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History:
The German Riding Pony is
a breed whose development began almost 40 years ago. Systematic selection has
led to a pony that is athletic, elegant, intelligent with a good disposition. In 1965 German
pony breeding associations saw the need to develop a breed of large pony that
would be suitable for national and international competition for children. The
goal was to maintain the pony character, type and willingness to perform along
with the competitive athleticism of a riding horse. Breeders' first attempts
were what they thought would be the easy solution: to cross thoroughbred and
Arabian stallions with Fjord and Haflinger ponies. These cross-breeding attempts
to produce a sport pony in one generation did not lead to success.
Some German breeders began to
import British pony breeds, primarily Welsh, which were bred to one another and
also selectively crossed with local horses, infusing Arabian, Anglo-Arabian,
thoroughbred and some warmblood blood, and by 1975 a German riding pony type
developed. These first ponies of the riding pony type showed their superb
abilities at local, national and international competitions. Several important
and prepotent stallions emerged that were used to further develop the breed
goal. Soon these stallions, and later the high quality mares, began to be tested
and approved for breeding to further control and improve the type. In the 1990's
attempts were made to further improve the breed through the infusion of
Trakehner, Hannoverian and Holstein stallion blood and again this infusion of
horse blood was unsuccessful: the pony type and qualities were often lost.
Today's German Riding Pony breeders use specific bloodlines to reliably create
German Riding Ponies that fulfill the goal of a pony type who competes with the
athleticism of a small warmblood.
The Unsung Mothers:
As happens with other breeds, it takes many years of careful research to find
those mares that have consistently contributed to the development of the German
Riding Pony. They are not listed in annual statistics but are cherished by their
breeders. One such mare is now 25 years old and many times over has produced a
winner at the Bundeschampionats. Others appear again and again in the pedigrees
of the top breeding stallions. Jo Hinnemann had a mare that consistently
produced top performers with great dispositions: "she was Westfalien and
Welsh, but right in the background was Arabian crossed with Haflinger".
Another breeder has a 25 year old mare, now retired, who has produced many
licensed sons and many broodmare daughters who replicate her qualities, down to
the markings on their faces and legs. Such mares carry the original successful
blood used to create the German Riding Pony breed.
Breed Standard:
The breed standard for the German Riding Pony is for
a pony preferably between 138 cm and 148 cm or approximately 13.2 hands to 14.2
hands. The athletic and refined qualities of a riding horse which exhibits the
pony type is essential. The type includes a small head, large and lively eyes
with little ears, a clean throatlatch, a long, well-set neck, pronounced withers
and long croup. Movement should be correct, rhythmic, spacious and elastic with
distinct impulsion from the hindquarters. The pony's disposition should be
unpretentious and benign, with a willingness to perform, showing courage and
evenness of temperament.
Judging
Quality:
Breeders in each of the German regions
compete annually with their best breeding stock. The top ponies are sent to the
national finals, the Bundeschampionat, where stallions and mares at each age
from 3 to 6 year old compete under saddle. Pony riders compete annually at
regional, national and international FEI pony competitions in dressage,
showjumping and eventing.
The German Riding Pony approvals
take place for both stallions and mares. Stallions may be presented for
licensing at age 3 or 4 and then must attend a 30 day performance test for final
approval and acceptance into a studbook. Mares may be entered into a studbook or
main studbook and quality mares may attend a performance test where they can
achieve the State Premium Mare designation. Each year, records show the approved
German Riding Pony stallions, their 30 day performance test score, their
licensed progeny and their own and their progenies' earnings. In the United
States, the International Sporthorse Registry and the American Sport Pony
Registry have adopted the breed standard of the German Riding Pony when
evaluating stallions, mares and foals for their registries' grading and
approvals.
When Does Size
Matter?
The 148cm or 14.2 hand maximum pony
measurement matters in several competition circumstances. Talented children 12
to 16 years old may compete on ponies 148cm or below at special national and
international FEI pony competitions in dressage, showjumping and eventing. In
the United States, some disciplines have special competition classes that are
restricted to ponies. These are primarily the pony jumper classes and pony
hunter classes that require official measurements. In 2003, the United States
Dressage Federation began licensing officials to conduct official measurements
of ponies eligible for the special FEI Pony Dressage Tests. On the other side of
"too big" is the "too small" measurement for the very
talented ponies. The FEI limits entrance into CDI competitions, including the
Olympics, to animals that measure over 148cm. However, anyone, child or adult
may compete with any pony of any size in open dressage shows through the Grand
Prix level and also compete in showjumping and eventing classes through the
highest levels, where the height of the animal is not a factor, only talent and
determination.
Nancy Ferebee
PhD
Through Connection Ltd
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