New Series part 1
X
-Country
basics!
p!
Warming up, approach and control after the jum
Warm up to win!
Ella and Evie warm up under Lauren’s watchful eye!
Our models Meet Ella and Evie and their ponies Lucky Charm and Barney. They’ve not done much cross country jumping, so luckily, four* International event rider Lauren Shannon is here to help!
Our instructor Born in the UK, Lauren Shannon spent most of her childhood in the USA, but returned to England to train and compete. Watch out for British Young Rider Gold Medallist Lauren, who is sponsored by Hit-Air, at top events with her lovely horses, Zero Flight and Quixotic!
Just as you do in the school, Lauren says it is vital to warm up before heading off for the jumps. Here’s Lauren’s top tips for a great cross country warm up: ● Check your girth! ● Remember that your pony must pay attention – to you! ● Make sure you have control in walk before progressing to trot. ● Trot a few big circles on the left rein. ● Let your pony stretch then change the rein and trot on the right rein. ● Now canter on both reins. A little faster than your normal jumping canter – your pony should be taking you along a bit. ● Get your forward position at canter – are your stirrups the right length? Shorter than the flat but maybe not quite a high as for show jumping. ● Check your girth again!
Is your pony listening? “As you warm up,” says Lauren, “make sure your pony is listening to you. You should give only one aid to go – and he should respond! Your pony should be thinking more about you than about what’s in front of them. This is vital from a safety point of view, too.”
When Charm goes too fast, Ella sits up to bring her back. Her shoulders are her brakes!
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Start small “A small log is the ideal starter fence to get your pony (and you!) going,” advises Lauren. “Think about the ground – pick the best ground – and the turn into the jump. The turn is vital – get it wrong and your pony won’t have a good chance to jump well.”
Lauren’s top approach advice ● Trot around the corner then pick up canter on the straight. ● See your line – straight. ● Get your canter ● You need to be up on your knees, shoulders back. ● Let your pony know you mean business – ride positively!
Barney runs out. But when Evie sorts out her approach, he jumps well and earns a big thank you pat.
charm gets it right The girls tackle the same jump, but downhill this time. This approach is more tricky – so Lauren explains how it’s important to keep their shoulders back in the last stride, and to pull up in a straight line after the jump once more. Ella and Charm take this in fine style – Ella’s shoulders are back and her legs in a good position.
Go again! Both girls jump the fence again, but this time, Lauren asks them to stop in a straight line after the jump. “Think of it like a dressage test,” she explains. “Sit up and ask for halt. This tests your control and makes sure your pony isn’t making the decisions after the jump. You need to jump more than one jump across country, and you need to be in control all the way!”
Barney and Evie were brilliant at this exercise!
Next month: Ella and Evie tackle more X-country! Thanks to Hit-Air for their help with this feature! Log on to ponymag.com to see a Hit-Air jacket in action! 11
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Food for thought Find out how mu ch you know about feed ing a pony with this quiz!
Can you name these feeds?
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Which of these feeds needs to be soaked in order to feed it safely?
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Which of these is true? The difference between nuts and mix is that mix is always higher in calories and nuts are more difficult for a pony to digest. The difference between nuts and mix is that nuts can be soaked to make a mash so it is more suitable for older horses. A mix is generally more palatable, so appeals more to fussy eaters. The difference between nuts and mix is that nuts are more suitable for ponies and mix is more suitable for horses.
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Sugar beet Cooked oats Mollassed chaff
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Which of these correctly describes the term concentrated feed? Any mixture of grains, cereals and minerals used to supplement a horse or pony’s diet. This also includes pellets, which are a concentrate type feed. All types of grains, pellets, beet and chaffs. Anything that you might mix up in your pony’s bucket. All grass, haylage and hay, and any product that comes from grass.
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Always feeding hay from a haynet so the pony doesn’t have to reach to the floor for it. Soaking the hay for 20 minutes, draining and then feeding it can reduce the dust particles breathed in by the pony while eating it.
About 10 minutes. He will be ready to ride and do any kind of work. He shouldn’t be ridden for the rest of the day, otherwise he might become ill. Always ride before you feed your pony. Approximately one to one-and-ahalf hours. He will have digested the majority of his feed in this time, but you should avoid fast work.
Shaking the slice of dry hay apart before the pony eats it so all the dust is released.
