Dante Deo

22/02/2025

CREATING A HAPPY PONY

Here are eight tips, based on the 3Fs (Forage, Friends and Freedom), to give your pony a happy and healthy life:

1. Give him time with his pony pals – Ponies are herd animals and feel safest when they have company. If your pony is in a separate paddock, make sure he can still see and interact with other ponies over the fence. And remember, ponies don’t like being alone, even in the stable; try to stable him where he can see or touch his friends to help him feel more secure.

2. Notice his friends – Not all ponies get along. Keep an eye on how your pony interacts with his herd to ensure he’s not being bullied. If needed, talk to your yard manager about moving him to a different group, but remember - ponies can play rough - so don't instantly assume your pony is being bullied; he might actually be playing! Ask your yard manager what they think and then make a call!

3. Forage first - Make sure your pony has access to forage 24/7. This keeps his digestive system healthy.

4. Keep moving – Wild ponies walk up to 40km a day, which keeps them fit and healthy. While that’s not possible for domestic ponies, more turnout time, bigger paddocks, and regular in-hand or under-saddle walks can make a big difference.

5. Maximise turnout time – The more time your pony spends outside, the happier he’ll be. Being in a paddock with space to move and other ponies to interact with is great for both his mental and physical health.

6. Playtime – Ponies can get bored in the stable, so provide a slow feeder, hay ball, or safe hanging toy to keep them entertained and engaged when they can’t be outside.

7. Let him be a pony – Rolling in mud and playing with friends is natural pony behaviour. Instead of stopping him, embrace it! A muddy pony is often a happy pony.

8. Explore – Ponies love foraging and discovering new plants. Taking your pony on hand walks to let him browse different grasses and leaves is a great way to keep him stimulated.

By making small changes to your pony’s daily routine, you can create a happier, healthier, and more content equine friend!

22/02/2025

Some tips for upcoming qualifiers from the Gauteng Council. Feel free to share your tips with us.

14/02/2025

❤️🌹Valentines Day outride & lessons ❤️🌹

Happy Valentine's Day
Love the

03/02/2025

A special visitor helping with the theory lesson

31/01/2025

Some very pretty drawings of the at done by one of our talented riders

Hey Mr Grey, Pilgrim, Goose, Odysseus, Troye, Sylvester and Bella

20/01/2025

As our first show is fast approaching, just a reminder to riders, trainers and parents on the warmup arena etiquette

WARMUP ARENA ETIQUETTE
GENERAL
• Everyone has equal right in the warm-up arena, beginners to advanced. If you are coaching/instructing, please do so from the outside of the arena in a friendly and educational way to keep things safe and stress free.
• Check your girth and stirrups before going into the Warmup Arena.
• Pass left shoulder to left shoulder (a horse on the left-rein on the track has right of way).
• Be aware of your fellow riders and ride considerately, if you see a fellow rider battling with their horse try and avoid them.
• If using your voice, please avoid screaming or swearing.
• Try not to stop suddenly and don't deliberately cut across someone else's path.
• When entering the warm-up arena, make sure you do not get in the way of approaching riders.
• Don't obstruct the entrance/exit, or the track.
• If you are not warming up, please do not stand around inside the warmup arena blocking the flow for riders that are warming up, find a spot to stand outside the arena preferable in the shade.
• Do not allow your horses to be held in the warmup arena by staff or family members/friends, they must be held between classes outside of the warmup arena preferably in a shady spot.
• Excessive use of the whip in the warm-up is not allowed. Use of the whip from an assistant on the ground is not allowed.
• Lunging should be done in the lunge ring and not in the warm-up arena.
• Don't gallop past riders in the arena OR ANYWHERE ON THE GROUNDS.
• A RED RIBBON IN A HORSE'S TAIL MEANS IT KICKS, please give all horses whether they have a ribbon or not ample room to get around the warmup.
• YELLOW DISC ON THE BRIDLE AND A YELLOW RIBBON IN A HORSES TAIL MEANS THE HORSE IS A STALLION. Please keep a distance away. Stallions that misbehave should not be in the warm-up arena with other horses.
DRESSAGE AND SHOWING
• A slower moving horse (walking) keeps to the INSIDE track.
• When walking or halting, do so 5m off the track to keep the track clear for faster moving horses (e.g. cantering horses).
• A horse doing lateral work has right of way (shoulder-in, leg-yield, half-pass).
• Give riders ample room when passing them so they don't get pushed up against the railings of the arena, whether passing from behind or in front.
• When passing, make sure your whip does not inadvertently touch the other horse.
• Instructors and helpers are usually on the side of the arena for dressage warmups.

JUMPING AND EQUITATION
• A slower moving horse (walking) keeps to the OUTSIDE track.
• If you are changing rein, always check there is no one approaching the jumps.
• A horse jumping keeps to the inside track for practicality so that it does not have to cross the line of a horse that is schooling on the outside track.
• Remember to keep the red flag of the jump on your right-hand side when jumping.
• Never jump with a dressage whip in your hand.
• If there is high traffic in the arena, be vocal (not shouting) and call out the jump you are approaching, “cross” “upright” or “oxer”.

IN AN EMERGENCY
• If a rider falls off or a horse gets loose, all riders in the arena must immediately halt and are also advised to dismount until the loose horse is caught. A loose horse very quickly creates havoc amongst other horses.
• Try your best to stay calm and focus on controlling your own horse. If a rider looks to be injured, alert a paramedic (who is always on standby at a show) for medical attention. For Show Jumping, if there is a fall of rider, the rider must first be checked and cleared by a paramedic before getting back on.

20/01/2025

DID YOU KNOW?

All competitors must wear an approved hard hat with a three-point harness and correct footwear (i.e. shoes with a heel) at all times when mounted.

This rule applies any time you are mounted on your horse or pony at the venue, not only when you are in the competition arena. So even if you are riding back to the horsebox, or going on a walk with your friends, you always need to be dressed correctly.

17/01/2025

Found this old graphic and thought it was worth sharing again…

09/01/2025

25/12/2024

Merry Christmas from Dante Deo to you!

13/12/2024

11/12/2024

01/12/2024

Now that's what I call a birthday cake 😋🎂

Our photogenic Grey is the inspo for one of our riders 11th Birthday cake 🧁

27/11/2024

⚠️ Fun day alert ⚠️

27/11/2024

Join us for Dante Deo Equestrian Centre's very first Quiz Night!

Grab a team, test your equine knowledge 🐴, and win some prizes!