R i d i n g a n e w p o n y ? N o w o rr i e s !
THE UK’S
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PONY
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10 Horsey things to do
this Christmas!
jumping reminders
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Essential how to poultice guide!
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Why ponies real do what life fat they do “My bigiday!” psy hol
January 2014 £3.25
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Gorgeous snowy posters How to ge t on a pon y – pe r f ect ly !
Could YOU rehome a charity pony? IT’S EASY !
Here are a few reasons why rehoming a charity pony is a complete no-brainer:
1) You know exactly what you are getting. Ponies being rehomed will have been through a full rehabilitation process and will be 100% rocking and rolling, and ready to go! 2) The charity will tell you honestly whether you are suitable for the pony, and he for you. 3) The pony will come with full health records, be microchipped and have a passport. 4) You are giving a pony who was previously neglected or abandoned a second shot at a happy life. How cool is that? 5) Although you can keep the pony for as long as you want him, he will always be owned by the charity. That means you can give him back any time you want or need to, without the worry of having to try and sell him on. 6) By taking the pony from the charity, you will be freeing up space and time for another pony to be rescued and rehabilitated. 7) The charity will advise you on how to keep the pony – for example, what to feed him, what tack and rugs you’ll need, as well as when to worm him and with what. 8) And they will support you through the months and years that you keep the pony. There will always be someone on the end of the phone to offer advice.
need If your ‘rents whether about convincing is a good idea y n o p getting a show them st ju t o n or ! this feature
SUCCESS STORY! Redwings Ruby
Six-year-old Ruby was rescued from market along with 35 other ponies. All the ponies were very thin, full of lice and their manes and tails were matted and full of burrs. No owner came forward for the ponies so they were signed over to Redwings. From the start, Ruby was friendly and loved attention. Once back to full health, she was taken to the Redwings Rehoming Centre where she quickly blossomed. It wasn’t long before she found her perfect Guardians. Guardian siblings Teagan and Cody are incredibly fond of Ruby’s cheeky personality. Ruby loves being ridden and always behaves perfectly.
Could a charity pony be right for yo u? 4
To find out more about the Redwings Guardianship scheme visit www.redwings.co.uk/rehoming
SUCCESS STORY! Blue Cross Molly
Molly was part of a group of 40 horses abandoned with hardly any food, water or shelter. They were frightened, underweight and infested with lice. She was brought to Blue Cross, where a health check revealed that she had a severe eye infection. Molly was very nervous and it took a long time to build her trust in people. On top of that, the eye infection didn’t clear up so she had an operation to remove the eye. It took a lot of time and patience but she proved to be a lovely, sweetnatured pony. Molly was eventually rehomed with Ele and her family. The pair have formed a close bond and are now on a winning streak. They recently came first in a one day event, won a Pony Club class, and came second in a Best Rider competition! Ele says, “Molly is a very good pony and I absolutely love riding her. When we go to events, people are really surprised at how good she is because she’s a rescue pony, and she has only one eye.”
To find out more about the Blue Cross rehoming schem e visit www.bluecross.org.uk
SUCCESS STORY! WHW Louise
This could be you!
Louise came to World Horse Welfare following a call from a concerned member of the public. Louise was overweight, acutely laminitic, and trying to escape into next door’s field in search of water. The RSPCA were unable to confirm who owned Louise so she was officially signed over to World Horse Welfare. Louise was earmarked straight away for the rehoming scheme and when she was old enough staff began backing and training her. She was a quick learner and was soon ready for rehoming. Louise’s loan home has this to say about her: “Louise is one-in-a-million. I wouldn’t usually have a five-year-old as a lead-rein pony for a small child, but having rehomed many other ponies from WHW, I knew we could trust their judgment. Lucy and Louise have become a brilliant team, and Louise developed into a fantastic first pony who loves her work and cuddles.”
To find out more about the WHW rehoming scheme visit www.worldhorsewelfare.com/rehoming
oming Other charities offering reh Sanctuary, HAPPA, services include The Donkey sby and HorseWorld. Mare & Foal Sanctuary, Bran
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All change! Riding a new pony can make you feel like a beginner again – but don’t panic! Follow Lorraine Jennings’ advice and you’ll be fine!
