Pony Magazine – August 2026

Summary

PONY Magazine August 2026 (Issue 946, £4.99, 22 July to 18 August) hands every reader a lockable diary and builds the issue around goals, flatwork and Harlow's turnout tips. Behind the scenes at Equestrian Team GB is the exclusive.

Stay on Beat at page 8 opens the training with real structure: walk is a four-beat pace, trot a two-beat pace with diagonal pairs, and canter a three-beat pace of outside hind, then inside hind and outside fore together, then inside fore. Rhythm work starts on a 20m circle, counting the footfalls aloud.

Poles sit about 3m apart in a line of three for trot work, with the middle pole becoming a cross-pole for canter. Cross-country on the cover covers water, uphill canters and drops as well as jumps. Body condition scoring, supplements and travelling close the care pages, with a HOYS VIP trip at p12.

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Content Guide

▸ Training

p.8 · STAY ON BEAT — Work on your pony's rhythm
Rhythm is the first level of training, the regularity and timing of the footfalls: walk runs right hind, right fore, left hind, left fore; trot is two-beat with diagonal pairs; canter runs outside hind, then inside hind and outside fore together, then inside fore. Riders check their own position first, then build rhythm on a 20m circle, counting aloud — one-two-three-four in walk, one-two in rising trot, one-two-three in canter. Too fast means slowing your own rising; a canter that feels like four beats usually needs more power. Count your canter strides aloud on a 20m circle today.

p.8 · Poles for rhythm
Three poles in a line sit about 3m apart, ridden first in trot and then repeated in canter once established. Making the middle pole a small cross-pole turns it into a canter exercise, ridden equally from both reins. Tempo is the speed of the rhythm, so correct tempo makes rhythm accurate. Set three poles about 3m apart and trot them from both reins.

p.18 · DISCOVER DIAGONALS — All about this essential skill
Diagonals get their own page, the skill riders meet as soon as they trot. Getting the diagonal wrong puts the rider against the horse's movement. Look down at your pony's shoulder on the next rising trot and check you are on the correct one.

p.14 · DREAM BIG — Tips for achieving your goals
Goal-setting tips open the training pages, backing the cover's set goals theme. Written goals are the difference between wanting and doing. Write one goal in your new diary and a date beside it.

▸ Cross-country and Places

p.6 · POLLY LOVES… Cross-country
Cross-country is Polly's favourite, and the page covers water, uphill canters, drops and drops as well as jumps. Training over varied fences builds trust between pony and rider. Book one cross-country schooling session and ride the water first.

p.16 · OUT IN THE OPEN — Feel confident hacking
Confidence out hacking gets a page in the training section. Hacking confidence comes from repetition, not bravado. Ride one short new route with a friend before you go alone.

▸ Care

p.44 · TIDY UP TIME — Harlow's grooming tips!
Harlow gives her grooming tips, the cover's Harlow's turnout tips promise. Turnout is the cheapest way to look the part at a show. Pick out feet and brush the mane for ten minutes every day this week.

p.50 · WHAT'S THE SCORE? — Body condition scoring explained
Body condition scoring is explained for young owners. Scoring by hand beats guessing by eye. Run your hands over your pony's ribs today and record the score.

p.54 · SUPPLEMENT SHOWDOWN — Get clued up!
Supplements are compared so readers know what they are buying. Marketing moves supplement sales more than evidence does. Ask what any supplement is for before you buy a tub.

▸ Reading and Regulars

p.20 · TEAM WORK — All about British Equestrian
British Equestrian gets an explainer, tying into the Team GB exclusive. Understanding the governing body helps riders follow the sport. Look up which body governs your discipline.

p.24 · HAT TRICK — The lowdown on riding hats
Riding hats get the lowdown, the safety page every young rider needs. Hat standards are the one piece of kit knowledge that matters most. Check the standard label inside your hat before your next ride.

p.48 · A CAREER CHANGE — Anya makes a difficult decision
A story follows Anya making a difficult decision about her pony. Hard choices are part of owning a pony. Talk through one difficult decision with an adult before you make it.

ASK THE TEAM: FAVOURITE EVENT OF THE YEAR
Polly chooses the Pony Club Championships, Sarah picks Burghley for its fierce competition, and Alex calls London International showjumping mixed with Christmas. Team answers tell you what the sport offers at each level. Pick one of the three events and follow its results this year.

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Editor's Take

Stay on Beat is the strongest page in PONY Magazine August 2026, because naming the footfall order of each pace and giving 3m pole spacing and a 20m circle is teaching, not describing. The lockable diary is a genuinely good gift for a young rider, and Harlow's turnout tips and the body condition scoring page give owners checks they can do with their hands. Weakest is the middle of the issue, where puzzles, a ranch wordsearch and posters fill pages, and the supplement showdown says less than its title promises. The Team GB exclusive is announced more than delivered. Buy this for the rhythm work and the diary.

Strengths
• Stay on Beat names footfalls and 3m pole spacing
• Lockable diary is a real, usable gift
• Body condition scoring teaches hand-on checks
• HAT TRICK covers the kit that matters most

Weaknesses
• Puzzles and posters pad the middle pages
• Supplement showdown says less than it promises

Verdict: Recommended — the rhythm training and diary gift justify the £4.99.