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We visit Pippa Funnell!
April 2014 £3.99
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● Why are mares so moody? ● The walk. All about. ● Bitless bridles explained
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WH AT TO DO WHEN PONIES GO BA D! PONY_cover_April.indd 1
24/02/2014 13:25
A PONY exclusive
Part 1
Pippa competing
When PONY met
Pippa! P
ippa Funnell is one of our most successful eventers – and she’s also a brilliant author, with no fewer than 18 Tilly’s Pony Tails under her belt! We met up with Pippa at the home and yard she shares with her husband, top show jumper William Funnell, to ask her about Tilly, writing and horses.
PONY: What made you start writing the books
Tilly’s Pony Tails? Pippa: “I was approached by Orion Publishers to write my autobiography and a few years later they asked me to write a series of pony books. I come up with the plots on long journeys driving the horsebox!”
PONY: Are the horses in Tilly’s Pony Tails based on horses you know? Pippa: “Some of them are. I’m an ambassador for World Horse Welfare, and Goliath was based on a horse they rescued, who became a drum horse. Red Admiral is very majestic, like my horse, Redesigned, who I call Red. Pride and Joy was based on Primmore’s Pride. I was out hacking on him after he’d been retired when I planned that book. Even Stripy the Zebra Foal came about after William and I went on safari.” PONY: What does the future hold for Tilly?
Pippa: “I’m signed up to write another four books – but Tilly will be two years older, and they will be more about the progression of Tilly and her horse.”
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At home with Billy Champagne
PONY: Do you read a lot of books?
Pippa:
“No! I only read books on holiday – thrillers and murder mysteries. Lee Childs is my favourite author. It’s strange really – if someone had told me at school that I’d end up writing children’s books, I wouldn’t have believed them.”
PONY: What did you enjoy at school?
Pippa: “l loved sport, I really enjoyed it. But I was the one who thought up naughty ideas and then got other people to carry them out so I didn’t get into trouble! I enjoyed playing pranks – and I still do a bit!”
PONY: Any boxes still to tick?
Pippa: “I’d love to win a gold medal in Rio and I want to write more books. But I’m passionate about the dayto-day work with young horses. It’s definitely important to have goals, and what I have set out to achieve, I have achieved. I’ve been really lucky to have won Badminton three times, winning was my ambition. I’m happy that I’ve done more than I set out to do. Now I get as much of a buzz out of seeing young horses grow and develop, when they get confident and trusting. It’s all about the horses. I love it.”
PONY: What advice do you have for
readers wanting to be successful, as you have, in eventing? Pippa: “I was always passionate, I had a lot of fun and enjoyed the sport – but you do have to be dedicated. Most people want to be world number one or win this or win that, but it’s how you turn that dream into reality. “I would advise if an opportunity comes your way then take it. One opportunity can lead to another. Because I was a toughie, I rode the young, just broken, horses. I kept thinking, I want to do the best job with this horse. I don’t want to give the owners a reason to put anyone else on them. It paid off.”
PONY: Can you remember your first big event? Pippa: ”It was Badminton, I was 18 and riding Sir Barnaby. I was terrified, but had a gritty determination that no matter what happened, I was going to get through the finish flags. And I did fall off, and I climbed back on, and I got through the finish flags!” PONY: Which are your
most memorable horses?
Pippa: “Sir Barnaby,
Tilly on the horsebox!
Checking out our vid camera!
because he was the first. I had him when I was 14 and he took me to Badminton and Burghley. And Supreme Rock and Primmore’s Pride. But you know, I love them all really.”
Getting down to work!
Don’t miss next month’s PONY, when Pippa talks about confidence, feeling stuck and achieving goals! Go to ponymag.com to see our interview with Pippa at her home! 5
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s! t confidence – your Jumping is all abou you at wh ing ow s from kn l Positive riding come u yo e for be gh ou thr ngs want to do. Think thi start jumping. aids and your pony e clear, consistent Us l understand you. will find it easier to that s reassure your pony l Your legs and hand pu if you’re not!) so sh you’re confident (even contact. on into an even rein
One step at a time There are five stages to every jump. Get one wrong and it ruins everything. Take a look at what your pony needs to do and how you can help him do it.
The approach THE PONY
Your pony needs a straight approach to a fence so he can judge its height and width and stay balanced.
THE RIDER
Turn the corner and ride into the fence with an even rein contact and both legs on to keep his hocks under him and his head and neck straight in front of his body. Look straight ahead (beyond the fence). Focus on the line you want to take and he will, too.
The take-off THE PONY
Your pony will take off approximately half a canter stride away from a fence. His neck will shorten as his body sits down onto his hocks, before pushing upwards and forwards towards the jump.
