native pony Native Pony
We’ve all been the one who has turned up at a show with the flower in the buttonhole, proud as punch of our Native pony on his first time out. After that first trip, you get bitten by the bug and like lots of things in life, success comes with experience and time. Of course you do need a good pony too! Chris Grant explains the best way to...
... prepare native ponies for the show ring
Feeding Producing a Native pony for the ring takes patience and is started months, if not years, in advance. Long term, this begins with any pony from the inside out and we start with basic feeding. Appropriate selection is key to the pony looking its best and not being under or overweight. A good quality feed balancer fed with a non molassed chaff is usually sufficient for most Natives, which can be topped up with a conditioning cube if required. The slimming world equine candidates may require a light balancer and the majority of the feed companies have feeding advisors who can visit your yard to discuss individual requirements. Feeding correctly is an absolutely essential part of showing, as you want your exhibit to look its absolute best.
Coat and hair Next on our agenda is the all important coat and hair. For the animals at home that are being shown this season, they are groomed for 15 minutes a day, as this stimulates a good coat and helps to achieve that vital and unmistakable shine. Native ponies don’t necessarily need to be stabled or even rugged, though the later can help keep the coat at either end of the summer season
HySHINE Magic Dazzle
A fast acting shampoo with a whitening enhancing formula to make those white areas dazzle! Not only does it combat yellowing hair, this shampoo has a fusion of avocado, lavender and wheat germ extracts to protect and repair the coat from damage.
Priced around £8.50
Visit
Hy-Equestrian.com or contact 01522 529206.
and also prevent the sunshine from bleaching it. For each of the twelve different breeds, information regarding clipping and trimming can be obtained from the respective breed society. On the whole though, they are supposed to be shown in their natural state. It is highly recommended to visit a show with breed classes to see how your particular breed is presented in the ring. I myself have Highland Ponies, of which no trimming is allowed at all. It is expected that they have a full mane and tail and because of this, we don’t ever touch them between shows. Plaiting the hair can prevent it from snapping and also promotes a thicker growth. Particularly with a grey, it prevents the tail from being soiled and saves you (a small amount of) money on whitening shampoo!
Workload Work is the last key factor in the long term preparation, whether you are planning to compete in hand, under saddle or over fences. Whilst the ridden ponies will need more of a regime, it is essential that the in hand ponies are worked too. In the show ring it goes without saying that you are aiming for perfection and this includes a well handled, mannerly
Chris Grant and his prolific winner, the Highland mare Dunedin Rhiona
pony that stands up well and goes in harmony with its handler. This only comes with practice and is very apparent on the day in the ring.
For those that are ridden, a fitness and schooling regime should be in place to ensure that your pony is ready for the class on the day. As with any horse, it is imperative to engage the hind end and work into a forward contact, as not only does this promote top line, but also allows the horse to move freely. Ponies should be ridden four to five times a week and a variety of work is key to keeping them fresh. Most of the Natives do not fully develop till they are seven or eight and it is essential to give them the necessary time as youngsters.
Starting to compete Once you have your show entered, I would always recommend going to an earlier show, watching the professionals and getting a feel for what it’s about. It can also be of great benefit to ask for help, as most people will be more than willing, particularly those with Natives and you can learn so much. This will help you form a plan and be more prepared for the big day.
Turnout Turn out for the class begins the day prior to the show with a bath. There is a huge range of products on the market and specific targeted shampoos are often worth investing in as you need to ensure the coats are clean, with a great lustre and enviable gleam.
Bigeloil Quilted Leg Wraps and Hoof Pads
An alternative to the mess of using traditional clay to wrap legs and hooves, these eliminate the mess and are quick and easy to apply while providing the same cooling and soothing benefits as traditional leg clay. The revolutionary Bigeloil application method offers horse owners a fast and clean alternative, using kaolin clay powder and Epsom salts encased in porous quilted pockets. The quilted squares are activated when immersed in a bucket of warm or cold water and can then be easily applied to the leg or hoof and wrapped to hold in place. Removal is just as easy, you simply take off the quilted wrap and discard; there will be no dried clay residue left on the leg or hoof.
Eliminating difficult clean up and heavy tubs, Bigeloil Quilted Leg Wraps and Hoof Pads bring horse hoof and leg care into the 21st century. The convenience of Bigeloil Leg Wraps and Hoof Pads makes them ideal for use at home or when away at competitions. Visit
www.absorbine.co.uk or find us on Facebook at
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Equine Page 50
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