beyond the arena
Work on your pony’s schooling out hacking with our fab ideas!
Who says schooling only happens in the arena? Training out on hacks can be way more fun and you’ll be improving your pony’s skills at the same time –what’s not to love?!
The benefits
There are many reasons why schooling on hacks beats working in an arena…
• Most ponies are more forward-thinking on hacks, which helps them focus.
• Varied terrain means you can practise different things in different places.
• Being in the great outdoors will put both of you in a better mood.
• You can use landmarks such as trees or posts as markers.
• Teaching your pony to be more obedient to your aids when you’re out and about means this will be a doddle when it comes to working in an arena.
TOP TIP
Only ride movements where it’s safe to do so – never on busy roads or if the footing isn’t safe and secure!
Great gear changes
Transitions are the secret superpower of schooling sessions, wherever you’re riding. You can use markers to help you – for example, at the next tree make a trot transition and at the one after that, walk again. The exciting thing about transitions is you can ride them between paces (walk-trotwalk-halt, for example) or within the pace (such as medium walk to collected walk). Why not keep
Rewarding your pony for something they do well is a great motivator and will make them try even harder next time! did you know?did you know?
Step aside
Lateral work out on hacks? Why not! Choose a wide track and try legyielding from one side to the other and then back again. You do this by using your inside leg to push your pony forwards and sideways, and supporting them with the outside rein to stop them falling through their outside shoulder. If all’s going to plan, have a go at riding a few steps of shoulder-in, too! Lateral work does wonders for your pony’s straightness and balance, so give it a go!
TOP TIP
If you’re not sure how to ride lateral movements, ask your instructor whether you can work on them in your next lesson.
Moving
Feel confident Moving up a level Moving up a level
Moving up a level
up a level
Take the next step in your riding journey with our handy tips
Keen to progress your riding skills but unsure where to start? Moving up a level can feel really scary, but we’re here to help!
Signs you’re feeling ready…
You find nearly all of the tasks and challenges pretty easy.
You’re in your comfort zone.
You’re keen to learn new things.
Your confidence is sky-high.
Question time
The best place to start when you’re thinking of moving up a level is by having a chat with your instructor. They know exactly what you’re capable of, and won’t tell you that you’re ready to move on if you’re not! So, if you think you feel ready, ask an experienced adult for their opinion on your plans to progress.
TOP TIP
While it’s great to be pushed out of your comfort zone from time to time to challenge your skills and learn new ones, it’s also important to listen to your gut. Don’t push yourself too far too soon – there’s always next time if today you’re not feeling ready.
Watch and learn
Watching a class for the level you hope to compete at or lesson group you’re aiming to move up to will help you understand the requirements for that level – ideal!
Tailor your training
Once you’re familiar with the skills needed to move up a level, you can start to work on them in your training. Do you need to practise jumping a little higher? Or know the aids for leg-yield or medium trot? Whatever it might be, working on it at home will set you up for success.
Secret messages
Sometimes it can be tricky to talk about things that worry you, and that’s totally normal! If you ever feel like this, it’s good to open up about it, but if you don’t feel ready, why not write down your thoughts and feelings for a trusted adult to help you work through?
Looking back
Seeing how far you’ve come already in your riding journey will help you believe you can push for more and achieve your goals. Looking at photos, watching videos and reading journals from years and months gone by will show you the amazing progress you’ve made so far and will fill you with confidence and motivation!
Hidden meanings Hidden meanings
Isyourpony’sbehaviourtryingtotellyousomething?
When training your pony, it’s very likely that you’ll face a problem at some point and, quite often, this is usually in the form of undesirable behaviour, such as spooking or fidgeting.
Often viewed as a training issue, lots of people quickly book a session with their instructor to help resolve the problem. But every behaviour a pony displays has a purpose, so it’s important to consider all the different factors contributing to that behaviour, as well as their welfare, to help you understand the cause rather than just treating the symptoms.
TOP TIP
For complex behavioural issues, contact your vet or a qualified animal behaviourist before your trainer.
Lucy Chester is an animal training instructor based in Surrey.
Examine the evidence
Your pony can’t talk and only communicates through their behaviour and body language, so it’s important to listen carefully to what they’re telling you. For example, if your pony used to stand happily at the mounting block but suddenly starts fidgeting or trying to walk away, consider what might have changed to cause this altered behaviour…
• Are they feeling anxious about something?
• Could their saddle need an adjustment?
• Are they in pain, generally or when being ridden?
did you know?did you know?
Undesirable behaviour is often resolved once the root cause is addressed. For example, if a pony is getting very limited turnout and is difficult to handle, giving them more field time may be enough to stop the stress-related behaviours.
The effect of force
When dealing with a common problem, such as hoof handling, loading or mounting issues, it can be confusing to know what’s best when there are different kinds of training that appear to help. However, many techniques – such as negative reinforcement (using pressure), positive punishment (adding something the pony doesn’t like after a behaviour) and using food – may decrease the behaviour but won’t address the reason it’s happening.
For example, shaking treats to get a pony to load onto the trailer might work to begin with, but it doesn’t mean he’s happy walking up the ramp. If we start to force ponies to do something they don’t want to do, it can negatively impact their welfare and cause more issues in the long-term.
TOP TIP
Before looking at training techniques, make sure you’ve had experts assess the whole picture, including your pony’s health and medical history, current management routine, environment, nutrition and training history.
did you know?did you know?
As prey animals, ponies have evolved to disguise pain as much as they can. Predators always go for the weakest animal in the herd, so ponies compensate for as long as possible before showing any lameness.
Know the signs
Always watch out for the signs of stress, fear and anxiety. These might include…
• wrinkles around the eye
• showing the whites of the eye
• licking and chewing
• repeated yawning
• turning the head away
• fidgeting behaviour
