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From the Salt Block Gazette, December 2009
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| Sport ponies have come increasingly popular in the U.S. and Canada, as more small adults recognize the potential for the diminutive mounts in a variety of disciplines. Some ponies have even proven successful at high levels, including the Olympic Games. From dressage to driving, eventing and jumping, the sportpony is catching on. In direct response to the surge in popularity of these ponies, the NorthAmerican Sportpony Registry (NASPR) was founded in 1997 to create a distinctly North American sportpony out of the many pony breeds and their crosses. The NASPR provided structure and established standards and procedures for improving this sportpony breed. Since the registry’s inception, the number of quality ponies in North American has skyrocketed, and the NASPR assists breeders with documentation, grading, and promotion. |
Standards
According to the NASPR, North American sportponies do not represent distinct breeds, but rather a new type of sportpony breed. The goal is to produce a well-balanced, athletic pony with round, groundcovering strides and natural, elastic movements. Breeders seek to produce a bold pony of even, willing temperament that is physically and mentally able to perform with excellence at all levels of the modern sportpony disciplines. |
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A NorthAmerican sport pony is a pony in the general range of 13.2-14.2 hands that looks and moves like a small horse, capable of competing in the Olympic disciplines of jumping, dressage, and eventing, as well as in driving and hunter divisions. It is not the traditional Thelwell cartoon-type of pony, but rather is much more athletic and horse-like in appearance and ability. Sportponies are comprised of most pony breeds as well as Thoroughbred bloodlines, however ponies with draft blood are excluded. The sportpony is an easy keeper, good natured, ready and willing, courageous and intelligent. |
| All colors are accepted and conformation is marked by a small, regal head with kind eyes and small ears. The neck is long, wide and well set with narrowing towards the poll with good room in the throatlatch. The ideal sportpony body should be refined, but athletic, and slender through the girth, with a longer croup that slopes slightly and tail set at medium height. The limbs are correctly aligned with dry, flat knees and dense medium-sized hooves. |
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Movement is paramount to the quality NorthAmerican sportpony, and that movement should have great suspension, articulation, impulsion and extension. A large stride with correct cadence is ideal. In the hunter division, it does strive for the traditional “daisy-cutter”, flat-kneed movement that is so popular in the hunter ring today and is not excluded as a factor within the NorthAmerican Sportpony Registry. Therefore, the “hunter-type” pony, especially one which excels in jumping and has the correct conformation, “look”, and cadence can be considered a NorthAmerican Sportpony. |
| All ponies accepted into the registry must undergo an inspection and be DNA-typed. It is in this way that pedigrees can be documented from this point forward, even with breeding stock that is currently of unknown parentage. Stallions accepted into the registry undergo additional performance and progeny requirements. |
Promotion
Throughout the year, the NorthAmerican Sportpony Registry organizes inspections throughout the United States and Canada. The ponies are graded on temperament, conformation, gaits and athletic ability to perform as sport ponies.
The NASPR actively supports its members by sponsorship of many events including the Sportpony Star Search Challenge Cup held at the Royal Winter Fair Horse Show in Toronto, Canada, Young Breeder’s Seminars, and awards programs for competitors including the only registry-sponsored Hunter Awards program for sportponies worldwide. |
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Registration Ongoing for USEF’s “High School Equestrian Athlete” Program for the 2009-2010 School Year |
Lexington, KY – With more than a thousand high school equestrians already working to earn their varsity letters, and new registrations arriving daily, it’s clear the United States Equestrian Federation’s new High School Equestrian Athlete program is a huge hit across the country. Applications are still being accepted for the 2009-2010 school year, and there’s still plenty of time left for those who would like to apply by the June 1, 2010 deadline.
The new High School Equestrian Athlete program is open to equestrian athletes in all breeds or disciplines who are enrolled in grades 9-12, and are currently USEF members, or become USEF members. The program will run June 1 – May 31 of each year, and will honor those who document their training and competition involvement by awarding emblems and pins. These are designed to be worn on existing high school letterman’s jackets, or any jacket of the athlete’s choosing, as a rite of passage and symbol of achievement.
