PONY Q&A

Q: What is the Horse Grimace Scale?

A: The Horse Grimace Scale is a pain assessment tool that identifies six facial expressions of a horse or pony and scores them on a scale of 0 (not present), 1 (moderately present) and 2 (obviously present). The expressions are:

• Stiffly backwards ears – the horse’s ears are held stiffly and turned backwards, causing the space between the ears to appear wider at the top than the bottom.

• Orbital tightening – the horse’s eyelid is partially or entirely closed.

• Tension above the eye area –contractions of the muscles in the area above the eye causes the underlying bone to appear more prominent.

• Prominent strained chewing muscles –this is due to increased tension above the mouth.

• Mouth strained and pronounced chin –a strained mouth is clearly visible when the upper lip is drawn back, and the chin appears more pronounced.

• Strained nostrils and flattening of the muzzle’s profile – the horse’s nostrils look strained and slightly dilated, and the profile of the nose flattens with elongated lips.

The overall score gives an indication of the degree of pain a horse or pony is experiencing.

Q: My pony brings his hindquarter into the inside in the canter, and I was marked down for it in my last dressage test. How do I fix this?

A: Ponies usually canter in this way when they are not strong enough to hold themselves straight. Building strength is therefore vital in helping your pony to straighten up. However, it is also worth noting that if a pony gets ‘used to’ cantering in this way, it can become a habit. This means that even when strength is improved, and the pony can canter more correctly, he may still choose to canter with his quarters in, simply because he’s always cantered like that. The good news is that schooling can fix this. The bad news is that this takes time.

To work on strength, you need to do lots of cross-training with your pony. You’ll need to do hill work, pole work, lots of transitions, and possibly even a few gymnastics.

Then, in terms of the reschooling, you will need to work on riding from the outside rein. You do not want to be pulling on the inside rein, as this will make the quarters come in even more! You need to feel as though you can move the pony’s shoulders as you canter using the outside rein. You want to be able to move the shoulders off the track to the outside to try and rebalance your pony and cause him to work more correctly from the hindquarter. Similarly, you can help him undo the old movement patterns by using the outside rein to help him canter in shoulder-fore. This can help to reset his old habits in canter, and engage the hindquarter properly.

Then, in terms of specific strength work for the quarters, you can try and teach your pony the counter-canter. At first, you will need to help him by keeping him flexed over his leading leg until he gets used to this. Then, over time, you need to see if you can flex his neck to the inside (away from the leading leg). This is difficult for the pony, so you need to practice it in short yet frequent bursts.

Once you easily have control of the shoulders with the outside rein, and you know that your pony is strong behind, you should find that the problem improves significantly, if not disappears entirely.

Q: What should my pony’s manure look like?

A: A pony’s manure can tell you a lot about his health. Manure should be made up of firm, well-formed balls. Very loose droppings or very dry droppings are always a cause for concern so if you notice this you should speak to your stable manager, so they can contact the vet. Ponies generally pass manure every couple of hours, so if your pony goes for a few hours without passing manure, you should again consider giving your vet a call.

It is also worth checking manure for undigested food, as this can be a sign that your pony is struggling with his digestive system in some way. It could be that his teeth need some work; that he is receiving too much food, so it is passing through too quickly to get adequately digested; that his gut is intolerant in some way to the food he is getting; or that he has a digestive issue that needs looking at.

The other thing to look out for is visible worms. Sometimes, although thankfully not often, worms can be visible in the manure and, in these cases, you really know that the worm burden is high and that action needs to be taken!

Basically, if you notice any change from the norm when it comes to your pony’s manure – get it checked!

Q: Is it okay to turn my pony out in overreach boots?

It’s very common to see ponies turned out wearing overreach boots. If your pony is prone to overreach injuries or the pulling of shoes, then these boots are a good idea!

However, in order to allow your pony to be turned out in overreach boots, you must make sure that they fit properly and do not rub him. You will also need to choose a sturdy pair with strong Velcro tabs that will stay in place. All overreach boots, wherever they are worn, must be removed at least once a day for a few hours to check for any rubs or injuries and, importantly, to allow the hoof some exposure to the air.

Q: What are the different kinds of flocking in saddles?

There are several types of flocking that are commonly used in saddles. Below are the main types:

• White wool has long fibres, is softer and settles more quickly than other kinds of wool. However, it needs more regular checks and more regular top-ups than the other variants because it settles so quickly.

• Grey or brown wool is another very popular long-fibre flocking and tends to settle more slowly.

• Synthetic wool is another option, but, like with white wool, the saddle will need more frequent checks and more regular top-ups as it settles quickly. Synthetic wool should never be used with pure wool in a mixture.

• Air flocking generally refers to a system of four airbags that provide a soft, flexible and even weight-bearing surface. The air system is inserted into the panel and gives the saddle a flexible layer of shockabsorbing air. These bags can each be individually adjusted at any time.

• In addition to flocking, many saddles nowadays have a panel lining. Materials used for the lining include foam or felt, which help to provide a softer feel for your pony.

Saddles should be checked every six months or whenever you notice a drop in the performance or condition of your pony. Generally, they need reflocking every two years, but this does depend on the level of use and the flocking chosen. During the two years, the flocking that is present in the saddle can be redistributed, removed or supplemented but, by the end of two years, the flocking is typically compacted and in need of a full replacement.