Pony Quarterly by Pony Quarterly

2015 y r a issue JanuOwners Promoting and Celebrating Ponies, their n & their Lifestyle

o i l l Sta

PONY n o i l l a t S e 2015 issu

™

THE

QUARTERLY

PONYQUART

5 Steps to Marketing Your Pony Welsh Breeding

Trends

30 Day Stallion Testing

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Promoting and Celebrating Ponies, their Owners & their Lifestyle

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table of Content 7

Editor’s Letter Celebrating the new magazine!

30 Day Stallion Testing By~ Pony Quarterly Staff

5 Steps to Marketing Your Pony By~ Johnny Robb

RPSI Top Pony Foal Results By~Pony Quarterly Staff

Welsh Breeding Trends By~Sue Weakley

...So YouOwn a Pony Stallion By~Jenny Knight

Jill Hardt riding Forrest Flame at Black Dog Farm in Plant City, Florida.

The 3 P’s, Practice, Position, Purpose By~Jenny Knight

Fly Farrah, Fly By~Pony Quarterly Staff

Stand Out & Get noticed!

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Promoting and Celebrating Ponies, their Owners & their Lifestyle

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Cover: Photo by Suzanne Fischer. Suzanne Fischer is a respected photographer whose reputation is built on excellence in horse show photography. Since 1999 Suzanne has specialized in photographing Dressage Shows, Horse Trials, and Combined Tests. Over the years she has come to appreciate the importance of a good dedicated team of people working with her in order to provide her customers with the high level of service and skill she offers. Suzanne states that, “I have been fortunate to have help and support from my husband, family and many fantastic assistants since I began my business 15 years ago.” Fischer has been appointed the Official Photographer for the 2015 National Dressage Pony Cup. You can see examples of her work throughout this issue. Enjoy!

Suzanne Fischer | mail@SuzanneFischer.com office (937) 446-4095 | mobile (937) 6180044

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Promoting and Celebrating Ponies, their Owners & their Lifestyle

editor’sLetter Welcome to the Pony Quarterly! It’s THAT time of year again! You have that glazed over look in your eyes and your head whirls at the thought of your mares and their possible “dates” for this spring! As a fellow pony breeder, I know your excitement for the foals coming this spring, the expectations for the foals of next year and also the utter madness as ALL the possible combinations of mares and stallions whirl around in your head! We hope you’ll take a considedred look at the variety of stallions advertised here and in Pony Quarterly annual Stallion Issue!

We have spotlighted the “30 Day Pony Stallion Test”, brought you an outstanding article about marketing your stallion or farm or even sale pony. Johnny Robb, an expert in the marketing field, shares her advise and knowledge on how to effectively market your stallion, or farm. We all know standing a stallion is expensive and making the most of your marketing money is really important while developing and maintaining a business! Jenny Knight wrote a humorous article on the joys of pony stallion ownership, which I think will strike a cord with all stallion owners! We hope you enjoy this issue, and stay tuned for our spring issue for which we have BIG plans! Happy stallion hunting!

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Winter 2015

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Executive Editor | Audrey Maschue THE

This is our second issue and we are very excited about the intellegent and informative articles we have, relating to stallions and breeding. Sue Weakley has written an amazing article about the state of Welsh breeding, which not only shares some very successful breeders visions, but also highlights a common thread among the breeders - THE BREEDING INDUSTRY IS COMING BACK!

PONY

Advertising Director | Clara Trent QUARTERLY Contributing Writers | Doug Bruce, Johnny robb, Sue Weakley and Jenny Knight Advertising Manager | Sara Brooks For exclusive news and blogs check out... PonyQ.com Join us on Facebook for contests, connections and fun! www.facebook/ponyquarterly A proud member of the American Horse Publication.

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30 DAY

Stallion

testing

©Angela Prichard

The Jump Chute tests the ponies scope and technique over fences.

uropean ponies have always been held up as the gold standard in quality. The pony breeders in the US have the difficult job of producing ponies that are as good if not better than the ponies in Europe. A very important aspect of elevating our domestic breeding program is testing our stallions using the 30 Day Pony Stallion Test offered at Silver Creek Farm in Broken Arrow Oklahoma. Many of the pony registries here in the States require either the completion of, and a sufficient final score at the 30 Day Stallion Testing OR to be inspected and complete performance requirements (each registry has different requirements and offer options for each discipline) to be lifetime approved as a Breeding Stallion. These registries include Rheinland Pfalz-saar International (RPSI), Weser Ems (German Oldenburg pony division), The Oldenburg Registry North America and International Sport horse Registry (ISR/NA Oldenburg) and the Belgian Warmblood Breeding Association (BWP).

performance scores. However, there has been some interest from Welsh stallion owners wishing to send their stallions to the testing and next year Summer Stoffel, owner of Silver Creek will be sending her Welsh stallion to the 30 Day Pony Testing. “Although the Welsh Society does not require it, they are excited about having a Welsh stallion going through the testing.” Summer explains “The testing is very important for the stallion owners to get a good evaluation of the stallion. The huge cost associated with training, competing, advertising, association and stallion fees each year, this can help the owners decide whether to geld the pony, or keep the pony a breeding stallion. For the mare owners looking to breed, the testing scores can give a good idea about what exactly the stallion is.”

