In the beginning

Learn how to maximise your pony’s warm-up routine with Meg Elphick

Did you know you can get so much more from your pony by fine-tuning his warm-up routine? All ponies are different, so assessing his way of going and riding through specific exercises that get him in the zone will help you have the best ride every time. Find out how I personalise my ponies’ warm-ups right here!

Warm-up wonders

Your warm-up is the most important part of your riding session – without a thorough warm-up your pony is more likely to get injured. So, spend at least 15 minutes getting him in the zone and progressing through the paces to gradually allow his muscles to warm up.

Whether you’re doing polework, flatwork or popping some fences, your warm-up outcome will be the same – an active and responsive pony. What will differ is the exercises you do, so don’t forget to tweak your warm-up to suit the activity as well as the pony you’re riding. If you’re jumping, for example, you’ll need to incorporate a couple of fences to get the right muscles ready.

Where to start?

When you’re on board and ready to get started with your session, begin by walking large around the arena for at least five minutes – include changes of rein and lots of turns and big circles. Start by riding on a slightly longer rein and slowly shorten it, working your pony into a contact if you can.

Pacemaker

Transitions are my go-to for getting Dora responsive, alert and working actively from her hindquarters. With her being a youngster, I need to keep things simple but interesting enough to stop her getting bored. I like to set up two markers at least 15m apart and use them as points for making transitions. I begin by riding halt-walk-halt transitions on both reins and then. as she gets more warmed up, we progress to trot-walk-trot, then canter-trot-canter. Towards the end of our warm-up, I ask Dora for a few direct transitions, such as halt-trot-halt – they really check whether she’s listening to my aids!

Need some guidance for riding the perfect transition? Here’s my checklist…

• sit tall and keep your eyes up

• relax your hips and seat to allow you to move with your pony

• when making an upward transition, allow your hands forward slightly and squeeze evenly with both legs

• when making a downward transition, close your fingers around your reins and keep your weight down into your heels