This new program requires enrollment and documentation prior to lettering. For more information, or to complete an enrollment application, simply visit this link on the USEF Youth Programs page: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/Youth/highschool/highschool.aspx |
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Braggin' Rights |
Our Features and Braggin' Rights page is the ideal venue for you to promote your horse or pony. We want everyone to know about your achievements. Send your news to info@warmbloodnews.com. |
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From Darlene Morton of Sharon, Ontario, Canada:
Roger had his first show at Caledon Fair and won every Welsh driving class and most of the open classes. He is such a lady's pony as he has so many manners!
USA Railside Roger That!
Owned by Darlene Morton
Driven by Alison Plumbtree |
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From Ellie Rawle of Oxford, PA:
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"Our stallion Avebury WF has been moving steadily up the ranks in eventing this spring! He is currently competing at Training Level under the tutelage of Ryan Wood (www.woodstockeventing.com). This exciting pair graced the cover of Warmbloods Today Magazine with an interview with Ryan, Jody Jackson and Anne Rawle (Avebury's owner & breeder) that touched on the stallion approval process and our pride in the generational aspect of our American Warmbloods. To date, Avebury has 0 penalties in the cross country portion of his competitions and dressage scores in the 30's. " |
"We have been the proud owners of Waldaire (Waldgott-Adios III-Darling) since the spring of 2004 and each year are blessed with the arrival of more exceptional youngsters. At the end of April, we were quite excited to have welcomed 2 outstanding Waldaire fillies - Windrose WF and Waverleigh WF are correct, uphill movers with loads of personality. It is a thrill to have so many horses to ride each day that are just plain FUN! His offspring really do make each ride enjoyable and we are quite excited to see what his licensed son Wizard WF produces next year. Wizard has drawn many compliments from international competitors on his talent, scope and good temperament, so it goes without saying that we are delighted!" |
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"As You Wish WF also continues to demonstrate a similar aptitude for eventing - even with Ellie in the irons! They have been sighted blazing around several Training courses with skill and speed. Both horses will compete at Training through the end of May with an eye towards Preliminary later in the season.
Watermark Farm will be shifting the competitive focus to our dressage horses and youngstock for a few months with eventing returning to the limelight for the late summer/early fall. As always, we are proud to be hosting the AWR/NASPR inspection on July 10th. It is always a great day with many lovely young horses to see and even more to learn from our knowledgeable judges." |
From
Sally Bank of
North Park Equestrian:
"I thought I would touch base with you to let you know how things are going with our lovely boy Doringcourt.
We had a great first official breeding season this year with him and are really looking forward to seeing his
foals on the ground starting to be born November onwards.
His first three foals are lovely from last season and we were lucky enough to get a beautiful colt
who we have named NPE Delrico.
I've attached a photo of him at 5 days. He is a lovely
deep bay now with two white socks. " |
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"Doringcourt had a fabulous season at Medium Level winning the FEI World Challenge (Elementary level).
Andrea and Doringcourt were selected to ride for Team NZ which was out of six countries. NZ won overall and Andrea and Doringcourt came first in their section out of 6 countries.
She also won Champion Medium Level @ Waitemata Dressage Championships and NZ Horse of the Year Medium
Champion." |
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From Donna O'Neil of New Serepta, AB, Canada:
"Pajon's Illusion was 4th again in the National Bank Financial Open Free Jump Challenge; this time against 15 horses. He scored a 9 on temperament, 7 & 8's except for technique as he jumps a little hollow. Judges were Albert Kley, Riding Master at Spruce Meadows and Judy Wise, owner/trainer Fairways Farms, Langley BC."