Kathy St. Martin of Avalon Equine echoed Summer’s sentiment. “We have sent more stallions through the testings here in North America than any other in the history of the testings here - 100 Day Tests, 30 Day Tests, 70 Day tests and the Pony tests. I think that even though there will always be some stallions that “fall through the cracks”, I do believe it is an excellent resource for breeders, as well as a good way for stallion owners to fulfill the performance requirements of their stallions. It’s also a good way for mare The Welsh Pony and Cob Society, American Haflinger owners to evaluate young stallions who don’t have offspring Registry, and North American Sport Pony Registry do or competition results.” St. Martin sent her German Riding not require testing using either the 30 Day format or Pony stallion Belafonte de Avalon to the testing as a 3yo. “In this country, we still have a large number of mare owners who The Pony Stallions also jump the same Cross Country Course don’t understand the scoring entirely or how (except the largest stone wall) the horses are required to jump. to incorporate those scores into making a decision on a breeding stallion. That is partly due to the fact that there have been so few pony stallions attending the testing here in North America, as GRPs are still relatively new in this country. Breeders can use those “raw” scores to help make a decision on where they might cross well with their mares. You need to look at your mare’s conformation. Then look at the GPR interior scores of the stallion prospect, movement, jumping ability and technique, it can be an invaluable tool.” St. Martin goes on to explain. ©Angela Prichard

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Promoting and Celebrating Ponies, their Owners & their Lifestyle

Mary Proccopio of New Horizons Haflingers, sent her Haflinger Stallion Stellar TVR to the 30 Day Testing, “Even though the Haflinger Registry does not require any testing of stallions in their registry. It was important to me to get Stellar evaluated. Having stallions evaluated and scored is important to developing a quality breeding program.” Proccopio says. Stellar was inspected and approved as the first Haflinger in both Weser Ems and RPSI stallion book. He is the only Halfinger to be sent to the testing here in North America. The Training Director Harald Hoffmann of Germany was used to seeing Haflingers presented in Germany, and was very happy to see one here in the US.

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New Horizons Haflingers Stallion, Stellar TVR, is the FIRST halfinger to be sent to the testing here in North America. Silver Creek Farm has hosted and run the 70 Day Stallion Test for horses and the 30 Day Pony Stallion Test for the last 5 years. Each fall they bring in a team of riders often from Europe to handle the stallions daily training, a and a Training Director who oversees all the training and evaluates the stallions through the 27 days while they prepare for the 3 final testing days. The Training Director or Judge evaluates character, temperament, willingness to work, constitution, the 3 gaits, free jumping, stadium jumping, cross country jumping and rideability. On the 3 final testing days, 2 guest riders are brought in to evaluate the ponies gaits and rideability.

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continued on page 10

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Stallion

30 DAY testing

continued

On the Final Testing days the guest judges score the ponies in the jump chute for scope and technique, over a cross country course for technique and galloping, and also over a course of stadium jumps again for scope and technique. The scoring of the Pony Test is calculated differently than the tests which the horses complete. The ponies receive scores in the different areas and then an average is calculated for each area: walk, trot, canter, rideablility, jumping, interior and cross country. Looking at the raw score sheet you can see the scores received in the left column, the percentage that score weighs in the final overall score, the individual components are then calculated by overall score from the raw scores in the right column. When you add all of the numbers in the right column, you arrive at the overall score the pony stallion receives in the test. Every year there are different conditions for the test different riders, different judges, etc. Scores given each year provide excellent information about the ponies, but it is impossible to compare the results from year to year. “The ponies requirements are the same as the horses

in the 70 day testing - only they have 30 days.” Stoffel explains. The ponies may be smaller in stature but the expectations are no lower than horses. The ponies run over the same track and same jumps on the cross country course except for the largest stone wall, and are tested over the the same stadium course at the same height the horses jump. “Each stallion has their own personality and set of challenges, our goal is to have each stallion well prepared for the Final Testing days. Their success is very important to us.” Stifle says. “We are excited to offer the pony testing and it is as important for the pony industry as it is for the horse industry. We look forward to the pony testing in 2015 and have already been getting interest from stallion owners!” For the future of the US’s breeding success it is vitally important we keep the standards high. Nowhere else is this more apparent than in the stallion testing. Breeding is often considered a game of luck and chance, but by using the tools we have in this country we can limit the luck required, and increase the quality of our produce.

