German
What looks like a Warmblood, moves like a Warmblood, but wears a cob-sized bridle? A German Riding Pony of course! The Germans have been breeding and campaigning these little dressage dynamos for the past 45 years, and slowly American dressage riders are starting to follow suit. What’s different about the breed on this side of the ocean? For one thing there are fewer of them, but more significantly and more frequently, they are ridden by small adults rather than by children.
PINT-SIZED DRESSAGE COMPETITORS By Ann Daum Kustar
Riding Ponies
Meet BEAUJOLAIS “I feel invincible on my stallion Beaujolais,” says Natalie Cwik, owner of Tenacious Acres Sport Ponies. “I wasn’t a pony person,” Cwik continues, “but after sitting on Beaujolais, now I see why people are so enthralled with them. I mean, they are the perfect size, and their work ethic is incredible—Beaujolais is like the energizer bunny!” Cwik imported Beaujolais from the Rheinland Pfalz-Saar district of Germany
as a yearling, and hasn’t looked back since. “He was kind of a funny-looking two- year old,” she remembers. “His head was the biggest thing about him! But he had something special about him, right from the start, and he could move! By the time he was four and had matured, he was a knockout.” Beaujolais is sired by the important foundation
pony stallion Brillant, who stood in the Weser Ems region of Germany. Brillant was born in England, and carried the traditionally successful mix of Welsh, English Thoroughbred and Arabian in his veins. When crossed on German pony mares, this stallion made a big impact on the breed, siring 35 approved stallions, 23 state premium mares, and over 200 daughters approved for breeding. “These ponies move like the big horses,” Cwik says, “The walk is probably the
weakest link for the ponies in general, but they can do anything a big horse can, and they’re so much more rideable. Beaujolais is so kind, so willing to work, and he never says ‘no,’ but rather ‘sure I can!’” One thing most owners of German Riding Ponies (sometimes
referred to as GRPs) agree on is that these ponies have some real advantages over the big guys in terms of their temperament and rideability. “The German Riding Ponies are self confident, very smart, very quick to learn, like a pony, but they don’t have the attitude of the pure ponies.” Cwik says. “And don’t get me wrong, there are many amazing ponies out there, but I love the combination that is the German Riding Pony. “I can go to a show, and I’ve got an eleven year old daughter
who’s a peanut. She can be inside his stall, she can take him out walking around, and I never worry. And this is with a stallion! On a scale of 1-10, his temperament is about a 20.”
32 July/August 2010
Top: Beaujolais from Tenacious Acres showing 3rd level (Photo by OC Photo). Bottom: Beaujolais showing 3rd level (Photo by Equipix). Inset: Beaujolais’ sire Brilliant.
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