Pony Magazine – July 2026

Summary

PONY Magazine July 2026 (24 June to 21 July) dares readers to try bareback and opens a new straightness series on page 8, where a pony aligned from poll to tail with equal weight in all four legs earns higher dressage marks and clearer rounds. V-poles guide a pony to the middle of a fence.

Nina Gill's approach continues in spirit: the Centre Point exercise rides a half 10m circle onto the centre line, Pole Position lays poles in a square, and Just-Tastic uses V-poles for jumping straight. Ponies greet each other by touching muzzles and exchanging breath, a horsey handshake.

The team all started at riding schools and say so at page 20. Polly cannot wait for pony camp, Sarah wants beach rides at sunset, and Alex wants summer competitions with ice cream. Care covers summer secrets, travelling and a body quiz, with a Duskin saddle at p24 and LeMieux kit at p57.

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Content Guide

▸ Straightness Series

p.8 · Straight Talking — Improve your pony's way of going
The new series defines straightness as perfect alignment from poll to tail, with all four legs carrying equal weight in every pace and over fences. Benefits listed are more even muscle development, lower injury risk, higher dressage marks, a base for any discipline, clearer rounds and a better ride. Horses are naturally one-sided, and when going truly straight the hind hooves follow the tracks of the front. Ride a half 10m circle onto the centre line today and compare which rein feels easier.

p.8 · Centre Point, Pole Position and Just-Tastic
Centre Point rides the centre line after a half 10m circle from a corner marker, with a top tip to lay poles one metre either side of the centre line if your pony drifts. Pole Position sets poles in a square with the ends meeting, best ridden with colour-sectioned poles, starting through the middle of two poles from both reins. Just-Tastic uses V-poles, one either side of a fence forming a V to guide the pony to the middle. Lay two poles as a V before one small fence and jump it from both reins.

▸ Riding

p.12 · Bare Necessities — Tips for riding bareback
Bareback riding gets its own tips page, the cover's riding dare. Bareback exposes a rider's balance faster than any saddle does. Try two minutes of bareback walk in a school with a friend holding the pony.

p.14 · Ride the Wave — Boost your XC confidence
Cross-country confidence gets a page in the Be a Better Rider section. Water, steps and slopes all ask a different question of a pony. Walk one water complex on foot before you ride it this summer.

p.6 · Pony Loves… Jumping!
The reading section opens on jumping, from the picture-perfect moment of tucked-up knees to the endless options of grids, courses and cross-country. Jumping helps ponies grow stronger and can improve flatwork. Even dressage and hacking fans are told to keep jumping in the routine. Jump one small fence this week even if dressage is your thing.

▸ Care

p.28 · Summer Secrets — Check out our handy guide
The summer care guide carries the cover's summer pony health tips. Heat, flies and hard ground decide most summer problems. Check your pony's water and shade before the next hot day.

p.42 · Countdown to Camp — What happens at pony camp
Pony camp gets a full explainer, matching the cover's pony camp secrets. Camp is where many riders make their first friends in the sport. Book one pony camp place before the summer fills up.

p.54 · Travelling — Keep your pony safe and happy
Travelling advice covers keeping a pony safe and happy on the road. Travel is the most common cause of summer emergencies. Practise loading for five minutes a week before you need it.

▸ Reading and Regulars

p.20 · Stars of the School — Why we love riding school ponies
The team, who all began at riding schools, praise riding school ponies on this page. School ponies teach more riders than any competition horse. Thank one riding school pony and its instructor this month.

p.26 · Polly's Puzzles — Help us find Polly's summer field
A puzzle asks readers to help find Polly's summer field. Puzzles keep younger readers turning pages between features. Do one puzzle with a friend and time yourselves.

p.61 · Poetry Competition — Our amazing winners!
The poetry competition winners are printed, following the earlier call for entries. Seeing winning work makes children want to enter. Read one winner's poem aloud and write your own.

SCRUB UP — Our top pony cleaning tips
Emily swears by blue shampoo for yellow tails, Lucy relies on regular targeted cleaning, and Sarah jokes you should buy a mud-coloured pony. Cleaning tips are where readers pick up cheap tricks. Try blue shampoo on one yellow tail before a show.

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Editor's Take

The straightness series is the strongest thing in PONY Magazine July 2026, because defining it from poll to tail with equal weight in all four legs, then giving Centre Point, Pole Position and V-poles, is training a child can ride the same week. The bareback dare and the Stars of the School page, written by a team who all started at riding schools, give the issue heart without losing its purpose. Weakest is the back half, where puzzles, posters, a saddle giveaway and a LeMieux competition fill pages between the training and care. The summer care guide is thin for the season it covers. Buy this for a young rider working on straightness; the prizes are secondary.

Strengths
• Straightness series defines it and gives three exercises
• V-poles give a jumping fix riders can build
• Stars of the School page comes from real experience
• Bareback dare builds balance honestly

Weaknesses
• Puzzles and giveaways pad the back half
• Summer care guide is thin for July

Verdict: Recommended — the straightness series and school-pony page carry it.