PONY Magazine – February 2019

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12 TIPS FOR AN AWESOME RIDE

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19 December 2018 – 16 January 2019

February 2019 £3.99 Issue 847

Care for a pony who

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y p h p g n a i i c k a h esome tips will help you ha w a 2 1 r u O ve a fun ride

G

oing for a hack on your fave pony is superfun, and he’ll enjoy a change of scene from the arena, too. Hacking will also help keep him fit, and it’s a great way to introduce him to lots of new things.

To make sure you always have a safe, enjoyable ride, here are some important things to remember...

1

Top tip

Check your kit

Make sure yo ur phone has plenty of charge before you le ave the yard, so you can use it in an emerge ncy.

Staying safe starts before you’ve even got on your pony, so make sure his tack is correctly fitted and fastened, and there’s nothing loose or flapping that could spook him. Pick up each of his feet in turn and, if he wears shoes, check they’re secure, because if they’re loose he could trip or stumble.

Top tip

Before y ou hack o ut traffic, le arn the ru in les of the road by readin g the Highway Code, or take The Pony Clu b Road R ider test or British Horse So ciety Ride Safe Award.

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PONY magazine

2

Have a plan

Decide where you want to go, and work out how long it’ll take, then share your plans with an adult. This means they can raise the alarm or come and look for you if you don’t return to the yard on time. Just remember not to deviate from your route, and to call and let them know if you’re going to take longer than expected, so they don’t worry unnecessarily.

3

Be safe, be seen

It’s super-important that you and your pony wear high-vis, whether you’re riding on the road or a bridleway. On the road it’ll make you more visible to motorists, so they have more time to slow down and pass with plenty of room.

Wearing high-vis on bridleways helps cyclists, dog walkers and even pilots of low-flying aircraft see you, so they can avoid you. It’ll also make it much easier to find you – and your pony – if you get lost or have a fall.

ip has Topeatr th at

High-vis g reat ghts is a g flashing li en h w y ll cia idea, espe it’ll s a , ll u d er’s the weath of n o attenti catch the . rs e d us other roa

4

Find a hacking buddy

Even if you’re an experienced rider with a sensible pony, it’s better to ride out with a friend because you can keep each other company and there’s someone to get help if you need it. Choose your hacking partner wisely, though, as you’ll enjoy your ride much more if you go with someone you trust whose pony is safe and sensible.

Top tip

Wear d ifferen high-v t colou is depe red nding time o on the f year.

F or e orange high-v xample, not st is migh an t autum d out as we ll in n, beca u a simil ar colo se it’ll be ur to le aves and he dges.

Wear high-vis whether you’re riding on a road or a bridleway

5

Be courteous

Always thank other road users if they slow down for you, as this will encourage them to do it again in the future. You can do this by smiling, nodding your head in their direction and saying ‘thank you’ – only raise your hand if it’s safe to do so.

6

Send out the right signals

Hand signals help you communicate with other road users. They let them know you’re planning to turn left or right, or ask them to slow down or stop l to turn, hold your arm out straight to the left or right, level with your shoulder, and with your palm flat and your fingers together l to ask someone to slow down, hold your arm out to the side, with your palm facing down, then move your arm up and down slowly l to ask someone to stop, extend your right arm towards the driver, with your palm facing them

PONY magazine

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T e gre at

outdoors Discover how to keep a pony who lives out happy and healthy all winter long

P

onies love going out in the field – they’re free to move around and hang out with their pals and, just because winter’s here, it doesn’t necessarily mean your fave pony needs to be stabled. Here’s how living out can still be an option during the colder months.

Top tip

If you want to change your pony’s routine so he lives out, make sure you do it gradually so he stays out a little longer each day. It can be easier for him to adjust if you do this at a time of year when the weather’s mild.

In or out? fer to be Most ponies would pre not it’s or er outside, but wheth ur yard’s yo on s nd practical depe ocks are rules and if the padd t fair to keep no It’s of. pro erweath field that’s a in him out full-time y, as it’s dd mu d always wet an where dry to me so s ha he nt importa t puts him we stand. Standing in the as mud ch su ns at risk of conditio esses. sc ab t foo d an fever, thrush

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PONY magazine

Food for thought Even if there’s some grass in the field for your pony to nibble on, it won’t be as nutritious in winter, so he’ll need some hay or haylage to mu nch on, too. Put it somewhere dry and make sure there are more piles of forage than ponies in the fie ld, to prevent any fights breaking out.

Eating habits

Feeding forage from the ground is healthier for your pony’s airways, but it can be wasteful. An option is to use a forage feeder, which is a box, barrel or net designed to keep his hay or haylage clean and make sure more of it gets eaten. Some will slow his eating rate, too. Alte rnatively, it’s possible to use haynets in the field if you have somewhere to tie them up safely.

Top tip

If your pony’s the only one in the field who has a bucket feed, take him outside the gate or into a stable so he can eat up away from the others.

Take shelter Whether or not your pony’s rugged, he’ll need somewhere to shelter from unpleasant weather.

Trees and hedges can provide natural shelter in summer, but they won’t be as effective in winter when they’re not covered in leaves. Ideally, your pony will have access to a field shelter that he can go in and out of as he pleases. If more than one pony will be sharing the shelter, make sure it’s big enough for both of them, and there’s no risk of one of them getting trapped inside.

Top tip

to rug? t o n r To rug o lly coat to protect Most ponies grow a thick, woo your fave so ter, win in cold them from the healthy, in he’s if rug a d nee not ht pony mig ped. If he’s clip n good condition and hasn’t bee be a great can d gge unru overweight, leaving him naturally, ght wei lose him help to way keep to as he’ll burn calories d, han er oth the warm. On poor doers and veteran ponies will appreciate a rug to keep them cosy, y’s pon r you , cold it’s en Wh and it’ll help to prevent coat hair stands on end them from losing weight. inst aga air Cold, wet weather to trap warm an ide prov and his skin can be challenging for insulating layer to keep ponies, so it might be a him cosy. good idea to put your pony in a light rainsheet in those conditions.

DID YOU KNOW?

If you’re checking your pony in the early morning or evening when it’s dark, make sure you take a torch so you can see him clearly.

Head torches are ideal because they light your way but leave your hands free.

Check him out It’s important that your field-kept pony is visited at least twice a day, so you can look for signs of injury, check he’s got enough food and water, and make sure his rug hasn’t slipped if he wears one.

PONY magazine

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