Sport Ponies Are America's Hot New Item
by Stephanie Lawson

(reprinted with permission from Stephanie Lawson & Pennsylvania Equestrian, paequest@aol.com)

The Europeans know…bigger is not always better. Americans are starting to agree.

"The reason the really big warmbloods are in the US is that the Europeans got rid of them," said Laurie Campoy of the American Warmblood Registry in Davis, CA. "The really big warmbloods never get breeding licenses in Europe. They're not as suitable. The Europeans shoot for a target range of 16.2 to 17 hands. A warmblood that's much larger than that really has to be special to get a breeding license."

Europeans have been breeding sport ponies-larger, athletic, horse-like ponies-for years, producing breeds like German, Australian, and British Riding Ponies. "In Europe sport ponies compete at the highest levels both against other sport ponies and in open divisions," Campoy said. "They compete in jumper classes up to four feet six inches, and at the top levels of combined driving and dressage."

Americans have been breeding sport ponies as well, with one difference-until April, 1999, when the American Warmblood Registry created the American Sport Pony Division, there was no registry to record their bloodlines and recognize their success. "Some were eligible for 'half' registry, but those registries don't keep records on the other half. We are equally concerned with both sides," Campoy said. "We document parentage as far back as possible to give breeders the information to develop an organized breeding program."
The International Sport Horse Registry followed, developing a Sport Pony Division last year

Sport ponies are bred to excel at all the Olympic disciplines and combined driving, Campoy said. "Some Americans bred them because they happened to be more suitable for what they were doing. But there was no registry to support it or association to validate it."

Demand Was There
The demand for sport ponies for both children and smaller women and for the registry was there, Campoy said. "Smaller horses are actually more suitable for children and smaller women. A five foot two inch woman on a 17-hand warmblood is less balanced. And you can't give the proper aid to the right body part if the horse isn't a suitable size."

Once registered, ponies go through an inspection, held in the fall, that's exactly like a warmblood inspection. They're judged in-hand for conformation and type, on the triangle, and at liberty. Adults are free jumped, as raw jumping style is very heritable, and if no show record exists, inspected under saddle. Scores are added up and averaged, and the ponies are put into premium levels. The information is recorded on their registration certificates and becomes part of their permanent record. Stallions must earn an overall score of at least seven out of a possible ten to be eligible for a breeding license, which makes their offspring registrable. The AWR has licensed 21 Sport Pony stallions.

The registry also sponsors breed classes-Dressage at Devon offers one-and awards for the highest placing registered pony at shows and combined driving competitions across the country.

Suitability Issue
It was the suitability issue that led Lesley Feakins of Trevelyan Farm in Lancaster County to look for a sport pony for her daughter, Jessica, who was ready to move on from the 13.2 hand grade pony she'd taken to training level dressage.

"I wanted to find a large pony with the feeling of a warmblood, and I couldn't find anything in the US," Feakins said. After searching for a year, she asked trainer Steve Wolgemuth to look for something in Europe. He found a 15.1 Dutch warmblood trained to second level that Jessica, now age 15, currently shows.

"But it got me thinking we need sport ponies," Feakins, whose Trevelyan Farm specializes in breeding dressage prospects, said. She became interested in using New Forest ponies in her breeding program. "I was brought up in the New Forest region of southern England where New Forest ponies live in the wild. They're more like horses in terms of their movement, and they're smart, versatile, easy to keep and easy to train. They have feet so hard they never need shoes. They're little horses with big hearts who really try to please."

On another shopping trip at the end of 1999, Wolgemuth purchased for Feakins six New Forest Ponies. He found the ponies in Holland, which had imported England's best ponies. Among the six was the 14 hand, half inch New Forest stallion, Wicked Courtjester. The stallion was approved for breeding, had sired a number of successful offspring, and had had a successful show career in both jumping and dressage. The twelve-year-old bay stallion won the AWR Sport Pony Class at Dressage at Devon last year and in mid-June won both his 1st level classes at Dressage at Quentin. "He's an excellent jumper who feels and moves like a big horse," Feakins said.

Along with the stallion, she purchased four weanling New Forest pony mares, and Forest Flame, a weanling colt, now two years old. The farm has nine mares in the breeding program, including Heather Mason's retired Grand Prix pony, Zauberelle, who is currently in foal to Wicked Courtjester. The stallion's first two American foals are on the ground at Trevelyan Farm.

Women Appreciate
When Feakins nationally advertised a sport pony for sale, most calls she received were from women looking for a smaller horse, not for a child but for themselves. "The bulk of our response has been from women looking to downsize," Feakins said.

"Many people feel, the older I get, the shorter distance I want to fall," Campoy said. "Both people who have ridden all their lives and want to keep going as long as possible and people starting at a later age find sport ponies attractive. They're easier to get on and off, they're easier to work around, and they can be tremendous confidence builders. Once they realize they don't have to compromise athleticism or ability, they really enjoy it.

"And for children or shorter women, a smaller mount just fits. If you want to improve their confidence or skill level, you give them a mount that's the right size. If you ask them to do something they can do it."

Trevelyan Farm will host an AWR inspection on September 15. Outside sport horses and ponies are welcome. For more information, contact the American Warmblood Registry at (209) 245-3565.