For those of you unfamiliar with this term, it is used to describe doing ground exercises with one horse while riding another. This type of work is excellent for all
horses, from young horses just starting their training to older horses that need
conditioning.
For the horse that may not have had a human on its back it familiarizes
him with a human above him directing his movements.
For the older horse
it conditions his legs and his back in preparation for strenuous riding and
competition.
Most of the ponying
work is done out on the trail and in fields utilizing the natural terrain to
condition the horses body and mind. Hills of different grades help the
horse learn to properly balance himself. When a horse becomes very
good at being ponied we will even pony it over fences, allowing it to negotiate
a jump without the interference of a rider. (although we will pony horses with riders)
For conditioning ponying will focus on long slow distance work that is fundamental to any
training/conditioning program. Long slow distance work is done primarily
at the walk an the trot with some slow cantering, to condition the horses
cardiovascular and metabolic systems. By properly conditioning the horses
in this way you help insure their future soundness.
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