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Pony or horse? It
depends on your definition. Technically, a height of 14.2
hands or under is considered a pony. Often when the animal leaves its
native
habitat (Arabian, Icelandic, Connemara) for literally greener pastures,
it
grows 15 hands or more. Horse or pony?
Most pony breeds were developed in the mountains or in Northern Ireland
where less food and harsh climates made tough ponies who ate little and
were
still healthy, plowing fields and carrying heavy loads. It was an ideal
small farm and service animal that would willingly pull the sleds in the
wintertime. The pony was able to go for many hours without getting
tired,
was adaptable and a hard working companion. The ponies easily earned
their
reputation of being "robust and reliable", enduring harsh weather
conditions
with a patient temperament.
Today's pony makes a first class family horse suitable for all age
groups,
powerful enough for a man and gentle enough for children. Being
especially
developed for children and small adults, they enjoy being around people
and
like to be curried and used in any and every way that a 16-hand horse
can be
used.
The fact that most ponies are much easier to keep is true in the sense
that
they do not consume the large quantity of feed that it takes to feed a
larger animal. They also usually have hard, strong hooves. Many hardly
need
a trim, let alone shoeing. They have a tough, hardy constitution and
blossom
with a little care and understanding. Being a handsome creature with a
large, soft eye and delicate muzzle, they are truly attractive as well
as
versatile.
"My name is Alyson Tetz. I grew up with a Welsh Pony named 'Choice
Doll'.
She was strong and sturdy, a good companion and very reliable. As I grew
up
caring for her, I found her watching out for me and my brother, Dylan.
Dylan
has Cerebral Palsy and cannot walk. Doll took Dylan places that my
family
and I could not take him.
Not only was Doll our special mount, but also she was a valuable
'auntie'
for the young foals we reared. We never did have an accident with her
there
to comfort them on their first trip in a horse trailer. We could always
put
visiting children up on Doll for a ride and she was great in lead-lining
our
young stock.
As I grew older, I
still preferred riding Doll over most any other horse. I
needed only a halter and rope to jump aboard and go for a romp on this
pony
that I loved so dearly. Doll died a couple of years ago after a good
long
life. She was my first pony as well as my brother, Abram’s first pony.
He is
15 years younger than I am. I treasure Doll’s memory and know my family
feels the same."
Unless your particular
desire is to have a big horse large stature is not
the key to top performance. There is no correlation between the
size of the horse and his athletic ability. Some riders tend to
buy a large horse despite his abilities. Other rider
buys an athletic horse despite his size.
Bigger is not better. It is good advice to be looking for the best
horse possible, with his size as a secondary consideration. In fact the
less
mass you can get that talent packaged into, the better considering the
facts
about large versus smaller horses.
It can be a liability with the larger animals being susceptible to
musculoskeletal disorders and they may have trouble meeting basic
performance demands. The popular idea that bigger horses have denser
bones
and can get by with thinner limbs is simply not true. The larger horses
have
bones that are less dense than the middle size range horse. When the
mass of
a horse reaches a critical point, his body just can’t build enough bone
to
properly support the weight. Big horses are more likely to develop
particular conditions because of their large size much more readily than
a
smaller horse would. Arthritis of the lower leg and hock joints is the
big
one that larger horses tend to get sooner and decline faster than a
horse
who is bearing much less weight on the same joints. That much weight
coming
down with each step takes a toll.
Larger horses are more prone to laryngeal hemiplegia, paralysis of the
larynx that causes roaring.
Considering colic, a big horse is much harder to treat. Their mass
alone predisposes them to muscle problems while they are under
anesthesia.
When a large horse also struggles more to regain their feet during
recovery. When
large horse develop neurologic problems they tend to go downhill very
quickly.
A smaller more agile mount may be able to clear a jump easier than a
large horse. Karen O’Connor piloted 14.1 + hand Theodore O’Connor to
individual and team gold metals at the 2007 Pan American Games in
Brazil.
Many tall riders compete successfully on smaller horses in elite
competition. It is an aesthetic issue but not a drawback in competition.
We
are seeing many more smaller horses at top levels in all horse events,
particularly in the dressage arena.
Smaller women and youth do not need a big horse to ride and enjoy in
many types of equine activities. A smaller horse just fits some people
better is more suitable and easier to work with. If a horse is too big
some
people can’t give him the proper aids. They are more balanced on a
smaller horse. People
become discouraged if they are riding a mount that it too large for
them.
They are encouraged when riding a mount they feel safe on and can easily
mount
and dismount. Many older riders want to
keep riding but don’t want to risk being injured from such a long fall.
Sport ponies are becoming the equine of choice for many riders and
drivers.
These ponies have a large stride with a regular and correct cadence like
a
full sized horse. They move freely with an energetic and elastic rhythm.
Having good natures they are willing to go, being courageous and
intelligent.
Sport ponies can easily pull a carriage or cart with adults and
children.
This tends to be a very good choice for family sport. They can be driven
single or in pairs and the whole family can enjoy them.
Ponies tend to be very easy keepers and less prone to health issues.
Ponies usually have tougher feet that do not need to be shod. They do
well
barefoot. With hoof trimming and regular worming they are hardy and
thrive
well with good quality hay and a cover to get out of the weather.
