INSIDE your mag... INSIDE your mag...
Harlow’s PONY adventures
who? Who’s who?
PONY magazine, Olive Studio, The Timber Yard, Grange Road, Tilford, Farnham, Surrey GU10 2DQ
Tel 01428 601020
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Team PONY
Guest Editor Harlow White
Guest Assistant Editors Popcorn, Cloudy, Rolo, Panda
Editor-in-Chief Louise Popcorn Kittle
Assistant Editor Sarah Burgess
Editorial Assistants Kirsty Rocket Lucas, Megan Xavier-Witherington
Head of Art and Design Sarah Garland
Deputy Head of Art and Design Adam Cloudy Witt
Junior Designer Lucy Claydon
Digital Marketing Manager Lianne Tadd
Marketing Assistants Alex Uren, Emily Weeks
Art Editor Paul Panda Smail
Retail and Merchandising Assistant Evie Epps
Marketing Co-ordinator Alison Rolo Hill
Advertisement Manager Evie Edgar
Production Manager Eleanor Dunn
Executive PONY
Managing Director Zoe Cannon
Commercial Director Abi Cannon
Smooth operation PONY
Office Manager Vicki Owen
Accounts Manager Caroline Leishman
Accounts Executive Sarah Smith
Photography
Bob Atkins, Peter Nixon, Jon Stroud, Chelsea White. Arina P Habich, OlesyaNickolaeva, Sari ONeal, www. MartinaBurianova.cz, Vera Zinkova/shutterstock.com
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This month...
I’ve taken over the editor’s chair from Lou, and boy do I have some fun stuff for you! I’ve been working with the PONY team for three years now and I love coming up with ideas for our photoshoots, so thinking up what content I wanted to share with you in my guest edit issue was really fun. One of the best things about my journey with the ponies has been sharing it with you all along the way, and I’m so excited to have my very own issue of PONY mag now, too! What are you waiting for? Get stuck in!
MEET Harlow’s TEAM
Check out my tips to improve your bond on p20!
Write to us at PONY mag, Olive Studio, The Timber Yard, Grange Road, Tilford, Surrey GU10 2DQ or email pony@djmurphy.co.uk
Harlow’s Fess up
Popcorn’s so kind, and has taught me so much. But the other week at a show he was feeling super feisty and decided to show me who’s boss –I ended up sitting on the floor looking up at him. A reminder of his cheeky, adorable personality! Harlow
Share your cringe moment: pony@djmurphy.co.uk
Cloudy Best mane ever
Popcorn The OG
Rolo Showing superstar
IShine bright
like a diamond Shine bright
Show off your pony’s sparkle with Harlow’s dazzling diamond polework exercise
guest edit guest HARLOW S
f you’ve never tried polework, you’re totally missing out! Whatever you love doing with your fave pony, adding polework to his exercise routine is a must because it will make him stronger, more supple and therefore better able to perform at his best.
Follow my tips and have a go at this cool layout in your next session!
did you know?did you know?
Walking through each line first gives you the chance to show your pony where he’s going, ready for when you pick up the pace.
Top tip
If your pony is new to polework, why not create just one diamond to start with and have a go at some of the lines? It will help him get familiar with the idea of poles and will boost his confidence!
HARL
guest guest
Set it up
You’ll need eight 3m poles for this layout. Create two diamonds so they’re touching and make sure there is a straight line between each of the points so it’s all even.
Line 1: Point to point
Focus on one diamond for the first line and try riding through the middle from point to point. You’ll need to stay really straight and accurate on your approach to encourage your pony to step over the point where the two poles meet, then maintain that line towards the other point – simple!
Line 2: On an angle
Riding over angled poles is really good for boosting your pony’s spatial awareness, so the key here is to remain focused on your line and avoid riding towards the poles at a 90º angle. You might find that your pony drifts or starts to turn to one side here and, if that’s the case, press with your leg on the same side he’s drifting to and support his shoulder by lifting your hand a little higher.
