On the bit

Teaching your pony to go in an outline, or work into a contact, will make him look super fancy, plus it means he’s engaging his muscles correctly so it’s a win-win! 

Top tip

Don’t try to force your pony into a contact by pulling on the reins. Your rein contact should be soft and your hands positioned either side of the withers with a straight line running from your elbow to the bit. 

Check list

• Supple
• Balanced
• Active
• Engaged
• Strong
• Fit

Did you know?

Some ponies may drop behind the vertical – this means their nose is too near to their chest – when they become strong and your rein contact is too tight. When working in a correct outline, you should be able to draw an imaginary vertical line from his forelock down his nose to the ground.

Top tip

If your pony isn’t used to working into a contact, give him plenty of breaks in your training sessions. Start off with short periods, then reward him and let him relax before having another go. 

Get to work 

So, how can you encourage your pony to be all of these things? Have a go at our exercises and you’ll soon be on your way to achieving the perfect contact…

Supple and balanced 

You can develop your pony’s balance and suppleness by riding lots of circles, shapes and changes of bend. Weaving in and out of barrels or blocks in walk then in trot, as well as working over poles will do wonders!

Active and engaged 

Your pony needs to be powering from his hindquarters and working over his back (so he can engage his core), so try riding lots of transitions between and within the paces to get him engaged. Make sure he’s active in the transitions and use half-halts to prepare him for them! 

Strong and fit 

Boosting your pony’s strength and fitness comes from maintaining a regular exercise routine. Try to keep it as varied as possible – he’ll love a mix of hacking and schooling, as well as in-hand work! Take care not to over work him, but remember that the more you train and practise, the more your skill set will improve!