Keep on moving!

Do you ride a pony who enjoys a more leisurely pace of life? Is he a little too laid back so you struggle to get him going and get the most out of him? If this sounds like your fave pony, then you’re in the right place! We have seven tips to help you get him moving so you can enjoy hours of fun together. 

Fancy footwork

Not only are poles and grids great for improving strength, suppleness and straightness, they’re also a brilliant mental workout for your equine pal! Some ponies get super-spicy when they see poles and jumps because they’re just so much fun, so be sure to include a polework or jump session into your pony’s weekly routine. There are endless layouts to try and you can get sooo creative with them, but remember that polework is physically demanding for your pony, so don’t use poles in every schooling session. 

Mix ‘n’ match

Be sure to have as much variety as you can in your pony’s weekly exercise routine – it can be trickier during winter due to the amount of daylight, but planning ahead can help ensure you get a good mix to keep him interested in his work. Consider a combination of hacking, schooling, jumping, in-hand work and lungeing (with an adult’s supervision), as well as a day or two off! 

Stretch out

Riding lots of different transitions in your schooling sessions is a great way to get your pony responsive and working more actively. Start with progressive transitions while you warm up, such as walk-halt-walk or trot-walk-trot, then have a go at some direct transitions; for example, halt to trot and walk to canter. Not only will these give you the chance to check your aids are correct and effective, they’re really good at encouraging your pony to move! 

You could also try shortening and lengthening your pony’s strides while going large around the arena in canter. Sitting deeper in the saddle along the  short sides to encourage a more collected canter, then picking up a light seat and squeezing on to open up your pony’s stride on the long sides is an exercise that’s sure to wake him up! 

Accurate aids

When someone nags you to do something, you’re much less likely to do it. Think of when your parents keep telling you to tidy your room – it’s the last thing you want to do when they always ask! And it’s a similar situation for your laidback pony. When you constantly use your leg to keep him moving forward, he’s less likely to respond to it. This means you need to make your aids crystal clear and use them only when you really need a reaction. Your pony should react to your leg straight away, but if he doesn’t, try again – and use your voice to encourage him – then reward him when he does as you ask. 

Out and about

Taking your pony out to experience as many new places as possible is another way to bring some spice into his life! It’s great if you have access to transport because there are endless places to explore and you could even go to the gallops or hire an arena for some jumping practice. Otherwise, why not try new hacking routes from home every now and again and go for a little walking hack before your schooling session to wake up your pony?

Fun for all 

Try to work out what your pony finds the least enjoyable and avoid doing too much of that activity. For example, he might absolutely love hacking but find being ridden in the school really boring, so why not add an extra hack into his routine and then do some schooling while you’re out adventuring? It’s a great way to keep up his training, but also make sure he gets plenty of enjoyment from it, too. 

Buddy up

Riding with your pony’s best pal is sure to boost his energy levels! Whether it’s out on a hack or in the school, following another pony can give your pony more encouragement to go forward. However, it’s really important that you keep a safe distance (at least one horse length) and don’t let your pony chase after his friend because that can be dangerous and could potentially knock someone’s confidence. Ride plenty of transitions to make sure your pony’s listening to your aids, turn a circle if the ponies get too close together and then make the most of the new-found energy!