|
Post by Ziggy on Oct 25, 2009 8:13:24 GMT
We hope our new pony will arrive soon, her owners are in the midst of moving. when she arrives,after she has settled down, we hope to start to get her going for next season and possibly some winter shows. My daughter is not up to too much hacking just yet, so I will be taking pony out on walks (I need to get fit too for all that jogging around the ring!) Is road work the best way to get pony fit and how hard is it to long rein?(Have never done it, happy to lunge though) Read on another thread that too much lungeing is not a good idea. Any suggestions grategully received. Want to do this gorgeous pony full justice
|
|
|
Post by cassie30 on Oct 25, 2009 9:01:13 GMT
Long reining easy once you have the hang! Does the pony already go on long reins? If not you may want someone to lead her while you hold the reins behind to begin with? I wouldn't lunge a lead rein too much, can get them too fit, but here and there you should be ok.
Long reining great way to get you fit too, as i am finding out, again!
|
|
|
Post by xxshowponyxx on Oct 26, 2009 17:25:06 GMT
long rein, long rein, long rein!!! Get someone experienced to try her first just to see if she knows what its about.
Great for keeping them fit, teaching them about traffic, and getting exposure to everything she needs to know about, without you having to worry about a little jockey on top.
I think it helps you to get an understanding of how she will react in various situations really quickly too!
ps Im a real fan of long reining in case you couldnt tell!!!!
|
|
|
Post by barefoot on Oct 28, 2009 18:31:12 GMT
I'm also a massive fan of long reining!
You could also try ride and lead if you have access to something to ride yourself! ;D
|
|
|
Post by cassie30 on Oct 28, 2009 18:33:40 GMT
Lol, good point bare foot, that is probably the best and easiest way! so long as pony can keep up! why didn't i think of that, i always do it! having a bad day!
|
|
|
Post by amumwithapony on Oct 31, 2009 16:24:32 GMT
i have a l/r pony that i HAVE to keep fit, because of a previous injury. i have never longreined her, but i was on a yard with a horsewalker which kept her very fit as she was bouncing round with YO's showjumpers once a day. however, i have now moved her closer to home, and like you need to keep her fit and looking well. i lunge her about twice a week at the mo, and because she is not really used to traffic, i have also started walking her out in hand at a good pace twice a week. as well as lunging her i also walk her round the school in hand, practising transistions, trying to get her to work in an outline (very hard work from ground!), bending round cones, walking over and through jumping poles (ready for p/c type activities!) and so far it seems to be enough for her. it has also got me a bit fitter too! there was a rumour going round that i could actually run round school, do a figure of eight and a 20 meter circle and still have enough puff to say thank you to an imaginary judge! was just a rumour tho, needed my inhaler after 1 lap, and we walked the rest!
|
|
|
Post by ellieraga on Oct 31, 2009 16:58:43 GMT
When my daughter forst started i use to ride the bike to exercise her pony, with or without her on board, could go for miles and got pony super fit Obviousley i was sure of ponies safety before trying this, you need to be very very fit to be able to long rein for 2 or 3 miles at a trot everyday
|
|
|
Post by cassie30 on Oct 31, 2009 17:02:52 GMT
Yes but you dont need to trot, just a good active walk, is only a lead rein isn't it? so dont really want mega fit, i'd never in a million years be able to trot that distance!
I know a chap who takes his old pony out with his mobility scooter! he refused to give up ponies after an accident, bless him they go everyday without fail ! he is brilliant !
|
|
|
Post by Ziggy on Oct 31, 2009 18:50:40 GMT
Thank you all for your replies, can't get hold of owner so not completley convinced pony will be coming our way We may be getting a shetland though, should be fun getting that little one fit! although do entirely agree that LR ponies should not be too fit.
|
|
|
Post by amumwithapony on Nov 1, 2009 10:14:35 GMT
they may surprise you nursey! my l/r pony is the fittest on the yard, and while i did initially have some problems getting her going again after an accident she is now lovely! when i first had her for little one she was a fat hairy beastie that we broke in by introducing her to tack, introducing her to my then 3 year old being higher then her for fusses and cuddles and then sat her on, obviously with 2 of us so she could be whipped out of way in case of anything untoward. after about 18 months off for an injury, and extensive rehab work including horsewalker and lunging a couple of times a week, she was a little sharp when daughter got on her, nothing really nasty, just a bit spooky and did everything at 100mph. had to teach her from the ground what i wanted, ie slow and steady and very quiet, rather than rush,rush, rush but she has got it now! and she is still very fit as she has to be kept that way or her injury may rear its ugly head again, and when she goes out to play she is very enerjetic, but does know when tack goes on, she is to be softly softly slowly slowly. and i do think she associates tack with slow down. take her in school in just a headcollar and you better be able to run quick to keep up with a lovely floating trot, tack on and its trit trot trit trot.
