Fabulous flatwork with Polly the PONY magazine pony!

Ever wondered what ponies need for a fun and fab flatwork session? Polly the PONY mag pony is here to share all her tips and tricks so you can make sure your pony feels their best!

Planned to perfection

Who doesn’t love a good plan!? Us ponies aren’t mind-readers, so if you have a good idea of what you want to achieve, and what movements or exercises you’re going to practice before you get on, we’ll all have a better time! The Team PONY girls are currently obsessed with polework exercises, and they definitely keep me interested and help focus our sessions.

Getting ready

So, I’ve been told that a thorough warm-up before getting started with more intense exercises is really important for my physical health as it can help reduce the risk of injuries – whoa! If I’ve been standing in my stable for a little while before our session, we’ll spend a little longer walking to help wake up my muscles and get me feeling ready for whatever’s been planned.

True connection

Just like you, us ponies can be lacking energy on some days compared to others, where we might feel more keen and positive. Knowing when your pony is having one of those days and being able to read their body language will go a long way towards having a great session because it means you can tailor it to suit how you’re both feeling. Maybe you need to add in some more transitions to keep them focused, or lateral work to supple them up – or even riding a shorter session if they’re not feeling up to it!

Break time

Whether I’m coming back into work or feeling at my best in the competition season, having plenty of breathers in schooling sessions helps me do my best! It’s just like your break times at school… or so I’m told!

Short breathers give me the time to process what we’ve been working on and catch my breath, too. Win win!

Find out more of Polly’s pointers in March PONY – grab your copy today!