G E
legant and balanced Mini-Me’s to their larger Warmblood cousins, German Riding Ponies are bred to compete in the Olympic disciplines, and they often have horse-sized talent over fences trapped in those adorable 14.2 hand (or
less) bodies. Developed over forty years ago in Germany, these ponies were originally crosses of the British riding pony breeds such as the Welsh B, with Anglo-Arab, Arab, Thoroughbred, small Warmbloods and native ponies. What they are now is a phenomenally successful shrink-wrapped version of the designer label Warmbloods, with the added bonus of pony toughness, soundness and good character.
Competitive in the Hunters The challenge for the hunter world has been in seeing
past the big, uphill, Bundeschampionate-winning gaits these ponies show off as youngsters in Germany. The versatility of the German Riding Pony seems to showcase itself here. The same ponies that power around the ring with free shoulders and powerful hind legs working well under their bodies can show up as winning hunter ponies in the U.S. a year or so later. Take top large pony hunter For the Laughter, as an
example. While his USEF registration lists him as a Welsh- cross, his papers are those of a Weser-Ems pony bred in Germany. He was sired by the important foundation stallion Brillant and out of Mon Cheri, who descends from Black Boy— Black Grannus, the direct pony-line of the great Hanoverian stallion Grannus. For the Laughter, born Bubble Gum, was licensed as a stallion by the Weser-Ems and Hanoverians, and sired one foal in Germany before being discovered and imported by Scott Stewart of New Jersey. Now a gelding, “Bubbles” clinched his fourth consecutive large pony hunter champion title at the pony finals this year, ridden by Maddie Durst and owned by Virginian Dr. Betsee Parker.
82 January/February 2013
erman R
Daz THE HUNT
The USEF list of top-ranking large pony hunters is
littered with ponies with accents. Some other famous names include Vanity Fair and Seven Steps, Dutch and German ponies also owned by Dr. Betsee Parker, and Enjoy the Laughter, owned by Rose Hill Farm in New York, and shown by Lili Hymowitz, who topped the model and under saddle divisions at the 2012 finals.
A New Trend What makes the ‘Warmblood’ ponies, as they are dubbed,
the new trend in the hunter ring? Chad Keenum, owner of CK Sporthorses in The Plains, Virginia, says they have a lot more jump and more horse-like movement than many of the traditionally Welsh-cross large ponies bred in this country. “The Warmblood ponies go more like horses,” Chad
explains. “They have more suspension and a rounder jump—and I think the judges are liking it.” “It’s easier for the kids to move up to horses from a
Warmblood pony—they go around the ring slower than the Welsh, with a bigger step, more power, a more active hind leg and sometimes a little more knee action,” he continues. “These ponies have great brains too. They have to—they’re designed for kids!” Chad’s After the Laughter started his
Chad Keenum
career in Germany as the Westphalian licensed stallion Ruby Gold, sired by Oosteinds Ricky, an M-level dressage pony. After winning his 30-day test in Germany with an impressive 8.84 overall, this multi-talented pony placed fifth in the five-year-old jumpers Bundeschampionate, and a week later, won the driving pony Bundeschampionate. This champion German pony has also proved to be an outstanding hunter in the
Photos at top. Left: SF Solaris, a 2012 GRP colt by Smoke Tree Snapdragon, bred by the author, sold to Midas Touch Warmblood stud in South Africa. Middle: Pony stallions presented at the Neumünster licensing. Right: A pony stallion at Neumünster.
Anna Purdy
All three photos by Ann Daum Kustar
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