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Promoting and Celebrating Ponies, their Owners & their Lifestyle

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[5 ]

PQ Insights

Steps By~ Johnny Robb

To Marketing

Your Pony

training and show program…maybe all of these. If marketing two or more things go through the 3-step marketing process separately for each and then look for ways to integrate them after each plan is outlined. In this example let’s proceed as if you are marketing your pony stallion.

Step Two: What is your USP?

breeders and farm owners raise great ponies, train and show them well and run a great facility but fall short on marketing. The reason for this is usually two-fold, the lack of a plan and the lack of clarity about exactly what they are marketing. This happens because equestrians often bundle their messages together haphazardly leaving the-wouldbe consumers confused, unclear and unsold! But marketing your pony or your farm or business can simple if you have a plan and a direction… so let’s take a gallop through an easy 3 step process for developing your marketing plan and believe it or not, I think you are going to enjoy the ride!

Step One: What are you marketing? Determine what you want to market, your pony stallion, your facility and breeding program or perhaps your

>>> Pony Quarterly

Brainstorming with friend and fans of your pony is a great way to discover perceptions of your stallion as you develop his USP. Once you establish your USP you are ready to put together a marketing plan.

Steps Three, Four, and Five: The Marketing Plan Your marketing plan should start with a goal. Why are you planning to market this pony? What is your goal for the ideal outcome? Be specific. (Example: Goal- to sell 11 breedings to Wanmore’s Fine Day in 2015 and sell 3 yearlings from his 2014 foal crop.) This goal is specific and measurable. Have a target of who you are trying to reach to achieve your goal. (For example: Sport pony breeders in the Midwest and North America. The target for the sale yearling might be other breeders, pony hunter trainers, even previous clients that have expressed an interest.)

Kathryn Southard/Janice Thompson

arketing isn’t a four letter word but “sell” is and that is why you market- to sell. Many

Your USP is your Unique Selling Proposition. What makes your pony uniquely desirable? If you list only the things that everyone says in their ads you’ll have a nice list of attributes but not a USP. For example many ponies will have superb bloodlines, an exceptional disposition, an excellent show record, etc. But a USP is more, well… unique! For example: Wanmore’s Fine Day has sired 17 ponies that went on to compete and place in the US Pony Finals. That is a unique selling proposition (USP). You are going to have to do research and get creative to develop a USP but in the end it will make your pony stand out in the consumers mind. The USP must be relevant. For example if you are standing Wanmore’s Fine Day as a potential sire for driving or dressage prospects,

his record of producing 17 Pony Finals contenders is not relevant and you must go back and uncover a different USP.

Somermist Bellanova (Farnley Belshazzar x Fox Ridge Cadence) . Jr. Champion Half Welsh Pony and 1st Place Hunter Pony Breeding Futurity Filly at the Maryland Pony Breeders Show. Expertly presented by Jacqueline Morris, Fat Chance Farm, Forest Hill, Maryland.

Promoting and Celebrating Ponies, their Owners & their Lifestyle

Now armed with Target (who), your USP (what) and your Goal (why) you are ready to outline your action items and time line (where and when) Initial Actions; Make sure your website is updated. If you have a website promoting your farm and pony stallion make sure the site is current and focused on the USP outlined in step two. Also remember a website is a visual medium. Pepper your website with excellent high quality photos and make your pony the star of your website. Give visitors a chance to really know your pony, his personality quirks, favorite treats and other details that will endear visitors. Remember the common denominator is a love of ponies, so let visitors fall in love with your pony for the same reasons you did. If you don’t have website you probably still need to get one. Facebook fan pages can feel like a website replacement and are very valuable, but they really do not replace a website yet. The website adds stability to your brand and makes contacting you easier. It should of course link to your Facebook page, Pinterest etc.

Utilize PR to get news out about your stallion. Send show results, keuring and stallion testing results, news about offspring, etc. You can hire a PR professional yourself or take advantage of inexpensive do-it yourself equine PR sites such as www.EquineNewsRoom.com.

Tips of The Trade [ print ad design ]

be a model for equestrian catalogs, etc. And don’t overlook the obvious-post nice signs on tack store and feed store bulletin boards. Position yourself as the pony expert you are- - offer to write columns or how-to articles. Stay after writers that do not tout the sires and dam lines of ponies in stories. Ask editors to include sire dam and breeders information on their horses and ponies featured in stories. Plan on doing some traditional print advertising. And be sure and heed the 5 print tips when developing your print ads:

Too small is too bad. Your pony may be small but he’ll need the biggest ad you can afford to stand out. One great photo wins over 5 small photos every time.

