INSIDE your mag... INSIDE your mag...
PONY team adventures
Who’s 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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Email pony@djmurphy.co.uk
Team PONY
Editor-in-Chief Louise Kittle
Assistant Editor Sarah Burgess
Editorial Assistants Kirsty Lucas, Megan XavierWitherington
Head of Art and Design Sarah Garland
Deputy Head of Art and Design Adam Witt
Designer Lucy Claydon
Digital Marketing Manager Lianne Tadd
Marketing Assistants Alex Uren, Emily Weeks
Art Editor Paul Smail
Marketing Co-ordinator Alison 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, Jon Stroud, Chelsea White, Amelia Hart
Photography (p24), British Equestrian. arthorse, AlanMorris, Alex Nicol, from O, JW.photography31, Makarova Viktoria, nigel baker photography, olgaru79, Olga Rudchenko, PIC by Femke, Rita_ Kochmarjova, Slebedeva, KimKuehke Creators/ shutterstock.com.
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We’re super excited for the new year and new adventures with the horses and ponies in our lives. From boosting our horsey knowledge (loads of epic quizzes, as well as facts, in this issue!) to trying something new, as well as just enjoying hanging out with our fave four-legged friends, we’re determined to make 2025 a year to remember! So what are you waiting for? Join us! What will your horsey goal be? Email and let us know – pony@djmurphy.co.uk
MEET THE PONY TEAM
Our awesome guide to gridwork on p6!
Write to us at PONY mag, Olive Studio, The Timber Yard, Grange Road, Tilford, Surrey GU10 2DQ or email pony@djmurphy.co.uk
30m
The approximate length of a horse’s digestive tract
three How many days it takes food to pass all the way through
New year, new me OUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS
To clean my tack after every ride – oops! Kirsty, Ed Assistant
I want to have a go at carriage driving – I’ve never done it and it looks so much fun!
Lou, Editor
Sarah and Prince Assistant Editor
Lou and Ted PONY Ed Alex and Halo Marketing Assistant
DJMur phy
Feelin’ good Feelin’ good Feelin’ good
Hacking is super-fun, not only for you, but your fave pony, too!
Hacking has sooo many benefits for your pony, not just physically but mentally, too. Here are our ideas to ensure your pony has a happy time out hacking.
Fun with friends
Hacking with friends is a great way to catch up and for your pony to enjoy some downtime with his horsey buddies! Enjoy a canter along a stretch of grass or sandy bridleway and really let loose. Zoomies with his friends = so much fun!
TOP TIP
If your pony’s excitable around others, make sure you communicate clearly with your friends about changing pace, and avoid getting stuck at the back of a group.
alone time
Although hacking alone can seem daunting, with the right planning it can be super fun. You can pick your speed without needing to worry about anyone else, and enjoy exploring the countryside with your equine BFF.
TOP TIP
If you or your pony are nervous about hacking alone, take an adult or friend on foot or a bike – it’s sure to help boost your confidence!
Keep your pony’s brain busy by adding in some schooling moves to switch things up! Leg-yield from one side of the track to the other, or practise square halts.
If your pony’s a bit spooky, the busier you keep him out hacking the more his mind will be focused on what you’re asking and the less he’ll think about imaginary monsters in the hedge! did you know?did you know?
feeling fit
If you had to run a race you hadn’t trained for and weren’t feeling fit, would you enjoy it? Probably not! The same goes for your pony. The fitter he is, the happier he will be to perform the task at hand. Hacking is a great way to build up that fitness, and a change of scenery is always sooo refreshing.
tummy tummy
tastic tastic
Stay one step ahead of gastric issues with our essential feeding guide
Stephanie Wood is Head of Nutrition at Dodson & Horrell. OUR EXPERT
WWe all know how miserable it is to have a painful tummy – but did you know that you can help your pony avoid digestive issues by feeding him correctly?
Dietary matters
It’s important to pay attention to your pony’s diet and provide him with everything he needs. Ponies have evolved to eat little and often, and need plenty of forage (grass, hay or haylage) to keep their digestive systems working normally.
Golden oldies Golden oldies Golden oldies
Give the special equine in your life the love and care he deserves
WWhile the main aspects of pony care are the same regardless of your pony’s age, there are a few extra things to bear in mind for older ponies. Check out our five things to know about caring for your veteran.
1 1
Eat right
Making sure your pony is getting the right amount of food is especially important as he ages, because it might be more difficult for him to maintain a healthy weight. Speak to your vet for advice about how much he needs to eat and whether you should limit his intake or increase it. Regularly check your pony’s weight using a weigh bridge or tape, and condition score him to help you decide whether you need to adjust his diet.
TOP TIP
Read our guide to body condition scoring your pony at bit.ly/CONDITION_ SCORING.
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3 4 2 3 4
Hot ‘n’ cold
Getting your rugging system right can be really tough, especially if you have an older pony. Remember, your pony doesn’t feel the cold the same way you do.
He’ll almost always be warmer than you are, so don’t be tempted to over-rug him. Think about your veteran’s body condition score and how active he is. An active pony of a healthy weight can be rugged as you would a younger pony. However, if he isn’t very active or is on the slimmer side then it may be worth ensuring he stays extra warm and toasty to avoid him losing more weight.
Fit as a fiddle
Whether it’s less intense training, shorter rides, or swapping schooling sessions for relaxing hacks, some veterans need a little step back from a full-on riding schedule.
Speak to your vet and instructor to find a good balance for him. It’s important not to completely stop exercising your pony – unless he needs to be fully retired – because lack of activity can also be bad for his health. Hacking, schooling, and groundwork are great ways to keep your pony moving well into his golden years – and they mean you can continue to enjoy your time together even if you can’t do everything you used to.
TOP TIP
Give your veteran longer to warm up during your sessions to help him feel more supple and reduce the risk of strains, especially during colder weather.
A pony who is moving around a lot will stay warmer, so just because your pony is turned out doesn’t mean he’s automatically colder than his stable-dwelling friends. did you know?did you know?
Saddle fit
Your pony’s body will change as he gets older, so keeping a close eye on how his saddle fits is extra-important. He may lose some muscle tone if he’s doing less exercise –speak to your saddle fitter about using a half-pad or thicker saddlepad to accommodate the change in his body, and consider putting more regular saddle checks in the diary.
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5
5
In good health
Older ponies are at a higher risk of developing health issues such as arthritis and Cushings’. Pay close attention to any changes in your pony’s behaviour as well as how he moves. Regular check-ups with your vet will also help you keep on top of his health. Your vet is best-placed to advise whether a change in behaviour could indicate a health problem, but you’re the first line of defence in spotting those changes.
