brush fence or hedge is often a bit bigger than the other fences on a cross-country course, as the section on top is designed so ponies can ‘brush’ through it and don’t have to jump the full height. Others can be stiff brush that ponies will have to jump. Experienced ponies will often brush through where they can, but younger, more inexperienced ponies might not – so be prepared for an extra-big jump! They shouldn’t be technically difficult to jump, however they need to be ridden confidently as they may look more imposing than other fences on the course, due to the extra height of the brush.
ok scary! ke them lo a m n ca s brushe height of The extra
Ditch
Skinny Skinny fences are narrow fences, that may be part of a combination or a standalone fence. They need to be ridden with accuracy, so a steady, controlled approach is important. Make sure your pony is straight on approach, as a wobbly or wonky approach could cause a run-out. Keeping both legs evenly on your pony’s sides and an even contact should encourage him to stay straight and jump in the centre of the fence.
An open ditch can be scary for ponies, as they can’t see what’s in it until they are right next to it. This means they may back off or be tempted to look down. On approach, look up and ahead over the ditch. Looking down could encourage your pony to look down and lower his shoulders, which could affect your balance. Don’t approach too fast, otherwise your pony may not have time to assess how to jump the ditch. A short, bouncy canter is ideal, and if you are unsure, approach in trot.
A straight approach is crucial!
Step up Jumping steps up needs lots of power and impulsion. Aim to create a bouncy stride on approach, which will help your pony pop up the steps more easily. If the stride is too long and flat, or there is not enough impulsion, your pony will find it difficult to get up the steps. Remember to look up and ahead to where you want to get to at the top of the steps. Sit lightly in the saddle with your weight in your stirrups. If you sit back heavily in the saddle you will put too much weight on your pony’s hindquarters and make it more difficult for him to carry you up the steps.
Step down (drop) When jumping down steps, the key is to be in balance with your pony. On approach, steady your pace. If you are going too fast your pony will put more weight on his forehand and you could be in danger of being pulled forward. You may find it easier to steady your pony to a trot to give yourself more time if you or your pony is not used to jumping down steps. Look straight ahead, not down the steps! Aim to sit up tall (with bigger steps you may need to lean back) and keep your weight in your heels. Always slip your reins to give your pony his head, which will make it easier for him to jump down.
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Sitting
pretty!
If you spend more time bouncing out of the saddle than in it when attempting to sit to your pony’s trot, our guide will help! Here’s how to ride sitting trot like a pro
Phoebe Peters shows how it’s done!
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When your pony s. In rising trot, you and his legs go in diagonal pair go forward and legs of pair l ona diag rise up as one In sitting trot, you don’t sit as he moves the other pair. rise at all! the trot on than Some ponies are easier to sit to have a bouncy ies pon e som e aus others, simply bec r, with practice, you can stride and some don’t. Howeve y! pon learn to sit to the trot on any ause: bec ning lear Sitting trot is worth and help you ition pos g ridin r you l it can improve develop a better seat er levels of dressage l you have to do it at the high r your pony’s balance ove trol l you can keep better con such as lateral work and direction during movements (going sideways!)
A mechanical horse
How to ride it Riders who can do sitting trot really well have worked on their whole body position, not just their seat! We’ve broken sitting trot down into different body parts and what they should be doing during this movement. l Head. Look straight between your pony’s ears and remember to breathe. l Arms and hands. Keep your upper arms at your sides and bend your elbows, carrying your hands out in front of you. Keep a contact on the reins, but avoid pulling back on your pony’s mouth.
