* e l b u a b e iv GIFT! HORSEY Fest
HOW TO
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Why we
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LOVE dressage
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CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE FOR YOU YOUR PONY YOUR FRIENDS
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PONY team adventures This month...
W
e’ve been visiting some superstar riders and meeting their gorgeous horses! Evie spent the morning with Harry Charles, and you can find out what he told her in the interview on p52. Meanwhile, Sarah spent the morning with dressage rising star Annabella Pidgley, who’s just back from a record-breaking win at the Dressage European Champs! Wow! Turn to p80 to find out about her horsey life. Until next month!
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Get to kno w Annabel a Pidgley on p80!
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THE ULTIMATE TEST on the cover Meg Elphick’s dressage tips WINTRY WANDERS Enjoy hacking throughout winter ACE IT Riding without stirrups TREBLE TROUBLE on the cover Supercharge your jumping skills THE IMPOSTER MONSTER on the cover How to boost your self-belief
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*
HOW TO
jump
Why we
LOVE dressage
trebles
TAKE OUR
Harry Charles
38
PONY magazine
5 minutes with PONY magazine
rugging
quiz
39
+ POSTER!
boost your
riding riding
MAKE
cute horsey
cupcakes!
confidence confidence 0 1 9
770032 425966
15 November – 12 December 2023
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HARRY CHARLES POSTER!
Jan 2024
VLOG WITH ME Sadie’s new project MEET ANNABELLA PIDGLEY Get to know the dressage star
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Treble trouble Learn how to jump trebles perfectly with our awesome tips!
D
epending on the level you compete at, you might come across a treble in your showjumping course but they’re also a form of gridwork so are super-handy when training! Trebles can help improve your pony’s strength, athleticism and jumping technique – as well as the confidence of both of you! So why not check out our top tips and give them a go in your next jumping sesh?
Set it up You’ll need at least six poles and six wings to create a treble. You could include fillers or an oxer if you want, but it’s best to start with a simple layout if you’ve never jumped a treble before. In this exercise, we’re focusing on one-stride distances, so set each fence 6.1–7.3m apart.
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PONY magazine
6.1-7.3m
did you know? A treble is a combination of three fences on a straight line. Each fence is one or two strides apart.
Placed poles
Once you’ve warmed up, ride through the treble in both directions, with the poles laid on the ground, to get your pony familiar with the exercise. Have a go in all three paces, remembering that the distances will be slightly longer than one canter stride, so try to focus on maintaining a consistent rhythm.
Criss-cross
Next, set up a cross-pole on the middle set of wings and have a go at jumping it on both reins. Once you feel confident, add in the other two, one at a time. Be sure to keep the heights low to begin with, though.
did you know?
Straight up
Cross-poles will help guide your pony to the centre of each jump, plus they’re more inviting for him, which is why
they’re a good way to start this exercise. Having a clear point to aim for in the middle will encourage you to stay super-straight – this is key to jumping trebles because if your pony starts to drift to one side, he will find the distances more difficult. Focus on keeping your weight and rein contact even to help channel your pony along the perfect line through the fences.
In a showjumping course, the fences in a treble will be labelled A, B and C.
PONY magazine
19
Winter’s
calling Be super-prepared this winter with PONY’s great tips to help you keep on top of your yard jobs!
W
inter can be a hard time for managing your pony and getting yard jobs done. However, there are plenty of things you can be doing to make it easier for yourself and they’ll keep your pony in tip-top condition through winter, too!
Tight for time
When hanging out at the yard on the weekend, make up a load of haynets for your pony to last him for a few days or through the week. This will save you sooo much time when you’re in a rush after school, which means you’ll have more time to ride!
Stock up
While making up haynets, it’s important to remember that your pony may drop weight through winter and that he has less grass time. Make sure he’s getting the correct amount of forage for his condition – he needs at least 1.5% of his bodyweight in dry matter each day – ask your yard manager or instructor to help you work out how much hay he needs if you’re struggling.
Stay ahead
Make up your pony’s night feeds in the morning. This can help save time when you’re at the yard after school – especially when the nights are so dark!
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PONY magazine
did you know? Cold weather can cause your pony to drop weight because he’ll be using more calories to stay warm.
Keep an eye out
It’s worth speaking to a nutritionist to find out if your pony requires more, or a different, feed during winter. Ponies naturally lose weight in the colder months, but if he’s struggling to maintain good condition, they’ll be able to advise on dietary changes.
Beat the weather
Check your weather app to help you choose the right rug for your pony. Remember that ponies don’t tend to feel the cold until the temperature drops below 5ºC, and they don’t like to be too warm. For help on picking the right rug, visit bit.ly/ RUG_GUIDE.
PONY magazine
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