Don’t over stuff your ad. Keep it simple with a single message.

4 5

Make sure your creative matches your brand image. Don’t try to fill the ad with everything you have to say entice people to call and learn more.

Engage in social media. Your pony should have his own Facebook Fan Page for news clips, foal photos, shot highlights and everything that supports your pony’s USP. Pinterest and Youtube are also excellent social media sites to promote your stallion on. Again quality videos and photos are the key to making your pony standout.

Many pony and horse registries offer promotional tools for members and breeders. Look into what your registry has to offer and take advantage of any turnkey programs they offer. Governing bodies such as USEF, USDF and USHJA also have marketing tools and ideas for their members.

Take advantage of website listings. There are a number of opportunities to list your stallion on directories online, many are free or have a nominal cost. Many breed associations offer stallion and breeder listings that are very useful.

Local “Guerilla Marketing” can be an extremely effective way to market. From open houses and farms tours to “Name the Foal” contests-- possibilities are unlimited. If you have great photos of your beautiful pony offer to let him

Once you have your marketing action steps outlined and a timetable for when each action item will be implemented. With this completed you have your who, what, when, where, and why. Now go forth and market your stallion, farm or business confidently!

Johnny Robb is a lifelong equestrian and multiple national champion. Robb combines her passion for equestrian sports with more than 25 years of national and international marketing and public relations experience. She has formed the highly successful equestrianfocused marketing firm, JRPR, Inc. and the do-it-yourself Equine PR website, EquineNewsRoom.com.

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Promoting and Celebrating Ponies, their Owners & their Lifestyle

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CelebratingPonies RPSI TOP Pony Foal Results Solomon Farm’s filly SF Sgt. Reckless

Dreamscape Farm’s filly Betty Boop DFS

photo by Jennifer Arnoldt

Kimberly Peavy’s colt Easton

Fox Creek’s colt FC Masterpiece

RPSI Top 2014 German Riding Pony Fillies:

RPSI Top 2014 German Riding Pony Colts:

1). Fox Creek’s Amira (Chicco B x StPrSt Die Oder Keine – FS Don’t Worry) 8.6 Dianna Orona, Fox Creek Farm, Manhattan, KS

1). Fox Creek’s Masterpiece (Manchester City x Bella Sandra – Charivari) 8.8 Dianna Orona, Fox Creek Farm, Manhattan, KS

2). SF Sgt Reckless (Smoke Tree Snapdragon x Hope Floats – Dewan) 8.5 Ann Daum Kustar, Solomon Farm, Okaton, SD

2). Fox Creek’s Dun No Wrong (FS Daily Hero x StPrSt Lorena – FS Champion de Luxe) 8.4 Dianna Orona, Fox Creek Farm, Manhattan, KS

3). Centerpiece (Makuba x VPrSt Chianti – Kiribati) 8.3 Natalie Cwik, Tenacious Acres, Deerfield, WI 4T). Betty Boop DSF (Bodyguard x Rainbow DSF – Makuba) 8.1 Jennifer & Armin Arnoldt, Dreamscape Farm, Langley, BC Canada 4T). Fox Creek’s Bon Ami Bonnie (Anydale Ron x Wicked Crème Delight – Wicked Courtjester) 8.1 Dianna Orona, Fox Creek Farm, Manhattan, KS 4T). Fox Creek’s J’Adore Dior (Benno’s Dream x VPrSt FCF Design by Dior – FS Dior de Luxe) 8.1 Dianna Orona, Fox Creek Farm, Manhattan, KS

3T). Fox Creek’s Treasure (Totilas x Fox Creek’s Early Bird – Halifax) 8.3 Dianna Orona, Fox Creek Farm, Manhattan, KS 3T). SF Snickerdoodle (Smoke Tree Snapdragon x SF Limelight– Le Mode) 8.3 Ann Daum Kustar, Solomon Farm, Okaton, SD 4T). Fox Creek’s Butterscotch (Bennos Dream x Onjalei Dancer – Wederlie Mardi Gras) 8.2 Dianna Orona, Fox Creek Farm, Manhattan, KS

Fox Creek’s filly Amira

New Horizon’s haflinger colt Rafinja

>>> Pony Quarterly

Promoting and Celebrating Ponies, their Owners & their Lifestyle

Fox Creek’s mare VPrST FC Daisy Duke*

4T). SF Spirit Dream (SF Spirit x VPrSt Morton’s Pretty Kitty – Rosedale Top Cat) 8.2 Ann Daum Kustar, Solomon Farm, Okaton, SD

Smoke Tree Snapdragon

RPSI Top 2014 Kleines Deutsches Reitpferd Colts: 1). Easton (Edward Scissorhands d’Avalon x Wellbreds Crème de Puff – Rosmel’s Crème de Mint) 8.4 Kimberly Peavy, Belleview, FL 2). Bartholomew (Belafonte d’Avalon x Orca – Rapport) 8.1 Heather Messner, Heather’s Riding School, Gunnison, CO