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Make it look easy If you watch top dressage riders – like Charlotte Dujardin or Phoebe Peters – doing sitting trot, they look like they’re sitting there doing nothing! This is because they have spent hours perfecting their seat – and you can, too. The best way to become a sitting trot pro is to ride without stirrups on the lunge. Either book a lesson with an instructor or ask a knowledgeable friend to lunge you. But make sure the pony you ride is steady and safe! Many riders practise riding without stirrups off the lunge. While this can improve your sitting trot no end, it should only be done on a safe pony and when someone is there to help you. Some riding centres offer lessons on mechanical horses, which are equine robots that can walk, trot and canter. Not only is this great fun, but you can practise your sitting trot without worrying about steering or falling off.
l Upper body. Stay upright, without tipping forward or leaning back. Keep your shoulders back, but try not to force them back, otherwise you will tense up. l Lower back and seat. Relax your lower back so you feel it absorbing the movement of your pony’s trot. Imagine you have a £20 note between your bottom and your pony’s saddle and you don’t want it to blow away! l Legs. You want both legs to hang loosely at your pony’s sides, without gripping or showing any tension. l Feet. Your heel should be slightly lower than your toe, with your weight on the ball of your foot.
A neat seat Did you know that the secret to riding sitting trot is in your seat? Riders who are brilliant at sitting trot are strong in their core (their tummy and abdominal muscles) and flexible in their back, allowing them to sit to their pony’s trot effortlessly! When you develop a more secure seat (and it does take practice), you will be able to relax your legs and keep your hands still, while your seat absorbs the movement of your pony’s trot. Riding without stirrups is the quickest and most effective way of achieving this!
Hold
ing t h can h e pomme l elp
Having trouble? Don’t panic, we’re here to help! Here are some common sitting trot issues that are easily solved when you know how.
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“I grip with my knees and feel as if I am going to fall off if I relax them!” You are definitely not alone – many riders feel the same! Book a few lunge lessons and when you are riding without stirrups, hold onto the front of the saddle or a neck strap with your outside hand. You can use your hand to pull up on the pommel of the saddle. This will allow you to relax your knees without feeling unstable. Give it a go!
nees
k your Relax
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2 “I can’t keep my bottom in the saddle. it bounces all over the place, which must be uncomfortable for my pony, as well as me!” That’s because you’re still a bit stiff in your lower back, but the good news is, it’s easily solved! Walking without stirrups while on the lunge is a great way of loosening up your lower back. When you loosen up in walk first, you might find sitting trot easier. If it’s safe to do so, your instructor may suggest bringing your knees up to the front of the saddle like a jockey, while holding onto the pommel of the saddle with one hand. You will instantly feel more movement in your lower back, which will help to make you more supple. Problem solved!
Lifting your knees helps you feel more supple
“I feel nervous in sitting trot and tend to tip my upper body forward, rather than staying upright. What can I do?”
Lifting your you sta arms helps y uprig ht
When you feel scared it is only natural to tip forward in the saddle, but actually doing this makes you less secure! If your instructor is asking you to ride without stirrups, let them know it’s making you nervous and ask whether you can practise sitting trot with stirrups for now. Instead, why not practise without reins? Your instructor can get you to do big backward circles with your arms or reach both arms up towards the sky, to lift your body into a more upright position.
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New pon�,
new hom�
g a new pony, or moving ttin ge be to gh ou en ky luc u yo Are him settle in with advice your pony to a new yard? Help na Saillet from pony behaviour expert, An
Moving house is stressful for people, so imagine how easily stressed it can make ponies, who don’t understand why it’s happening! Helping your pony adjust to new surroundings when he moves yards needs careful consideration, but there is lots you can do to help.
Making friends Ponies are social herd animals – that means they love the company of other ponies and horses. Ponies develop friendships just like people do, and they often even have a best friend. If they are suddenly taken away from their friends, they can get extremely upset, just like we would, and it can take them time to recover from this. Your pony will make new friends at a new yard, and there are steps you can take to help him settle in more quickly.
How you can help Scent-swapping Ponies have a powerful sense of smell, and they use it to find out information about their new environment. Scent-swapping can be done by placing your pony’s droppings into the paddock with the new herd members before they meet each other. Allow your pony to smell the droppings of the herd, too. He can then learn about their gender, age and general health status.
Top tip!
Always do scent-swapping in an open space, such as a paddock, so ponies can move away if they want to.