Top tip
Remember to give your pony a good warm-up session before you get going with the poles. His muscles need to be ready for action!
fine dining fine dining fine dining
Ponies need a balanced diet to keep them healthy and able to perform at their best. Here’s what you need to know
When it comes to feeding your pony there are so many things to consider. But, with a little attention to detail and some expert help, you’ll be on the way to providing your pony with everything he needs. A
balanced diet can keep your pony’s skin, coat and hooves healthy, help him stay bright and alert and provide him with enough energy for his workload –awesome, right? Let’s find out more.
TOP TIP
Learning how to body condition score your pony is a great way to keep tabs on his waistline and make sure he stays in tip top condition. Check this out – bit.ly/ CONDITION_GUIDE
1
The right amount
Ponies usually need to eat 2–2.5% of their bodyweight per day in dry matter, but if they need to lose weight this can be reduced to a minimum of 1.5%. To help you work out how much feed your pony needs, first use a weigh tape to get a rough idea of his weight. Then, it’s best to talk to an equine nutritionist to help you pick the right diet for your pony, according to his workload, temperament, age and type!
TOP TIP
When weighing your pony’s forage or feed, weigh the empty haynet, bucket or scoop first then remember to deduct that weight when you’ve added his feed.
2
What’s in a feed bag?
Look on the back of any feed bag and you’ll find important information that will tell you if the feed is suitable for your pony’s needs. Sometimes, where ponies need limited hard feed, a nutritionist might suggest feeding lower than the recommended amount and topping up your pony’s diet with a balancer. That way he’ll receive fewer calories but won’t miss out on his essential daily vitamins and minerals – cool huh?
did you know?did you know?
Feeding hay or chaff before you ride creates a layer in your pony’s stomach that helps prevent the acid splashing that causes gastric ulcers.
TOP TIP
Sudden dietary changes can upset the bacteria that break down food in your pony’s hindgut, which could cause colic. So, remember to introduce any dietary changes slowly.
did you know?did you know?
Adding oil to your pony’s diet is a great way to provide nonheating energy and make his coat super shiny.
3
Arrange a yard visit
If you’re planning to make adjustments to your pony’s diet or simply want peace of mind you’re getting it right, why not arrange for an equine nutritionist to visit your yard and enjoy a fun and educational day at the same time? Maybe your older pony needs to switch over to a forage replacer or perhaps your pony’s a fussy eater and might benefit from a more palatable diet or a different flavour. Whatever your situation, don’t forget to round up your friends as their ponies could benefit from some expert advice, too!
Harlow Harlow
Having a pre-ride routine is sooo useful as it helps you keep a mental checklist of what to do before you get on to ride. There’s nothing worse than getting on and realising you’ve not checked his tack properly or forgotten to put brushing boots on. Check out my pre-ride routine and see if there’s anything you could add to yours!
GET READYWITH
Do you have a pre-ride routine? If not, take a leaf out of Harlow’s book!
Quick feed
First things first, give your pony a handful of chaff or a small portion of hay to help line his tummy before you ride. It needs a good 20-30 minutes to make a difference so it’s best to start with feeding him before you get tacked up, then by the time he’s ready to go, it will have done its job!
Get your groom on
Giving your pony a groom will remove any dirt he has on his body before putting on his tack – this is important to prevent rubs. Plus, there’s nothing like the pride you feel riding out on a sparkly clean pony! The extra blood flow to his skin when you groom boosts his health, too.
top tip
Don’t forget to give his mane and tail a brush, too, so they don’t get matted and tangled.
top tip
As you run your hand down your pony’s legs to pick out his feet, feel for any lumps or bumps that may have appeared since you last checked them.
Shine those shoes
After he’s had a good groom, always check and pick out his feet. As you’re picking them out, check to make sure there’s no stones wedged and remove all the dirt. After they’re clean, check the shoe (if he wears them) feels secure on his foot and the clenches are flat. Look for general hoof health, too –has he got any cracks or splits? If so, speak to your farrier.