THE RIDER
A regular rhythm creates an even stride length which makes it easier for you to judge where your pony’s going to take-off. Practise rhythm by: l Counting strides from 1 to 4 as you canter round the school. l Keep hold of your contact and use both legs as you say each number so you push forward into your contact. l When you ride into, over and away from the fence keep counting, including the jump in your counting, so that 1, 2, 3, 4 becomes 1, 2, jump, 4. l Relax your arms but keep your fingers closed around both reins so your hands move with him and your contact stays the same as he shortens his neck during take-off.
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Jumpin Jumpin No pro No pro
Lorraine Jennings’ fab new series will i and bounds (geddit?). But first, let’s see
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Jum e p h THE PONY
As your pony takes off his body stretches upwards and forwards. When he’s relaxed his back muscles stretch pulling his vertebrae apart so his back can arch (or bascule) over the fence.
THE RIDER As your pony takes off lift your seat up out of the saddle (no more than a hand’s width) and push your hips back so they stay in line with your heels. This keeps you balanced with your weight off his back so he’s free to stretch. Relax your shoulders and arms so your hands follow his mouth and maintain a steady contact.
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will improve your jumping in leaps et’s see what you should be doing...
The landing THE PONY As he lands your pony takes all his weight over his shoulders for a brief time. His back contracts, pulling his vertebrae together. His stomach muscles lift up so his hocks can come down and tuck under his body to take his weight.
THE RIDER Bring your body back to take your weight off your pony’s shoulders but don’t sit in the saddle until his hind feet touch the ground. Relax your shoulders and arms so you can follow the movement of his head and neck as he lands and keep your contact to help him balance.
The getaway THE PONY As his hind feet land your pony will lift his head and shorten his neck. As the weight comes off his shoulders and onto his hocks he’ll take his first stride away from the fence.
THE RIDER When your pony’s hind legs land you can put your seat back into the saddle and push on away from the fence. Look directly in front of you at the line you want him to take.
Keep it simple l A good jump is better than a big one! Never attempt a fence you’re not happy with. l The line you want to take is more important than the jump so look directly ahead (that’s over it not at it!). l Never change the way you ride just because you’re jumping. You’ll confuse your pony, and tension always makes things worse.
Jumping is fun but mistakes do happen. Forget about what went wrong – start thinking about getting the next one right! Go for it! 9
Bitting master Last month we looked at curbs and pelhams. This month we look at gags and bitless bridles.
Part three – gags and bitless bridles
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How bits work Bits act on these parts of a horse’s head, and different bits act on different parts l The lips and corners of the mouth l The bars of the mouth l The tongue l The roof of the mouth l The nose l The chin groove l The poll
The gag bit Gag bits work on a pulley system with the rider regulating their pressure, bringing the bit into play only when needed. It is a bit which should only be used by the most experienced riders. A second rein, fastened on the snaffle ring itself, prevents the gag being engaged more than it needs to be.
How gags work The gag bit
The most common gag looks like a snaffle, except that the rings have holes top and bottom through which cord, or rolled leather pass, attached to the cheekpieces and the reins. As the rider increases the rein contact, the bit is drawn upward in the pony’s mouth, and the headpiece is draw down, putting pressure on the poll. It goes without saying that gags should be used with care – the pony cannot escape the pressure. The gag bit encourages the pony to lift its head. They are often used on very strong horses who tend to take the bit and run with their heads down. The cords or rolled leather which pass through the bit rings may need to be greased to ensure they run smoothly, and leather or metal stops should be fitted to limit the bit’s upward action.
Cord through the gag
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Don’t get confused! Now you know how gags work you can see why the bit sometimes referred to as Dutch, American or Continental gag is not really a gag at all!
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PONY ACADEMY
Bitless bridles
There are several types of bitless bridles
The bosal
The bosal The bosal is used in western riding and is the original hackamore. The heavy plaited noseband has a heel knot under the chin, which counterbalances the noseband so that it only comes into play when the rider lifts the reins, or when the horse’s head position is too high. The heel knot also discourages the pony from overbending as it bumps on the pony’s neck or chest when this happens. The rider uses neckreining and weight aids to turn.
Another hackamore
Bitless A bitless bridle
Bitless in action
New kids on the block (or under the chin!)
Rem
There are several cross-under-thejaw bitless bridles available. All work by applying pressure to the nose, and some put extra pressure on the chin groove, too.
The traditional bitless bridle (often called a hackamore) has metal side plates to which the noseband, chin strap, cheekpieces and reins attach. The reins put pressure on the poll, nose and chin groove. It should not be fitted too low on the nose as it will inhibit the pony’s breathing when in play. The longer the shanks, the more leverage put on the nose. Although a bridle without a bit may sound as though it would be kind to the pony, the ones with long shanks can exert so much leverage on the nose, chin groove and poll they are really quite severe, and should only be used by very experienced riders.
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Bitless bridles are not necessarily more kind or humane than a bridle with a bit. It is the rider’s hands which determine the pressure, not the bit itself! 23