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Our expert
Anna Saillet is an Equine Behaviour Consultant. She has a degree in Animal Behaviour and a master’s degree in Applied Animal Behaviour and Welfare.
Watch point!
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Use barriers When your pony first comes into physical contact with other ponies, introduce them with a safe barrier between them, such as a stable door or a postand-rail fence.
Next-door neighbours Don’t turn your pony out with a herd of other ponies straight away. Instead, put him in a field beside his new companions for a few weeks before they are turned out together. They will get to know each other over the safety of a fence, which will help reduce the risk of injury when they are turned out together, as they will already know each other!
Go exploring! Let your pony get used to his new field on his own before he is turned out with others. This lets him find out where the food, water, shelter and gates are, which will help him feel safer.
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Stop the
h c t a r c s
Lots of po nies suffe r from the skin cond ition sweet itc h. What is it, an what can you do ab d o it? Swat u p on swe ut et itch with our h andy guid e
What is sweet itch?
Sweet itch is an allergic reaction to the saliva of the Culicoides midge. It causes ponies to feel itchy and uncomfortable. Affected ponies may scratch, rub, or even bite their skin. It is thought around 50,000 horses and ponies in the UK are affected – so it’s important to stay aware! Midges prefer wet environments and mild weather. They hate wind, and can’t fly if wind speed is faster than 5mph – that’s a fast walking pace! Midges are at their worst at dawn and dusk, and on overcast days – this is when ponies are at the highest risk of being bitten.
Did you
know?
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Symptoms
l Scratching Ponies mainly scratch along thei r back, mane and tail. They may rub against trees, fences and stables to try and relieve the irritation. l Missing hair Some ponies may just experie nce some broken mane and tail hairs, whereas others with more severe allergie s may rub out a lot of their man e and tail. l Sore, red skin If ponies continuously rub affe cted areas, weeping sores may develop. Over time, this can cause the skin to thicken, causing ridges. This is most common at the base of the mane, near the withers. l Unpredictable behaviour Ponies who are particularly affe cted by sweet itch may become unpredictable, as the constant itching makes them feel irritable and bad-tem pered.
Did yo
u know
?
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Turn affected ponies out in exposed, windy areas
Sweet itch prevention plan
Don’t wait until you see a reaction to midge bites before acting. Sweet itch has no cure, so it’s better to try and prevent him being bitten in the first place, before he gets itchy! l Bring ponies into a stable between 4pm and 8am, to avoid the worst of the midges. Mid-morning to mid-afternoon is the best time to let affected ponies graze. l Keep your pony away from standing water and marshy fields, as midges thrive in these environments. l If possible, turn your pony out on an exposed hilltop, as midges are less able to fly due to the stronger wind. l Prevent midges from biting your pony’s skin by turning him out in a fly rug that covers him as much as possible from his ears to his tail, and includes a belly flap. Also, make sure he is wearing a fly mask. Use fly rugs and l Apply a midge and fly repellent regularly, to make your pony less attractive to midges. masks for protection Look for products containing permethrin or cypermethrin. l Water troughs can act as midge breeding grounds, so these should be cleaned regularly. l Screen stable windows and doors with a fine mesh to prevent midges flying in when your pony is stabled.
Watchpoint!
Put your prevention plan into place well before the first midges of the year begin to emerge. If your pony already feels itchy when you begin to act, his sweet itch will be much more difficult to treat.
Treatment
If your pony is already suffering from sweet itch, there are a number of ways to soothe the itching. l Shampooing your pony regularly with a hypoallergenic shampoo will remove scurf and scabs caused by rubbing, which can help decrease the itchiness. l Applying a soothing lotion can provide short-term relief. l There are a range of daily medicated treatments that are available for ponies who suffer from sweet itch. Ask your vet for guidance. l If your pony suffers from a severe sweet itch reaction, your vet may need to prescribe steroids. These can be administered as an injection or as tablets and will provide fast, effective relief from itching.
Watchpoint!
Always wear surgical gloves when applying lotions and creams, and make sure to wash your hands afterwards.
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