i think that some l/r ponies arent fit enough, and you see them at shows, huffing and puffing after their individual shows, and i do understand that people wouldnt want them as fit and as corned up as say, a hunter or a showjumper, but with smaller ponies tending to be more prone to weight problems, i would say keep them as fit as possible. mine only gets a small amount of hay, topspec balancer and cubes with a bit of readygrass wetted down with water so isnt getting anything to make her fizz, but she has got good muscle tone, and can be lunged for 20 mins or so in walk and trot without blowing afterwards, but she is still quiet enough for little one to ride happily!
|
|
|
Post by cassie30 on Nov 1, 2009 10:34:32 GMT
I agree with you mwap, some are not fit enough! some are extremely overweight!
Any pony should be fit enough to do its job..and no more! 2-3 miles of trot work though,, everyday on long reins, wow, for a hunting pony perhaps, lead rein, no.
|
|
|
Post by amumwithapony on Nov 1, 2009 11:27:08 GMT
a lot of l/r have other jobs as well tho, dont forget. maybe some are used as a second pony for an older child, or do p.c activities, or like mine have health issues that mean they should be kept that fit. im sure anyone would have a valid reason for putting the time and effort into ensuring pony can 'trot for 2-3 miles a day'. no one would do it just for the fun of it! i know i wouldnt!
|
|
|
Post by cassie30 on Nov 1, 2009 11:44:07 GMT
Oh yes certainly i get that, ours do all manner of jobs, but a tots pony who does pc activities doesnt need to be hunting fit...i'd collapse after a mile i reckon! knees not good!
|
|
|
Post by Ziggy on Nov 1, 2009 22:39:13 GMT
Hopefully the pony we were originally after will be joining us next weekend. wish me luck, such a gorgeous pony and I know we are sooo lucky to have been givien the chance of having her. Only hope we can do her justice. Either way we are going to have lots of fun! thanks for the advice
|
|
|
Post by cassie30 on Nov 1, 2009 22:42:12 GMT
Good luck Nursey xx
|
|
|
Post by Ziggy on Nov 1, 2009 22:57:04 GMT
Thank you! We are so excited can't wait to get her and can't wait to hit the shows next year.. Although my five year old daughter is most excited about possibly having day off school next year for Royal Norfolk. children!
|
|
|
Post by ellieraga on Nov 2, 2009 12:12:20 GMT
I have always tried to keep my daughters section a as fit as possible due to the fact that she has suffered with laminitis in the past but never when she has been fully fit and hate to see out of breath overweight ponies in the ring,
I find riding the bike and taking her out the best option for me, also the fact that she is used for others things i like her to be as fit and healthy as possible and this sort of exercise seems to have kept the laminitis at bay for over three years and pony is happy
|
|
|
Post by amumwithapony on Nov 2, 2009 13:38:39 GMT
good for you elligra, so many people have childrens ponies that are only excercised once or twice a week for whatever reason, and you are right to keep your pony as fit as possible. there is a big difference between having something soo fit and corned up that it is unsuitable for kids to ride, and something that is as fit as possible on the amount of food it is getting. i know that if i relied on my daughter riding to keep ours fit we would struggle, she doesnt want to ride nearly every day and i wouldnt force her, so everyone has to find different ways that work for them. love the idea of seeing mine trotting at the side of me on a bike, tootling round the village! could even get a basket for my bike and take her in the co op with me for bread and milk and stuff, no sign outside saying ponies arent allowed, only dogs!
|
|
|
Post by ellieraga on Nov 2, 2009 14:03:14 GMT
Also in the really dark winter months it sometimes is impossible for the kids to ride during the week at all so a trot out during the day with the bike does the trick
When the weather is nice daughter has ridden the pony and i have ridden the bike and we have stopped at the pub by the river for a drink,
|
|
|
Post by cassie30 on Nov 2, 2009 16:54:48 GMT
I have pictures of Ellieraga on a bike, with pony on lead rein, pony snatching down for grass! lol, sounds like a very well behaved pony! Im lucky to be small enough to ride everything daily, winter only mind, when the kids cant ride after school.
|
|