What’s the difference? It isn’t just the height of a bigger pony that’s surprising – the length of their body can take a while to get used to, too. Bigger ponies have longer strides so be warned – rising trot might feel slower but markers come up much faster, so think ahead before making a turn or transition.
Wide boy
We usually
...
start small
You’re new
Bigger ponies are often wider. You may have to stretch your legs to reach around your pony’s barrel. Don’t try too hard – the more relaxed you are the easier it is.
Top tip
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The Fear Factor Why do we feel nervous when we ride a new pony?
1 Fear of
the unknown
If you’ve never ridden a pony before it’s OK to feel nervous but remember he doesn’t know you, either. That means he won’t know you’re nervous unless you tell him! The best thing you can do is get busy – in walk. Get used to your pony before you trot or canter. Push him forward into a steady contact, ride transitions to halt and different shapes to make him feel you’re super confident – even if you’re not!
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2
Fear of the known
Some ponies have a reputation for being naughty but don’t panic! All ponies respond differently to different riders. Just because you’ve seen a pony buck with another rider, doesn’t mean he’s going to with you. Be prepared. Sit up, look up and keep your hands up. This works with all ponies – and any problem. It puts you in a great position if things go well and an even better one if they don’t! Don’t forget to push on so you push his hocks under his body out of harm’s way.
3
Fear that you’re not good enough You can’t improve if you don’t ride more experienced ponies so don’t put yourself down! Ride your pony as you would any other – with clear aids and positive riding – and he’ll be more than happy to show you the ropes.
!
Be kind, but be the boss!
Showing your pony you’re the boss is easier than you think Be the boss on the ground:
1
Walk up to your new pony and give him a good pat. He’ll feel special – and it will burn off your nervous energy, too!
When you meet a new pony you’ll want to make friends. To do that you need to behave like he does. Ponies are herd animals – they need a leader (that’s you!). Without a clear leader your pony will get confused. He may become nervous, irritable or angry. And that’s when problems start.
2
Move him over in the stable – don’t move around him. It’s a good way to say, I’m in charge, without causing a fight. (See November PONY for our feature on moving ponies over.)
3
When you lead your new pony, make him walk alongside you. If he drags you – or you drag him – he’s already in charge before you even get on!
Be the boss in the saddle: 1 2
... then p
rogress to
Test your brakes. Never go up a pace until you feel sure you can stop.
Go for it!
Carry a whip. A pony must do what you ask, when you ask. (Never feel guilty about using a whip if your pony won’t listen. A sharp smack is kinder than 10 irritating tickles or side-numbing kicks. A whip is an aid, not punishment.
Riding new ponies is exciting – and a little scary, too – but it’s a great test of your riding. The more often you do it the easier it becomes. And the next pony you ride may well be the pony of your dreams. If you never ride different ponies, you’ll never find out!
3
Get his attention. Keep your legs on and move your fingers (as if you were texting) on the reins to keep him waiting for your next aid.
... bigger
...
(and trick
er) horse
s and po
nies! 11
Diary of A
dressage diva!
Follow GB’s top dressage rider – Charlotte Dujardin writes for PONY every month!
The Dressage Convention at Bury Farm was a great success and I loved every minute of it!
Superstar Valegro!
The crowds were brilliant and really enthusiastic and loved watching all the horses and riders. I was so lucky as Valegro and I were chosen to show the audience lots of our training techniques. Valegro knew everyone was there to watch him – when we walked around the arena on a long rein he was looking into the crowds and everyone was laughing, it was as if he were saying, Hi there – I’m Valegro you know!
Keeping fit
On the first day we showed the crowd how we keep the horses loose and supple. It’s not all about riding Grand Prix movements each day – in fact, Valegro does very little of this. Most days he is either hacking or keeping fit in the arena by doing lots of the suppling, stretching and bending exercises that we showed the crowd. Carl told the audience how important this is to keep the horses safe and free from injury, as well as physically fit.
Getting higher marks
On the second day we upped the technical stuff! Carl focused on straightness. As Carl said, you work on straightness for your whole life! The flying changes we did had to be on a straight line so everyone could see how we managed
to achieve this. We also showed Valegro’s talent for passage and piaffe, and the audience loved that. Carl and I also covered how to get higher marks in a dressage test. We showed various movements and transitions – some of them not so perfect which would get a seven from a judge, and then rode them again with more precision to show what you have to do to get a nine. I also rode a young horse each day for Carl, and we showed the basics of how we start a young horse on its path to being a Grand Prix horse. We aren’t interested in producing a young horse to win Young Horse classes – our aim is to produce a Grand Prix horse, and this takes years of improving weaknesses and not expecting miracles. It’s all very basic and helps them develop strength and confidence.
