PONY Magazine - July 2022

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hoof care plan WE LOVE

PONY

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Meg Elphick!

Meet

Harry Charles ALL ABOUT Western

R IDIN G! 1 June – 28 June 2022

DJMurphy

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July 2022 £3.99 Issue 892

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S E S R O H E ID R O T Y D A ARE YOU RE

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Flying lo solo

Ready to start hacking out by yourself? Check out Meg Elphick’s tips for staying safe and having fun

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friends is acking out with your e not stabled u’r yo if t bu , great fun ght find it close together you mi e and day tim a tricky to organise , being So er. eth tog for a pony party all way at gre a is y fel sa lo able to hack so a s ny still ha to make sure your po en you can’t wh en ev e tin rou Always bring a mobile varied ride. It can up phone with you when you get together for a gro nt more confide hack. It’s a good idea to let also make your pony my tips for are re he , So someone at the yard know all-round. success. when you’re leaving and setting yourself up for what time you’ll be back, too.

TOP TIP

Helping hand

A pony companion is the ultimate confidence-booster out on a hack, and if your pony’s used to having a friend with him, it can be daunting taking Double check all your him out by himself. Luckily, there’s a gear’s in working order great middle ground for when you’re before leaving the yard preparing to go solo. to help keep you HOW TO PRACTISE Why not take a safe. friend or parent on foot with you to start with? Having an extra pair of hands will help you relax and they can lead your pony past anything spooky if he’s worried. It’s a great interim between hacking with a pal and riding solo, so use your helper to give you both a boost.

TOP TIP

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Having an extra pair of hands will help you relax

Open spaces

Knowing you can safely stop your pony after a canter along your fave bridleway is really important. When cantering with a friend, your pony’s likely to stop as soon as his buddy does but, while some ponies get more excited in a group, lots find solo fast work super-fun, too.

HOW TO PRACTISE To help make sure you’re in full control when you’re out and about on your own, you’ll need to practise riding your pony in walk, trot and canter in a field at your yard – but check that’s okay with your yard owner first!

A fenced field is a safe environment for you to check your brakes, and knowing you have control is sure to give you a real confidence boost when you head out with your equine best pal.

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Step it up Are you ready to make the move on to horses?

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ere at Team PONY we love our ponies – they’re super-fun and adorable, even if they can be pretty cheeky!

But, whether it’s because you’ve grown taller or want to jump higher, there comes a time for most riders to move on to horses. There are lots of things to consider when making the decision – check out some of them here.

I know?

How will to make the decision to part from

It can be hard your beloved pony, but there are a few sure-fire ways to tell it’s time for you to move on...

• your upper body’s towering over your pony • the saddle feels too short • your pony’s struggling to move as freely as before or you feel like you’re getting in his way • your legs are hanging down below his tummy

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did you know?

If you’re used to riding a pony, you’ll need to extend your jumping and polework distances when you get on a horse so there’s space for his bigger strides.

TOP TIP

Try to have some lessons on different horses and ponies so you get used to a variety of types.

Sizing up A horse will be much taller than your fave pony, which won’t just make climbing on board more difficult, but potentially handling him, too. Things like putting on his bridle and throwing on his rugs could be more tricky.

SOLUTION See if you can practise with a taller pony or horse at your riding school or borrow a friend’s. Get a feel for putting on a rug – remember to fold it correctly to make it easier – and try to encourage the pony to bend his head around you when putting his bridle on so he doesn’t lift his head too high.

Stride length Horses have much longer strides than ponies, especially in trot and canter. You’ll notice that in trot, your rises will go on for longer, and in canter he covers much more ground without taking so many strides.

SOLUTION Getting used to the difference takes practice, but riding over trot and canter poles, and trying lots of sizes of horse and pony, will help you become more adaptable and feel more comfortable with the change in stride length.

Big personality Ponies are often cheeky, while horses are seen as a bit more straightforward. However, it’s important to treat every equine as an individual – they’re all different.

SOLUTION The key to getting to know a horse’s personality is spending loads of time with him.

Grooming sessions, in-hand work and trying new things together will all help you learn more about his temperament and attitude. Knowing him inside-out will help you click and find the right way to get the best from him.

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