PONY Magazine - October 2014

Get th e horsi est be droom e v e r!

THE UK’S

NO1 PONY

MAGAZINE 9

1 0

do’s and don’ts!

770032 425188

Clipping

October 2014 £3.49

ReExapelrieLnciefs e “I bet ra y ed mfoyr be st f rie n d a po n y!”

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Jumping?

! m e l b o No pr

Cat jumping and jumping hollow!

Is your pony’s jumping style getting you down?

Does he take a stride out and leap or get too close and ping? Either way it’s unseating for you and unnerving for you both.

The confidence factor Jumping needs confidence – your pony gets his from you.

When he approaches a fence he needs to believe that you’re in control (even if you don’t!)

Confidence comes from: ● Knowing what you want to achieve. ● Knowing how you’re going to achieve it. ● Believing you can achieve it!

It’s easier than you think. Read on to find out how!

Why is it happening?

Jumping is about team work – or it should be! If you don’t work together things get confusing, and that causes tension. If your pony is tense he might rush or back off the fence. This upsets his rhythm and the length of his strides, and neither will help his take off.

Oh dear, this isn’t really what you want, is it?

What to do Work together on the flat and you and your pony will both relax and jump better. If you’re clear and consistent with your aids your pony will be able to understand you, and do what you’re asking. ● Keep an even contact so his body pushes up behind it and his back shortens and rounds. ● Push on to drive his hocks under his body so he stays balanced and has the strength to push himself up and over the fence. ● Keep your shoulders, hips and heels in line. If your body is balanced his will be too.

A tense and hollow canter

Keep calm and canter on Your pony doesn’t need you to tell him exactly when to take off but he does need you to keep him balanced, straight and focused, so his approach is as good as possible.

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The most common cause of a poor approach (and take off) is a poor canter.

Your pony’s canter may... ● ... lack rhythm which causes irregular strides. ● ... be unbalanced – his weight may be on his shoulders, making it harder for him to go forward and jump the fence. ● ... be tense and hollow. If his back muscles are tight his back hollows and his hocks can’t step under his body.

!

Improve your jumping by not jumping!

It may seem drastic but not jumping for two weeks will improve every fence you jump in the future. Forget about jumping and spend two weeks working on your canter. The way you do it can make a big difference. ● Improving your pony’s canter is an exercise not just a pace, so instead of thinking, “Today we’ll jump,” or, “Today we’ll hack,” start thinking, “Today we’ll canter.” ● Take a break! 10 short canters are better than 10 minutes of tired, tense strides. ● Finish on something your pony finds easy (trot a few circles) so he leaves the school relaxed and happy.

Oh, better ca

nter now!

Canter Exercises It’s easy to say you’re going to work on your pony’s canter but do you know what to do?

Try these:

1 2 3 1

● Ride 20m circles at A, E, C and B so you keep his attention and avoid him getting long and flat on the long sides. ● Count strides from 1 – 4 so you learn to hear his rhythm. One, two, three, four is good. One – two,three – four is bad! ● Keep his strides short and bouncy by cantering a 20m circle at E/B with a 15m circle at each tangent point (E, B and the centre line). It’s a great exercise to use to stop a sharp pony rushing too.

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So that’s what to do and how to do it. Believing you can comes with practice, so get out there and give it a go! Good luck!

Let’s jump!

When you start jumping again don’t spoil all your hard work!

Keep the fences small – you want to improve, not frighten yourself!

You’ll find the right stride every time with these top tips; ● Always focus on rhythm. Count strides around the school and you’ll keep his strides even all the way up to the fence. Count from one – four up to and over the fence. (one, two, three, four becomes one, jump, three, four) ● Use poles. Three, nine feet apart.

These let you work on your approach without pressure. ● Avoid jumps at E/B that might encourage your pony to rush. Put a fence on the centre line and you can circle over it, change the rein over it or go past it if things aren’t right.

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Clip it!

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At what time of year should you clip a horse or pony? (If he needs to be clipped!)

Around October, and usually again in January, depending on the work the pony does and the thickness of his coat. Some may only need clipping once a winter, others may need clipping roughly every six weeks.

2

Which of these are the best reasons for clipping a pony?

To make sure he always looks smart.

You can even add patterns like stars and hearts to his clip and have competitions with your mates!

To stop a pony with a thick coat from sweating when exercising and losing condition. It also makes cooling (drying) time after exercise quicker, which prevents ponies from catching a chill.

Every couple of weeks throughout the winter to make sure there is no coat regrowth.

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Do you know the rights and wrongs of clipping ponies? Find out with this quiz!

Once every season, so he is always nicely trimmed and doesn’t have the chance to grow a big coat.

To keep him neat and tidy so he is easier to groom.

What equipment is needed to clip a pony?

Clippers and trimmers, a brush, spare clippers, a rug in case the pony gets cold and plaiting bands to contain the mane and tail and stop them getting in the way.

Heavy-duty clippers, clipper oil, a brush, circuit breaker, a rug in case the pony gets cold, a haynet, chalk to mark up lines and a tail bandage.

Clippers, heart stencils and sparkly hoof oil to put on after to match his new smart look.

Is this the correct equipment?

Bib

4

Which of these clips would be best for which pony described below?

1. Pony does lots of fast work, competes every weekend.

2. Pony is lightly hacked at weekends 3. Pony is exercised twice in the week and at weekends and does a few dressage competitions during the winter 4. Pony is in medium work and does a variety of disciplines, and competes most weekends

Blanket 22

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Who should clip your pony?

Your friend who says she cuts her own hair – that always look fine!

You should do it yourself. Your mum can help you, she’s horsey and she can make sure your pony stands still.

You should get an experienced, professional person who has all the correct equipment to do it.

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n’t stand to do if your pony wo What should you be clipped? if Try giving him a haynet to settle him, but of form a need may he us he is very anxio sedation, performed by and experience and qualified person. to Growl at him to stand still and get your friend hold his lead rein.

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to clip On which is the best day

PONY

your pony?

fine, dry day that is A quiet and preferably ally if you have no not bitterly cold, especi indoor space to clip in.

ACADEMY

won’t matter and your Any day. The weather ing on. pony is used to lots go be competition. It won’t On the morning of a for rt ma r-s k supe a long job and he’ll loo . ow the sh

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Which of the following are signs of a poor clip?

No patterns clipped into the coat.

Very blunt lines, uneven lines and the ears not trimmed.

Lots of clipper marks in the clipped sections, uneven lines and patchy bits of hair.

in a Tie his lead rein a bit shorter and talk to him get to while a soothing voice. It might take him used to the noise of the clippers.

Square

Ready for clipping!

Triangle

H ow di d yo u do ?

or

You have a bit more to learn about clipping ponies.

You know clipping is for practical reasons, but maybe you don’t fully understnd the importance of giving a pony the correct clip, and the best way to do it just yet. Ask people at your yard about their ponies’ clips and if you can, watch a professional person clipping.

Question 4 answer 1 = Full or hunter 2 = Bib 3 = Chaser or trace 4 = blanket 0-1 correct = 2-3 correct = 4 correct =

or

You know your stuff when it comes to clipping! You understand why ponies might need to be clipped and go about it in a safe and sensible way. Well done!

Hunter Full

Mostly

Trace

Mostly

Chaser

Mostly

Heart

It seems that clipping is just a bit of fun and more of a fashion statement than a practicality to you! You need to understand how clipping can help your pony and remember how important it is to have an experienced person to clip. Some research required here!

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e top you clip around th What shape should p? cli er nt hu a full or of a pony’s tail for

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