Don’t eat and talk!
One of the features of The Dressage Convention was the Supper with the Stars evening on the Saturday night. Lots of the audience were invited to come and ask us questions while we all tucked into a great hog roast. It was really informal, everyone was chatty and the time flew. I know I must have had my photograph taken quite a lot and signed so many autographs – just hope I didn’t have my mouth full!
Merry Christmas!
I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a fab New Year. Make a New Year’s resolution to be a better rider – and stick to it. That’s what I do each New Year, and it has worked for me so far.
Valegro wowed the crowds! 16
Se e you in 2014!
Brought to you by www.classicdressage.com
Nosy pony! ! s s o g d n a s w ie v , s w e Horsey n
This month’s big news...
The Spanish Riding School of Vienna is back in the UK for 2014! Th e 430-year-old High School for Classical Horse manship will be pe rforming at Sheffield’s Moto point Arena on Oc tober 31st, November 1st and 2nd, then moving down to London’s Wembley Arena for Novemb er 14th, 15th and 16th. You’d be mad to miss this am azing show! Visit www.livenati on.co.uk for ticke ts.
W h at a w i n ne
r!
In September 2012 PONY Mag we ran a competition to win a photoshoot with equestrian photographer Sue Westwood-Ruttledge. The lucky winner was Eden-Maia and her pony Seb. Fancy winning a superstar photoshoot like this? Turn to page 12 to enter this year’s competition!
del o m ! Be a he day t for
R ea d in g club!
Around 50 wannabe joc keys attended the second an nual Buzz Day at the Britis h Racing school in Newm arket. Aimed at children aged between eight and 15 with no previous involvemen t in pony racing, activitie s included riding the rac ing simulators, a tacking up demo, how-to-fall-off training and a tour of the stables and gallops. Want to get involved? Visit www.brs.org.uk.
Caught the racing bug? 26
12-year-old Hannah’s best friend Charley has moved away and her mother is away for the summer. Home alone with her brother, sister and father, Hannah is lonely. To top it off, she is worried about her rescue pony Polly, who is becoming dangerously overweight. After advertising for a companion, Hannah gets drawn into the frightning life of her new friend Jess and her terrible ‘uncle’ Pete. Ponies at Owls’ Wood, by Scilla James, Swift Publishing
Strathearn storm to victory
ARIAT Awesome Pony of the Month
Nominated by Tiarna
The Strathearn Branch of The Pony Club won the Equimax 3D Worming Prince Philip Cup Mounted Games final at HOYS in October. Team members Sophie O’Neil, Sophie Targell-Worth, Iona Wilson, Hamish d’Ath, Sam Rider and Heather Hally are delighted to have won after a five-year training campaign!
Jess is flying h
igh!
Super show jumper and PONY columnist Jessica Mendoza has moved into the British top 20 rider rankings for the first time! Jess, who is still only 17, is whipping up a storm on the showjumping circuit, beating riders with decades more experience than her. We’ll be following her progress closely in PONY Mag and cheering her on all the way! Don’t forget to read Jess’ column on page 30!
My share pony Corisande is a bay, pure-bred Arab mare with four white socks and a white star on her forehead. Cori is 24 years old and is still ridden by my nan, my sister and me! We are currently learning to jump small fences and I sometimes ride bareback! As well as being cheeky, Corisande is a caring pony who demands attention and loves a cuddle! We also compete at shows, and never come home without a rosette. In this picture I’m feeding Cori her fave treat! I think veteran ponies are awesome! The Ariat Windermere features Ariat’s exclusive 4LR technology and a HydroGuard membrane. Fashioned in suede and leather in a pull-on style with a riding outsole, these boots offer unsurpassed style and protection, perfect for both walking and riding. Ladies sizes: 3-8.5 RRP: £149. Tan only. www.ariat-europe.com Tel: 0845 600 3209
Write and tell us why your pony deserves the title Ariat Awesome Pony of the Month – don’t forget to send a great picture!
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