RPSI Top 2014 Haflinger Fillies: 1). Rafinja of New Horizons (Stellar TVR x Ricola DTA – Adanac) 8.1 Mary Procopio, New Horizons Haflingers, Laingsburg, MI

RPSI Top 2014 German Riding Pony Mare Book: 1). VPrSt Fox Creek’s Daisy Duke* (Adonis x StPrSt Die Kleine Hexe – Golden Dancer) 8.3 *MT Dianna Orona, Fox Creek Farm, Manhattan, KS

(Bunbury Jamboree x Smoke Tree Spun Gold) 2006 Palomino Sabino, 12.3 h, Welsh B, RPSI Pony Book 1

Solomon Farm

2). VPrSt Wicked Crème Delight (Wicked Courtjester x Jacodi’s Bo’s Bonny – Merrie Moscan) 7.3 Dianna Orona, Fox Creek Farm, Manhattan, KS

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3T). VPrSt Bella Luna OHF (Balou du Rouet x Argentina – Argentan) 7.1 Wendy Davis-Gerrish, October Hill Farm, Weatherford, TX 3T). VPrSt Donabella* (FS Cracker Jack x StPrSt Dornroschen T – Danny Gold) 7.1 *MT Dianna Orona, Fox Creek Farm, Manhattan, KS

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4T) VPrSt Free Rayn Tsunami (Village Prince x Wildwych Valkyrie – Glenormiston Flurry Knox) 7.0 Heidi Wangler, Alpenglow Sport Ponies, Loyalton, CA 4T). VPrSt Meisterin (Meisterwind/T x Willowbez AA – Bezalla ox) 7.0 Catherine Erickson, Dakota Sky Sporthorses, Carlisle, KY 4T). VPrSt Rigelle (Regulus x Cindy n Change xx – Exchanger xx) 7.0 Laura Burket, Battle Creek Dressage, Louisville, KY

Top 2014 Haflinger Mare Book: 1). VPrSt Ricola (Adanac x Ricarda II GF – Nabucco) 7.1 Mary Procopio, New Horizons Haflingers, Laingsburg, MI

(Smoke Tree Snapdragon x Le Mode) 2011 Buckskin, 14.2 ½ h, GRP, RPSI Pony Book

Tenacious Acre’s filly Centerpiece

Fox Creek’s mare VPrSt Wiched Creme Delight

Solomon Farm’s colt SF Snickerdoodle

>>> WINTER 2015

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PQ Insights

A Be er! nn i W

Welsh Breeding Trends By~ Sue Weakley

Bridle Wood Welsh’s Classic Deesign (Clanfair Signature, LOM/AOe X *Eyarth Dee, LOM/LOM). She was the 2014 HOTY Champion Zone 10, 3 year old Pony Hunter Breeding.

hen it comes to the latest fashion in Welsh ponies, top breeders agree on one thing when “designing” the newest additions to their spring line-up: they strive to remain true to the mother country standards set in Great Britain by the Welsh Pony and Cob Society in 1901. We talked to three breeders representing different geographical regions of the United States and, although they breed differently, they remain loyal to the standards set more than 100 years ago.

Middle America Remains True Gail Thomson of Gayfields Farm in Heth, Arkansas, is expecting her 50th foal crop in 2015.

A breeder of Section B ponies, Thomson says that the ponies are a labor of love and she strives to improve the breed however she can. “It’s changed over the years but it’s been really fun to do,” she says. “I’m not going to give it up until I’m in the pine box!” She says things have

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changed since the economic downturn in 2008 affected all horse and pony breeders. “It’s been a whole new ballgame, but we’re getting back to normal.” Thomson believes the changes have been good in that they caused breeders to be more careful with their breeding decisions because they don’t produce as many ponies. She is expecting seven foals in 2015 and says she is trying to breed up to the 14.2 hand height limit for Section B ponies without losing the type. “I think serious breeders are the ones who are keeping our breed going,” she says. “I breed for the best Welsh pony I can possibly put together. What I try when I am breeding is to get a pony true to breed standard that is athletic as well as beautiful. It’s so much fun and I’ve met some of the most wonderful people through Welsh ponies.” She says that for her, breeding hunter-type ponies has been the most lucrative but she doesn’t just breed hunter ponies. “I don’t limit my ponies or myself to that,” Thomson says. “This is the way I feel: if you have a really good pony, it can do anything your want it to if its conformation is correct. Welsh ponies are well balanced to begin with. I think they can be beautiful and

Promoting and Celebrating Ponies, their Owners & their Lifestyle

Show held in the mid-Wales countryside, and Thomson is one of them. “That was probably a highlight of my life,” she laughed. “It was so much fun even though it was pouring down rain the whole time. I didn›t care how wet I got.”

