Letters toWT


Fans of WT I had to write you to tell you how much I loved the September/October issue of the magazine. It was awesome! It was really inspirational and it covered some topics that just aren’t stressed enough in the U.S., such as what it takes to have a stallion and the importance of quality mares. When I read about Debbie Rosen competing while struggling with breast cancer I was moved to tears. Not to mention I was really impressed with jumper Hillary Dobbs. The stories you write are amazing. Thank you Warmbloods Today! Zaza, Marlborough, New Hampshire


I read your welcome letter entitled “Is Bigger Better” (in July/August) and could immediately relate to it in so many ways. I too have long legs even though I am only 5' 7" tall and I share your problems with boots, saddle flaps, and breeches too. It seems I need custom everything. Thank you for recognizing that the smaller horses and ponies can compete in a big Warmblood world. I ride a welsh cob who is 14 hh. I am a little big for him, but his gaits are so big for his size he practically throws me out of the saddle! He's doing super at first level dressage beating


the big Warmbloods consistently. He looks like a miniature Warmblood and I hope to get him to upper level dressage. At the opposite end of the spectrum I’m riding a


big young Friesian cross mare who is slow to mature and still growing. I tire easily when riding her, yet with the pony he is much more forward and agile. They are so different, yet I love them both. Thanks again for making a great point that size doesn't really matter!


Heather, Spotsylvania, Virginia Photo: Heather and her welsh cob Glenhaven Timka


Haflingers in Sport First I want to tell you how much I enjoy Warmbloods Today! My trainer showed me a copy in the winter and I am now a subscriber and love the magazine. I am a breeder of sporthorse type Haflinger horses who are successfully competing and winning both


10 November/December 2010


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on the line and under saddle in breed shows as well as open USDF rated DSHB shows. I have to say that I was a bit taken aback at a recent comment in your article entitled “German Riding Ponies, Pint-Sized Competitors” in the July/August 2010 issue. While I felt it was very well written and informative, on page 35, the author stated “The goal was to produce a real riding-type pony. And so it was agreed not to allow the cross of Haflinger or Fjord with the German Riding Pony.” I do not know if the author meant to imply that the Haflinger was not a riding-type pony; actually, Haflingers are categorized as horses, even though they are pony size. As someone who knows at least a half a dozen Haflinger horses—pony-size and above 14.2— who are winning in open-rated dressage competitions in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and the West Coast, just to name a few places, could you please clarify that Haflingers are indeed very rideable and trainable and are known for their smooth gaits? Unfortunately, it is all too often that I and other


breeders find ourselves up against the stigma of the Haflinger being a small, unrideable draft horse, when indeed there is no draft blood in our breed at all. The hobby of many people to show the Haflinger as a “draft” horse in the United States—the only place in the world where this occurs—make it very difficult to convince people that it is not a draft cross. (Haflingers actually descend from a half-Arabian stallion.) Mary Procopio, New Horizon Haflingers, Laingsburg, Michigan


When the German Riding Pony was originally being


developed in Germany, the Haflingers and Fjords of that time were primarily being used for driving, packing and working in the field. Some early crosses between Haflingers and Arabs were made in developing the GRP breed, but the results were not quite what the developers of the GRP were hoping for. For this reason, the decision was made to develop the GRP without the addition of Haflingers or Fjords into the stud book— Haflingers and Fjords are separate and distinct breeds, with their own studbooks. So what was stated in the article about Haflingers not being included in the GRP books is just what is written in the GRP breeding program, not intending to speak negative of Haflingers or Fjords. Now, modern Haflingers can be found excelling in all of the sport disciplines—dressage, hunter/jumper, eventing, and combined driving—as well as western competition. They are certainly well appreciated for their excellent rideability, smooth gaits, and trainability!" Ann Daum Kuster


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