Pony Magazine – February 2026

Summary

PONY Magazine February 2026 (Issue 939, £4.49, 7 January to 3 February) asks who your dream pony is and explains equine senses, with £1,250 of prizes to win. Nina Gill returns for polework part two, setting two more poles a trot stride of about 1-1.2m from the triangle.

The senses page carries the issue's best fact: a pony's head is about 10% of its body weight and made up of 34 different bones. Nina Gill's part two adds a canter distance of about 2.7m, a line width of about 10cm, and the rule to ride four strides straight after the last pole before turning.

Shetlands open the reading as one of Britain's 16 native breeds, from the Shetland Islands with a double winter coat. Harlow gives her perfect-photo tips at p26, Polly's grooming guide runs at p28, and readers can make horse heart biscuits at p52. Posters sit at p33 and the Pivo Pod offer at p10.

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Content Guide

▸ Training

p.6 · POLEWORK IN PROGRESS — Part two
Nina Gill, a BHS Senior Coach who owns Fancy Footwork Equestrian, builds on January's triangle by placing two more poles about one trot stride, 1-1.2m, from two sides of it. Straight Through rides to the parallel poles and out over the apex, and is harder in the other direction; riders square the turn with the outside rein and outside leg and aim at the centre of the first pole, a line about 10cm wide. In canter the gap grows to about 2.7m depending on stride, ridden in light seat, and Make a Turn is first taught in walk, riding four strides straight after the last pole before turning. Set the two extra poles 1-1.2m out and walk the line before you trot it.

SHAPE UP — Our guide to riding serpentines
The shaping-up guide teaches serpentines, the school figure that shows whether a pony is truly straight. Serpentines expose a stiff side faster than a circle does. Ride one serpentine with three loops and count the strides in each.

JUMPING ON THE… Diagonal!
Jumping on the diagonal gets its own page in the Be a Better Rider section. Diagonal lines change how a pony sees a fence. Walk one diagonal approach before you canter it.

▸ Care

p.46 · SUPER SENSES — Learn about your pony's senses
The senses feature explains how a pony reads the world, backed by the fact that the head is about 10% of body weight and the skull is made of 34 different bones. Understanding senses explains most spooking. Watch where your pony's ears point for one whole ride.

p.38 · WISE WORMING — All you need to know!
Worming gets a full explainer, one of the care pages owners need most. Worming plans work on evidence, not calendars. Ask your vet for a worm egg count before dosing.

p.28 · PERFECTLY PAMPERED — Learn about grooming with Polly
Polly's grooming guide runs with Kirsty, the content creator, and the team joke that Polly is a mud monster in winter. Grooming is the cheapest way to spot a problem early. Run your hands over your pony every day, not just before a show.

FEED FOCUS — Test your feeding knowledge here
The feed focus page tests what readers know about feeding, matching the cover's Are you feeding savvy? Feeding mistakes cost more than most tack. Weigh your pony's forage before changing anything.

▸ Reading and Breeds

p.4 · Shetlands
Shetlands open the reading section as one of Britain's 16 native breeds, from the Shetland Islands off north-east Scotland. They carry a double coat that fluffs up in winter, evolved for harsh weather and hilly ground, and are quick in the Shetland Pony Grand National. Natives suit first ponies because they were bred for work. Check whether a Shetland's coat and hardiness suit your grazing.

p.26 · Harlow's tips for the perfect pic
Harlow gives her tips for the perfect pony photograph, the cover's second lead. Photo tips work best when they say where to stand. Take one photograph from your pony's eye level this week.

p.40 · DREAM DAY OUT — Visit the National Equine Show
The National Equine Show gets a preview, giving readers a day out to plan. Show previews help riders choose what to watch. Book one National Equine Show class before the tickets go.

p.52 · MAKE… — Horse heart biscuits
Horse heart biscuits get a make-it page, one of the issue's activities. Making something is how younger readers stay with a magazine. Bake one batch and take them to the yard.

▸ Regulars

p.41 · PONY SQUAD — All the horsey news and goss!
PONY Squad carries the news and gossip, with posters at p33 flagged from the cover. The squad page is where readers see their own pictures. Send one photo in and check next month.

p.62 · HELP! — Your pony problems answered
The Help! page answers readers' pony problems, the issue's advice slot. Real questions beat invented ones. Write your own problem to pony@djmurphy.co.uk.

p.64 · PONY PICKS — Check out our fave products!
Pony Picks rounds up the team's favourite products. Product pages are where younger readers spend their money. Compare one pick with what you already own before buying.

ASK THE TEAM: OUR PONIES' SECRET TALENTS
Polly's talent is getting mud on the front of her face, Sarah's Prince is an expert treat detector, and Alex's pony can undo any leadrope. The team's answers show what ponies really do. Note one secret talent of your own pony this week.

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Editor's Take

Nina Gill's polework part two is the strongest page in PONY Magazine February 2026, because 1-1.2m for trot, 2.7m for canter, a 10cm aiming line and four strides straight before turning is instruction a child can build and ride. The super senses page earns its cover place with the 10% body weight and 34 skull bones, and the Shetland page giving 16 native breeds and the double coat is the best reading entry. Weakest is the back half, where posters, Pony Picks, a £1,250 prize draw and a Pivo Pod offer fill the pages between training and care. The serpentine and diagonal pages are announced but thin in this reading. Buy this for the polework and senses pages.

Strengths
• Polework gives 1-1.2m, 2.7m and a 10cm line
• Senses page gives 10% weight and 34 bones
• Shetlands page gives 16 native breeds and a double coat
• Nina Gill is a named BHS Senior Coach

Weaknesses
• Posters, picks and prizes pad the back half
• Serpentine and diagonal pages are thin here

Verdict: Recommended — the polework distances and senses facts earn the £4.49.