His video is up on You Tube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AzsszDgKWA |
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American Warmblood Registry gelding,
Raison d'Etre (Regulus x Little Doozie xx), is the only US-bred horse to qualify for the US Paralympic Equestrian team. Raison d’Etre is ridden by Robin Brueckmann and owned by Elly Schobel, who purchased Raison d'Etre from his breeders at Dreamtime Farm in Lexington, KY |
From Raphaelle Cassens of Los Angeles, CA:
"Here's a quick note to brag that Josephine Cassens and 'Audi' (Cardiff Private Affair) were recently Champion in the Medium Pony Hunter Division and Reserve Champion in the Green Small/Medium Pony Hunter Division at the "A" rated, LAEC Winter Horse Show." |
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From Ellie Rawle of Oxford, PA:
"Avebury WF placed 3rd at the February Paradise Farm Horse Trials in Open Beginner Novice." |
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"As You Wish was 7th at the February Sporting Days Farm Horse Trials in Open Novice." |
From Jessica McKnew of Maryland:
“Dear NorthAmerican Sportpony Registry,
I would like to thank you for the Award, Gift Bag and Jacket. I have been riding since I was 3 1/2 years old. With my parents help I purchased my new NorthAmerican Sportpony, Double Copper Twist LG, in April of 2008. She is the most wonderful pony. In 2009 we competed all over and did great. She is such a fantastic pony. I have never won anything like this before. It was so exciting to get an Award and Gifts for something I love to do. Copper just had her baby so in a few months we will be able to start completing again. Thank you so much for everything!” |
Double Copper Twist LG & Picasso |
News from Europe
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Germany has decided to ban all branding of horses, effective immediately. Germany was the only country still branding horses whereas all other nations had abandoned this practice years ago. The only 2 registries that agreed with this were the Hanoverians and the Neustadt-Dosse (an East German organization). |
Focus on our Breeders
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Fox Run Farm
Lynn Reed
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Lynn Reed was raised in Garrison, New York and rode as a junior through the pony hunter ranks to junior hunter in the Medal & Maclay Divisions. She trained as a junior with Bob Freels, Tina Stephenson, Anthony D’ambrosio and Leslie Burr Howard. As an amateur she rode several horses to national championship titles riding with Gary Zook, Frank Madden, Jimmy Toon, and Don Stewart. As the ability to find nice horses at reasonable prices became more and more difficult Lynn went to Europe and bought Shamrock, Spellbound’s father, to train, show and start her own hunter breeding program. Spellbound is the result of careful breeding and old time practical horse knowledge learned from keeping her own horses at home and learning to train from the ground up. Lynn’s whole business concept is to breed hunters in the United States mixing European jumping lines with the refinement and elegance of the American Thoroughbred resulting in a premier show horse that you don’t have to go to Europe to find. |
Spellbound was bred and trained by Lynn. The farm specializes in breeding, breaking, and training young horses. Even though Spellbound will be predominantly showing in the hunter ring, he can cross over to both jumper and dressage. His grandsire, whose jumping style he replicates, was a world class jumper who has thrown dynamic dressage horses. Cartina is one of the most influential Holsteiner stallions of the modern era. His granddam is from the line of the legendary stallion Lord. On his Thoroughbred side he has the blood of Stalwart xx, Hoist the Flag xx, War Admiral xx, and Bold Ruler xx. The result is a modern, elegant athletic stallion with great jump and explosive movement. Spellbound has won multiple championships, 6 blue ribbons, 4 2nd place ribbons, and multiple other placings at the elite USEF horse show circuit “Hits on the Hudson” over this past summer. He showed in the highly competitive pre-green hunter divisions sometimes with 67 horses in his classes from all over the country. |
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Spellbound is still handled and trained by Lynn along with his siblings and other young prospects. He continues to exude confidence but maintains a playful personality and handles the pressure of breeding, training and showing in a calm professional manner. He will be competing this coming 2010 show season in the 1st Year Green 3’6” confirmation divisions. He has been nominated to the USHJA Hunter Breeding Incentive Fund. It has been a culmination of a lifetime of work and dreams to be able to breed Spellbound, own him, train him, stand him to stud, and see him show. He never lets me down. ~Lynn |