The development of the American Sport Pony will open up more venues by
which we can promote, show and market our ponies. Whether it is Reining,
cattle work, endurance, three Day Eventing, Dressage or Combined Driving
(see below for information about what is involved in combined driving)
many
sport pony breeders have a clear idea of what type of pony they are
breeding
for. With common goals sport pony breeders can and will continue to
produce
ponies from different bloodlines that are able to compete at upper
levels of
competition, regardless of their smaller stature.
Knowledgeable horse breeders have known all along that smaller horses
can
and do get the job done.
The Europeans have been breeding and producing ponies such as The
British
Riding Pony for horse like ponies for
years. These outstanding sport ponies stand between 13.2 and 14.2 hands.
These riding
ponies have been developed over the years by breeding Welsh with
Arabians
and other warm blood horses. There are German, British and Australian
riding
ponies as well as other developed sport pony breeds. Although these
ponies
are fron different countries they are all similar in type and size. The
American Quarter Pony, The Paint Pony and The Pinto Pony are some of the
American breeds that
have used cross- breeds to make an athletic family mount. They are not
the tubby rolly –polly fuzzy back yard ponies we saw when we were
growing
up
but fine quality sport ponies that can and do compete well with the
larger
horses. They are bred to excel at all Olympic disciplines and combined
driving (CDE). They have the type conformation, movement and ability to
do
as well as the larger equines.
Developed in Germany in the early 1960's, the Riding Pony, known as
Deutches Reitpony, is graded and tested at keurings for the individual
Reitpony registries, much the same as for the different European
warmblood
and sport horse registries.
With the need for a breed of larger riding ponies the pony breeders
started breeding a larger pony that adults as well as children and young
folks could compete with.It wasn't until the large scale importing of
British ponies, primarily Welsh, that the Reitpony program started
heading
toward its breeding goal. In 1975 specific Reitpony types started
becoming
well recognized in the North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony regions
with
registries such as Weser Ems, Hanover, Schleswig-Holstein and Westpahlia,
and dominated at that time by British breeds, primarily the Welsh
ponies. By
1975 the German Reitpony type began its rise to the top of international
competition.
In the United States and Great Britain, the sport pony registries are
based on the German Riding Pony type.
American breeders are and have been developing this type of sport pony
from a combination of different breeds and types with an ideal size of
between 13.2 and 14.2 hands. Breeders have been able to experiment with
different crosses to develop an ideal line of sport ponies and the sport
pony market is becoming more and more competitive. With shipped semen
and
many gene pools to pick from what has taken European countries hundreds
of
years to develop can be accomplished in much less time. More registries
in
America are claiming sport pony divisions.
Smaller horses are becoming the equine of choice for many riders and
drivers. Athletic enough to compete against larger horses they can
compete
equally with horses even though smaller and easier to keep. They are the
same caliber and can perform like their warm blood cousins and much
larger
sport horses.
The breeding goal for the new Sport Pony Division of the International
Sport Horse Registry is to produce a noble and correct pony with
dynamic,
spacious and elastic movement - well suited for dressage, hunter/jumper
classes, CDE’s and eventing or driving because of the ponies character
and
rideability. It is a riding and competition pony for children, young
riders
and adults. It can also make an elegant driving animal.
In 1999 The American Warmblood Registry saw the need to create a
division for ponies now called AWR/Sport Pony Division. They began the
studbook for registering what is now the foundation of the American
Sport
Pony Registration. Here are the breed standard specifications for the
American Sportpony Registry, conceived and managed by the American
Warmblood
Registry:
Height: 138 - 148 cm (13.2 - 14.2) American Sportponies being
inspected as breeding stock may fall outside this ideal range.
Colors: All
Conformation:
Head: Small and regal with defined jaws (no puffiness), a clean throat
latch, kind eyes, nostrils that are large and wide and small ears.
Neck: Long, wide and well set on, narrowing towards the poll.
Body: Refinement obvious more so than in any other pony breed with
emphasis toward an athletic riding type. Exhibits a longer neck, higher
and
more pronounced withers, a longer croup that is slightly sloping with a
tail
set at medium height and slender through the girth.
Limbs: Dry limbs with flat knees, correct alignment, dense and medium
sized hooves.
Movement: Regular and correct cadence with a large stride. Even,
energetic and elastic rhythm. No exaggerated knee action. Exhibits
significant impulsion from the hindquarters.
Special Hallmarks: An easy keeper, good natured ready and willing to
go, courageous and intelligent.(3)
Along similar guidelines The Sports Pony Studbook Society was begun in
Great Britain within the last few years and more registries in America
are
claiming Sport Pony Divisions; i.e. pinto pony of the PtHA Pinto Horse
Association.
Bibliography:
www.pony-shop.de/Deutsches_Reitpony/ deutsches_reitpony.html
www.isroldenburg.org/Pony.htm#Goals
www.americansportpony.com/breed1.htm
Equus Magazine Oct.2007 Why Size Matters by C. Barakat with
information from U.S. Equestrian Team Veterinarian, Midge Leitch VMD
whose
practice is dominated by elite dressage, eventing, jumping and driving
horses and equine conformation expert Deb Bennett PhD.
Other articles:
What is Combined Driving?
Pony Buying Tips & Care Afterwards
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