California Goes For Gold Standard Megan Burtness of BridleWood Welsh in Pasa Robles, California, also breeds Section B ponies and

do anything in the performance world they are asked to do. What I breed for is correct conformation, disposition, attitude and, yes, I like beauty too.”

She says that not only are Welsh ponies prized for their ability in the hunter ring, but they are also used for a variety of disciplines, including driving. From pulling Cinderella’s carriage at Disney World to the pair named Boomer and Sooner who parade around the University of Oklahoma’s football field after a touchdown, their unique look makes them recognizable to their legions of fans. “They make

says that the two main influencers of Welsh ponies in today’s industry are the domestic and the imported types, and she breeds her ponies with an eye toward the imported. “There has been a huge shift toward the imported look,” she says, adding that, although pony types don’t tip to the extreme in any part of the United States, the East Coast ponies trend toward the imported look, which has more of a Thoroughbred influence. “I would term it more of that modern imported look where the ponies have more of an extreme look - more upright in the front end. They tend to have a higher set neck and, often, a more chiseled head. There are many stunning heads on many ponies from many backgrounds, but the imported look seems to have that as one of its more consistent features.”

a good ride,” Thomson explains. “Welsh ponies are sensible. They are dynamic and they are personable and they have these huge eyes. It’s a wonderful breed.” Although the Welsh pony registry in the United States is the second largest in the world and only five years younger than the one started in Great Britain, the British standard is still the one held up to high esteem. “Our whole breed is based on the Welsh Pony and Cob Society of Britain in that everything that is here goes back to the stud book that is over there,” Thomson says. “Every strand of their pedigree goes right back to Wales.” Only two foreign judges have ever been asked to participate in judging at the largest Welsh breed show, the Royal Horse Burtress says she does not import frozen semen from abroad since she has a lot of import-bred stock in her program and her primary stallion is by two imported parents. She thoughtfully adds domestic breeding

into the mix as well. “The one thing that can be said about domestic ponies is they have a long, long history and are tried and true kid’s ponies,” Burtness says. “With my program, I am very, very careful to balance the two. I try to select domestic stock that has a little bit more of that modern look to it. I also try very hard to select imported lines that are known for having a good brain while trying to create a pony that combines that imported, fancier look.” As the

Mimi Gochman on Rafael and Sophie Gochman on Love Me Tender both owned by Dr. Betsee Parker

mother of two small children, she says she must have sane ponies around her kids. “I have a long time saying, ‘Life is too short for bad ponies.’” continued on page 20 >>> WINTER 2015

www.PonyQ.com

that a responsible breeder makes every cross with the intention of bettering the breed while furthering their program. “When I say we focus more on quality than quantity, I mean we are extremely selective with our own mares,” she says. “We don’t breed mares just because we have them. In my opinion, it’s better to have fewer foals than to make crosses that you don’t think will produce exceptional foals.” Burtress says it’s the breeder’s responsibility to know if a mare is better suited to be a performance pony or a kid’s pony or a broodmare. “The same goes for stallions,” she adds. “As a new colt is brought along and is deemed top enough quality to stay a stallion, he also has to prove himself to be a good producer of quality ponies that make the breeder proud.”

Welsh Breeding Trends

continued

Although she usually produces two or three foals each year, she has seven pure bred foals due in 2015. Her success was proven with two of her yearlings capturing national titles in 2013. “As a breeder, you always have to be willing to watch the market and change with it and not get left behind,” she advises. “And the biggest advice I can give to any breeder is never, ever breed yourself into a corner. You never want to get stuck. You always want to look within a three- to five-year period of time as to where you are going. I tell breeders if they ever get stuck, take a third to a quarter of their mares and breed them to outside stallions. You have to be willing to go outside of your comfort zone and do something a little bit different to open up your options. You have to be able to sell to multiple markets. Yes, the hunter world is absolutely one of my markets. Is it my primary market? Is it my primary focus? No. Do I take into consideration the size I might produce? Absolutely.”

be breeding for: what’s going to sell and what’s going to win a national title in the ring today, and what will to be a hunter pony or a driving pony in the future. It’s a huge undertaking for a buyer to buy a weanling and a breeder may need to plan to have them mature.”

