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Jumping
Quiz!
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spookbusting How to ace a
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770032 425195
January 2018 £3.65 Issue 833
revealed!
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horoscope
Spook-bust your
jumping
Fly fillers every time with our spook-busting guide
F
illers are often used in showjumping and they can come in all shapes, sizes and colours. While they make fences more fun and brightly coloured, some ponies find them spooky to look at. This can cause refusals, runouts or knocked poles – none of which are ideal if you’re after a rosette! Often, it’s the rider’s reaction to the filler that causes the problem. Look up and focus on keeping an active canter with an accurate approach, and you’ll find it much easier to clear those scarier fences without a problem.
Get active
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him up e arena and collect the long sides of th intain ma es. Remember to along the short sid – his n he gt len ask him to impulsion when you shouldn’t he t bu d un r more gro strides should cove just get faster. poles tting up four canter l canter poles – se er’s nt ca his if l lets you tel along the long side y to wa od go a is d mical, an balanced and rhyth rt jumping. focus before you sta
Warm it up Before you get started with fillers, warm up over more inviting fences. Cross-poles are great to help you aim for the middle of the fence and ride an accurate approach.
Top tip
While you’re warming up, circle around the fences and ride past plenty of fillers. This lets you both look at them so you’ll feel more confident when it comes to jumping.
Improve your approach It’s important to ride a good approach to a fence, especially if there’s a spooky filler hiding underneath. Approaching on a wonky line makes it much easier for your pony to run out, but ride a balanced turn and straight approach and you’re more likely to meet the fence well. Remember to combine an accurate approach with the same bouncy, active canter you practised while warming up – this will give your pony the energy to clear the fence easily.
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In
Open
Order
Here’s everything you need to know about riding in open order
I
n a group riding lesson, you either ride together as a ride – one behind the other, following a lead file (lead rider) – or in open order, which means you’re riding independently from everyone else. Within reason, you can choose where you ride and what pace to be in. If everyone knows what to do in open order, it’s a great way to get your pony working independently and get the most out of your lesson.
ool Rules otofthetruhleseof thsecschhool. Always stick ... t important ones Here are the mos
ft. This means Pass left-to-le e past that when you rid pace, you e m sa e th in another rider th ss with em on should always pa your left hand is your left, so that e example, if you’r r next to theirs. Fo e th on you’ll stay on the left rein l is is the genera Th . ck outside tra e u’r yo en wh use rule you should ing, tside track, turn ou e th on g in rid . in ging the re circling or chan
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Faster paces take priority on the outside track. This is a glitch in the left-to-left rule – if you’re cantering towards another rider who's trotting, they should move onto the inside track to allow you past, even if it means passing right-to-right. This is the same whether you’re riding on the same rein or not. Avoid cutting up other riders up (riding across their path in front of them) because you might cause a crash. Plan the line you’re going to ride and try to keep away from everyone else in your group.
Faster paces take pr
iority
Top tip
Leave plenty of space between you an d the pony you’re pass ing.
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Riding in g in open st like ridin a show is ju o-left ssing left-t order, so pa . o to , applies then
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s i h n r Ea
t s u r t trust Gain your fave pony’s ger stron and your bond will be than ever!
W
hether you’re lucky enough to have a pony of your own or you’ve got a favourite at your riding school, it’s most riders’ goal to build the ultimate bond with their fave pony. The best way to do this is through trust – the more your pony trusts
CHAT TO HIM Okay, so ponies might not understand exactly what you’re saying, but talking to your fave pony is a great way for him to get to know you and begin to trust you. He’ll find the soft tones of your voice relaxing and soothing, and it’s a useful tool to encourage him to relax if he becomes spooked or worried. Plus, ponies are great listeners, so you’ll find it a good way to get any worries off your chest, too!
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you, the stronger your bond will get and the more you’ll trust him back, which is super-important when it comes to riding. Trust takes time and patience to build, but there are a number of things you can do to help it along the way, both in and out of the saddle.
BE CONSIDERATE HAVE A PAMPER SESSION
Ponies love to groom each other in their fields, so giving him a grooming session is a really relaxing and fab way to encourage him to trust you as you groom more vulnerable parts of his body, such as his legs and belly. Go the extra mile by finding out where his favourite itchy spots are and giving him a scratch. As he starts to trust you more, he might try to groom you back with his lips!
Just like people, all ponies are different. While some love a cuddle sesh, others don’t like handson attention quite so much. Watch your pony when you’re trying to make a fuss of him – if his muscles look tense or he’s pulling faces, he’s probably not very happy and it’s best to take a step back. Your fave pony will start to trust you more when you begin to respect his likes and dislikes – so, although you might not be able to bond by giving him a cuddle, you can still connect with him in different ways. Why not take him out for a hand graze? He’ll especially appreciate it if he has to be stabled more over the winter months.
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