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Are these feeds forage or roughage? Hay Pony cubes Oats Mollassed chaff
At what time of day is it best to give your pony his short feed? Always first thing in the morning, so he is not hungry all day. At any time of day, as long as it is at roughly the same time each day, so he has an established routine.
How did you do?
Any time of day. Ponies won’t notice the difference.
Mostly Mostly
You are clued up on feeding, well done! You know your feeds and can identify and understand them. You know ponies need routine and understand feeding requirements.
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Hay = Roughage Pony cubes = Forage Oats = Forage Mollassed chaff = Forage 1 Chaff 2 Sugar beet 3 Oats 4 Pony Cubes 5 Mix
0-1 correct = 2-3 correct = 4 correct = 0-1 correct = 2-3 correct = 4-5 correct =
Go to www.ponymag.com to download some top feeding tips!
You know a bit about feeding, but there are areas you need to swot up on. Understanding what ponies need and why is the most important part of successful feeding.
Answers for questions 1 and 7
Mostly
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How long after a pony has finished eating a full feed should you wait to ride?
Uh-oh, you have quite a lot to learn about feeding ponies! Why not think about taking a stable management course specialised in feeding, or study the feeding section of The Pony Club Manual of Horsemanship. You’ll soon be full of feeding knowledge!
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Doing which of these to hay can make it more suitable for ponies with respiratory problems to eat?
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a r t i n k c i r t Eva teaches Flip to lift a leg
“The purpose of this exercise is to get your pony to lift all four feet, one at a time, on command,” explains Eva. “Kicking or slashing with the hooves is not appropriate behaviour! The only thing your pony has to do is lift his foot and keep it up until you, as the trainer, say enough.”
Getting started We usually use a dressage whip to teach a pony to lift his feet, but you can also use your hands. We do recommend an extension of your arm – like a whip – because horse-feet can always be a bit tricky. It is better to make your training as safe as possible! It is common knowledge that horses, like people, have all kinds of pressure points to which they will react. It is the same for their legs. Use your hand and glide it down one of the four legs, like you would do if you pick out his hooves. Does your pony shift his weight to lift the leg you’re touching? If so, say the command you want to use as he does so, and reward your pony. You can tap his leg with your finger, to get him used to the whip cue later on. Work with a voice command and repeat this exercise a few times. You can also push the weight of your pony onto his other hoof, to make it easy for him to get the idea. You can do this by leaning on the shoulder with your hand, for example. Keep focused. When you see your pony shifting his weight, ask him to lift his foot again.
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Flip’s pretty good at it, too!
Watchpoint! Think of your dressage whip as a pointer. Just a tap should be enough to give your pony the idea.
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Join Eva and Jesse’s masterclass on training your pony! This month:
LIFTING ALL FOUR HOOVES
Progression Most ponies start understanding this exercise after a few repeats for every leg (both front and hind legs), because they link it to having their feet cleaned. As soon as you notice that touching his leg is no longer necessary, you can make the exercise a little more difficult by using your whip to lightly touch or point to your pony’s leg. Keep repeating this exercise daily on all legs, until your pony fully understands it. Don’t forget to use your voice to give a cue as well. The purpose of this exercise is to have more control of the feet, and this might help you out with other exercises in the future. Keep the following in mind: ● Your pony or horse should only lift his feet up. No kicking, no slashing or striking out. ● Stand to the side of your pony, never behind or in front of him, to avoid being struck by a hoof. Safety at all times!
Shilas does it on the move!
Trouble shooting What if things don’t go according to plan? Here are some common problems – and solutions! Problem: Pony refuses to lift a hoof. Solution: Check his weight is on the other leg. Repeat the command,
showing him what you want him to do. Reward as soon as he lifts a leg.
Problem: Pony lifts a hoof before he has been asked. Solution: Do not reward him. Do not tell him off. Just wait for him to
put his hoof down, then ask, then reward as soon as he does it only on your command.
Problem: Pony nudges you for reward without lifting a hoof. Solution: Gently push him away, out of your space. Then ask again and reward when he gets it right.
Problem: Pony kicks out or slashes with his hoof. Solution: Ignore this behaviour. Only reward when your pony lifts his leg politely.
Problem: Pony lifts his leg and refuses to stop. Solution: Ensure you have taught your pony a stop command. This
should sound very different to the lift command, to avoid confusion.
Jesse asks Andorra to move over in this way!
Next month: Join Eva and Jesse when they explain how to get your pony to stand on a tub!
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