Burtness says another thing breeders should consider is if they are going to sell weanlings or ponies that have been started. “If you are breeding animals that are going to be hunter ponies or performance ponies, you may have to keep them for three to five years,” she explains. “And so there are really two things you can

animal. And the long and the short of it is ponies are fun. They are not like horses − especially Welsh ponies. By and large, they are easier to work with and they are funny and they have personalities. Honestly, I can sell ponies more easily now then I could when the market was better, but I am getting better quality.” Burtress says

“In the end, I am a Welsh breeder and my primary focus is to promote and extend the Welsh breed,” she says. “A good pony can do anything. There is always a market for a quality

“

>>> Pony Quarterly

...find the pony that makes your heart sing,” she says. “That’s my advice. Then, look at that pedigree and find other ponies similar to that pedigree and see if they turn you on like that original pony did.

“

Pat Cochran

Promoting and Celebrating Ponies, their Owners & their Lifestyle

Farther North Maintains Status Quo Pat Cochran of Banks, Oregon,

has bred Section A ponies for the past 28 years at her Lochinvar Farms, but has laid low for the for the past two years after her husband passed away. She says that although she had no trouble selling her ponies during the recession and people are still selling ponies, there has been a definite trend toward the number of Welsh pony breeders decreasing. “I think there are a couple things happening,” she says “Overall, the horse industry in general has slowed down and it’s not just Welsh ponies. Part of it is an aging population that grew up with Roy Rogers and all those Westerns, and that population is aging out.” She thinks people are not going into the equine industry as much because the price of available land has increased. Although the number of breeders has decreased, she says there is still a market for a quality animal. One trend she has taken into account is the popularity of smaller ponies. Cochran attributes this to a new rule in which the smaller ponies can be driven in a vehicle without a navigator. “That really has opened up this new market for breeding a pony that’s at the 11 hand mark,” she says. “That’s a real boon for drivers. I think we are going to see more and more people looking for that size pony.”

Welsh Ponies − An Ancient Breed

Sophie Gochman on Love Me Tender owned by Dr. Betsee Parker

Cochran says she is not looking for any changes in conformation and will start breeding again in the spring.

“I’m breeding for that really dynamic mountain pony with action and a sturdy build,” she says. “I try to create the best pony I can that most closely matches the breed type. In order to be able to do that you need to have a mental image of what that breed type looks like in your mind so that you can try to achieve that. That’s complicated. You need to know your bloodlines. You need to know what bloodlines pass down certain traits. You have to do your homework. It’s a crapshoot with DNA but you can minimize it. You are not doing the right thing if you don’t keep taking that learning curve.”

Beyond doing their homework, her advice for new breeders is simple, “I tell them to find the pony that makes your heart sing,” she says. “That’s my advice. Then, look at that pedigree and find other ponies similar to that pedigree and see if they turn you on like that original pony did. The very first Welsh show we went to, we drove in just as this pure white stallion was trotting out with this purple ribbon around him. He had just won Supreme Champion and he was just full of himself. I’m telling you my heart just leaped in my chest. I ended up buying his sire years later and he is the sire of my mare that has given me my very best foals. I have that pedigree in every single animal in my herd.” “And remember,” she says. “Good ponies will always find a home.

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Welsh ponies began in the rough terrain of Wales in the United Kingdom and the hardy animals adapted to and flourished in the rugged hills and valleys there. They became the choice of farmers as well as royalty. During the World Wars, the ponies were relied upon to carry heavy artillery and were prized for their steadfast endurance. Today, Welsh ponies can be found in driving, hunters, dressage, combined training, English and Western Pleasure, and heavy harness. They are traditionally divided into four sections: Sections A, B, C and D. Section A The Section A Welsh pony is also known as the Welsh Mountain Pony and is the foundation of the breed. They are characterized by a large, bold eye, tiny head, short back, strong quarters, a high set tail, straight foreleg and short cannon bones and may not exceed 12.2 hands. Section B Section B ponies do not exceed 14.2 hands but have no lower height limit. They are well known for their athletic and elegant movement while retaining the substance and hardiness of the foundation ponies. Section C The Section C pony is also known as the Welsh Pony of Cob Type. They are strong, hardy and active with as much substance as possible. They may not exceed 13.2 hands and should have bold eyes, strong, dense hooves, a moderate quantity of silky feather, lengthy hindquarters and powerful hocks.

Frutig Palat Section D The Section D Welsh Cob exceeds 13.2 hands TC F I with no upper limit on height. Section D ponies are strong and powerfully hardy and have become a popular choice for dressage, combined training and combined driving. Log onto the British Welsh Pony and Cob Society at www.wpcs.uk.com and the Welsh Pony and Cob Society of America www.welshpony.org.

Scan QR code with your cell or Go online - www.ponyq.com >>> WINTER 2015

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Promoting and Celebrating Ponies, their Owners & their Lifestyle

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PQ Insights

y t h

e l M o , h l l ! a w N m a U S d F f n o a t lo ig

n Je

g Ni

So... you own

a Pony Stallion ht

tallions, big or small, come with a different set of rules than geldings or mares... While they are a big responsibility and can even be a liability, a good stallion can be well worth the effort and a personal bond with one very rewarding.

