Not Your Gramma's Back Yard Pony
by: Jane Merritt, California Painted Ponies

Ponies have always had a place in our hearts and in our backyard. Ponies have been around for years in just about every horseperson's back yard for the kids to grow up with and learn to ride. Many of these ponies were passed from child to child as families grew. No one ever seemed to know where these little guys came from; they were always just there. We remember them mostly as small, round, furry, little creatures that could escape any fence, open any gate, create mayhem, get into the feed barrels and eat pounds of grain and then put themselves away quietly with a big "card carrying pony grin."

There were always Ponies of fine breeding that were seen at shows and on nice farms where these beauties were being raised. Most of these breeds were developed in European countries. Through years of careful cross breeding of Welsh, and other pony breeds that were crossed with Arabians and Warmblood horses, "Riding Ponies" were developed. There are German Riding Ponies, Australian Riding Ponies and British Riding Ponies just to name a few. These beautiful Riding Ponies, even though they are from different countries, are very similar in type. These ponies have been shown, promoted, and bred with great success and held in high regard for centuries In Europe, while here In the USA ponies have been for the most part considered only children's mounts and not suitable for upper level competition

Ponies are now gaining popularity in the U.S. due to a growing interest in a fairly new type of pony being developed by a few breeders right here in the USA. The interest in them by adults has given a new look and purpose to the pony. This type of pony is called an "American Sport Pony".

It is now possible to obtain recognition for the accomplishments of our Sport Ponies and our Pony Breeding Programs such as the Foal Futurities and through the awards and sponsorship of the AWR at approved sport horse and pony events.

The American Warmblood Registry recognized the need to create a division for ponies now refered to as AWR/ Sport Pony Division. In April of 1999 the AWR began it's stud book for registering what is now the foundation of the "American Sport Pony". These ponies are a culmination of different breeds and types of ponies from Purebreds to crossbreds. The registry is now licensing stallions for breeding and registering mares and offspring, using DNA to document the lineage and growth of our Sport Pony.

The ideal size of the Sport Pony is between 13.2 to 14.2 hands, but smaller and larger equines are being used to breed the ideal size and type. The smallest pony in the registery is a Section A Welsh stallion and the largest is a Trahkaner stallion that has been registered and being used in the Sport Pony breeding program here in California. With a wide variety of types and sizes in the gene pool, it will make choosing the right stallion for each mare easier in order to produce the best sport pony possible.

Modern methods of breeding such as shipped, cooled or frozen semen, and carefully planned, long term breeding programs that include the ability to use stallions from all over the world as well as our own domestic stallions, we can mix and match to perfection. This has given us the advantage of obtaining in just a few years what took other countries nearly a hundred years to develop.

American breeders have many avenues to choose from when developing this new pony type. There are going to be many ways that a breeder may choose to develop a line of Sport Ponies and Americans are not affraid to experiment with different types and crosses. Our own Foundation Quarter horse, and Morgans may be used as the base to ones own idea of what they want to see in their Sport Pony. The Morgans are especially popular in the driving world. We also have the very popular Quarter Pony that may already have a percentage of pony breeding. With this growth of ponies for sport as well as wonderful family and show ponies, the pony market is becomming very competitive. With good competition better ponies will develop quickly.

There are about 15 AWR / Sport Pony stallions now registered throughout the USA and around the world. I am proud to say, that my stallion, "California Custom" is one of a handful of fine pony stallions registered and licensed for breeding in the AWR/Sport Pony Division. We are involved in Combined Driving which is highly recognized by the AWR as a sport that takes a great deal of athletic ability, stamina and a great mind.

Very few shows and events hold classes or divisions for these hard working smaller equines. Adults like me, and pony breeders across the U.S. that are breeding, riding, and driving our ponies, see a need for recognition. Though still rare, more and more pony classes are being offered and even some very successful pony shows are being held across the nation. These shows offer In Hand Breed classes for sport and hunter types, (a type of halter class, shown on a triangle, in hand,) Jumping under saddle, Free Jumping (to show the ponies natural ability and attitude to the jump) Dressage as well as Combined Driving Events, (carriage driving that combines dressage as well as cross country and an obstacle course).

For now many registries do not offer upper level awards and titles for ponies at any level when ridden by adults. This makes it difficult to promote stallions if we cannot ride them. A few registries have opened the door to adults riding ponies such as the AWR, the "American Paint Pony Registry," and the "International Quarterpony Association." Until other registries see that some adults truly enjoy this smaller version of the equine, not because they may be intimidated by larger horses, but because they enjoy riding, showing, and breeding sport ponies. The sport of Reining has many horses that are in the size range of "large ponies." Some are even cross registered into pony registries like the AQPA, IQPA and APPR. Reining enthusiast use these smaller horses because of their quickness, agility and sound mind. From the standpoint of many sport pony breeders, reining horses are fine sport ponies/ horses.

The development of the American Sport Pony will open up more venues by which we can promote, show and market our ponies. Some pony breeders that involved with Three Day Eventing, Dressage, and Combined Driving have a clear cut idea of what type of pony they are breeding. There are those who come from a strictly western background that are evolving and learning with open minds and may be approaching the sport pony with a different idea. We all have a common goal and will ultimately produce ponies of similar type from different bloodlines that are able to compete at upper levels of competition, regardless of size.

The Sport ponies being bred today are definitely not your Gramma's back yard pony.