Advice please!

[ChiffChaff]

Could I ask a little advice please?

Soon I am going to be doing a dressage test on a riding school pony, said pony is a little Haflinger mare, she is absolutely beautiful and she knows it

Being a Haflinger, she has an abundance of glorious blonde hair, (I call her the Barbie Princess pony - suits her looks and personality down to the ground!). So what should I do with it? I was planning on leaving her au natural, since natives have manes flowing...and she is a native to Austrians!! Is this correct? (It's only at the riding school, and they are very laid back, but still!)

Also, she has an ANNOYING habit of tossing her head - constantly at times. It's her way of evading contact. Any tips for getting her to stop this? I try less contact, more leg, less leg, more contact...bloody mare!! Bearing in mind she is a riding school pony, and while I am going to have a practice on her beforehand I can't school her in any consistent way...I guess I'll just have to hope she behaves herself on the day!

Many thanks in advance!!!

x

 

[Niddlynoo]

Can't really offer much help regarding turnout. I also have a beautiful Haffie with the flowing mane (we also call him Barbie pony, he really is too pretty to be a boy!).
Ours tosses his head lots, partly evasion but we have found that if we tie his mane up in an Arab type plait he doesn't do it as much. He is also worse the hotter he gets so maybe it's a comfort thing?
Good luck with your dressage test

 

[ChiffChaff]

Ahhh maybe that's it? I do feel a little sorry for her in the heat - all that hair!! I'll experiment with an arab plait, see how it looks! They are such beautiful ponies, she has a killer attitude to match! Loves her jumping and hacking, and has had me off in the past LEAPING over a tiny little xcountry jump!! She also likes a buck when she'a feeling impatient

Thank you for the advice!

x