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e have been celebrating the arrival of some sunny weather! Everything is better with ponies when it’s not raining, right? It was actually pretty drizzly when we spent the morning taking pics with Harlow for the feature on p20. But how gorgeous does Panda look?!
MEET THE PONY TEAM
Help raise money for charity over on p40!
If you’re getting to know a new pony this year – perhaps your own (lucky!), a share or one at your riding school, don’t miss our tips to build your bond over on p30! Until next month! Fave soundtrack OUR FAVE SONGS WHEN DOING YARD CHORES
60,000,000 The estimated number of horses in the world!
400+ The estimated number of horse breeds in the world
Write to us at PONY mag, Olive Studio, The Timber Yard, Grange Road, Tilford, Surrey GU10 2DQ or email pony@djmurphy.co.uk
Any country song! I love performing a concert to D’artagnan. Megan, Ed Assistant
Shake It Off –sweeping while having a dance is epic! Evie, Merch Assistant
Discover how Harlow and Panda get warmed up for a fab jumping session!
If you want to have your best jumping session yet, I’ve got all the info you need! Follow my warm-up routine to get started.
The warm-up period is the most important part of every riding session. It helps make sure your pony is listening to you and ready for the work ahead, and also helps prepare his body –without a proper warm-up, he’s more likely to get injured.
Ideally, you should spend at least 10 minutes warming up, focusing on encouraging your pony to be responsive, alert and ready for action.
Your warm-up might take longer on some days, especially if it’s cooler or your pony’s been standing in his stable for a while. did you know?did you know?
It’s a good idea to protect your pony’s legs when jumping, in case he knocks himself, with a pair of brushing or tendon boots.
Whether or not I’m jumping, I always start my riding sessions with a stretchy walk on each rein for a good few minutes to let Panda loosen up. Then, as I progress to trot and canter, I ride loads of transitions to check he’s listening to my aids. When I’m sure Panda is listening to me in progressive transitions (such as halt to walk and trot to canter), I like to ride a few direct transitions, such as walk to canter and trot to halt. This really tests his responsiveness and helps make sure he’s off my leg and working actively. This is important for jumping, but also for flatwork, so why not give it a go?!
For your safety, it’s important both you and your pony are ready to jump, so don’t leave the ground if you’re not in total control and feeling confident.
As you’re riding a transition, think about how quickly your pony reacted to your aids. If he doesn’t react when you ask, clearly repeat the aid and use your voice, too. Don’t forget to reward him when he responds!
Try adding Meg Elphick’s in-hand exercises to your pony’s routine!
Did you know that you don’t have to get in the saddle to give your pony a good workout? In-hand work is really enjoyable and it’s amazing when you notice the progress your pony’s made over a few sessions, so why not have a go at my top three exercises and see the results for yourself?
Doing in-hand work with your pony is great for so many reasons! Without a rider he’ll have more freedom of movement, which means he’ll be able to use his muscles effectively and become super-strong and flexible. Plus, seeing him move from the ground and watching his muscles engage throughout the movements is really interesting!
Groundwork is fab for lots of different types of pony, too, no matter their age, level or discipline. If your pony’s unable to be ridden, be sure to check with your vet before trying any in-hand routines.
It’s pretty hilly where I live so I’m always taking advantage of the hills during my in-hand sessions. You might find that you don’t even need to leave the yard (if your yard manager is happy for you to walk around the fields) or, if it’s safe to do so, you can walk your usual hacking routes.
Make sure you do this with your pony in a bridle and a leadrope or lunge line so you have plenty of control.
As you power walk up the hills, try to encourage your pony to drop his head and when walking downhill, allow him to take his time and figure out where he’s placing his feet – it’s great for improving his balance!
Avoid the roads where possible, but if you do need to walk along a lane to get to a hilly field, lead your pony from his right-hand side so you can see the traffic around you.