If you are lucky enough to find that special individual that will give you their all, you will have a super partner whether in or out of the show ring. While giving you that extra flash and proud presence which makes them fun to ride and eye-catching during competition, stallions have big personalities, enjoy having their own person or people, and can sometimes be quite particular about things. Showing a talented and wellbehaved stallion is a good way of advertising him for potential breeding opportunities, and a successful show record adds to that appeal. On the other hand, stallions can also be unruly and downright dangerous and become a handful to control, which makes them unsuitable for the

>>> Pony Quarterly

Promoting and Celebrating Ponies, their Owners & their Lifestyle

inexperienced of faint of heart owner/rider/handler. It is the stallion owner’s duty to keep both, the stallion and people/horses around him safe at all times and requires experience and a strong personality on the owner’s part. Most behavioral training should be done at home. Be sure you have a good handle on your stallion whether from the ground or on his back, a loose stallion is a terrible thing for everyone involved. Once good handling, ground rules and manners are established then the outings can begin. Set you and your stallion up for success, not failure, with mini trips off the farm. Go to places where you feel comfortable and will have good help if needed. Remember - practice makes perfect! The more positive reinforcement a stallion gets from these outings, the easier your first show with him will be. Flight animals - like horses - generally have much more of a heightened sense

Ride into a warm-up area on a stallion and he knows in short order which horse is a gelding or stallion and, of course, where the mares are.

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Small, Mighty...

continued

of awareness than people. Ride into a warm up area on a stallion and he knows in short order which horse is a gelding or stallion and, of course, where the mares are. He knows who will be a challenge for them and who to ignore. It is the riders job, when on a stallion to be one step ahead of his thinking if possible and avoid any problems or divert possible temptations that could arise. PONY - a lot of fun in a small package but also sometimes a four-letter word! Ponies in general can have much more attitude and feistiness than their bigger horse relatives. Ever hear the old horseman’s quote : “A child who can survive a pony will make a really good rider”? There is some truth to that, however, they can also be a lot of fun and serious competition partners for both children and adults. Over the years they have been gaining in popularity and recognition at all levels and a variety of different disciplines. Now put the word “stallion” behind the word “pony” and you will have a completely different scenario! Pony stallions have no idea of their size. If anything they think they are bigger, stronger and WAY more important than any horse around them. This can be problematic in handling and showing if it gets out of control. In the pony stallion’s mind there is no one too big for them to take on. A cheeky enthusiastic personality from a pony stallion is cute and fun but a naughty, wild one is not. When managing a stallion one must never forget he is a stallion, regardless of how well behaved they are, things can go very wrong, very fast and you need to be on your toes. There is no need to treat them any differently, but be extra aware of things around them, understand and read their instinctual actions. Being consistent about this will make the partnership between stallion, their person and others go well. A stallion owner who is fortunate enough to have the special individual that has a successful show career and is also highly sought after for breeding, will quickly learn about the problem of scheduling conflicts. It is the stallion owners responsibility to alert the mare owners when he will and will not be available due to showing dates. Competing and breeding simultaneously requires good handling and training to teach the differences to your stallion. With today’s modern technologies in reproduction, there is virtually no reason for

Pony stallions have no idea of their size. If anything they think they are bigger, stronger and WAY more important than any horse around them. 26

>>> Pony Quarterly

Ballencrieff ’s Brogan at Elderglen Farm

live cover. Not having the physical contact with mares makes it a little easier to keep breeding and competing separate. Most stallions who are successful in both the breeding shed and at competitions have been taught the differences and understand what is required of them and where. However during the breeding season their personalities can still change to some extent. Stallions and particularly pony stallions can be either a whole lot of headache or a whole lot of fun. Stallions should earn the right to remain a stallion. The right is earned by following a list of criteria but a few that should top that list are, having an excellent temperament, successful career, proving he is sound and sane - all attributes that along with good conformation and movement are nice to pass along to offspring. They say, “Ask a mare, Tell a gelding and Discuss with a stallion...” as long as the discussion is safe, clear and rational all should go fine.

Jeanette Knight has ridden horses since the age of 4. She has had years of experience with a wide variety of different breeds of horses and disciplines. Jeanette along with her husband have owned and operated Wolf Run Farm for the past 25 years, a premiere breeding facility and stallion station in Buxton, Maine. Recently relocated to Loxahatchee Florida and is actively competing as an adult amateur in Dressage.

Promoting and Celebrating Ponies, their Owners & their Lifestyle

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PQ Insights

The 3 Pâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Practice, Position, Purpose By~ Doug Bruce

o matter what discipline you and your pony compete, these three words are integral to your success, safety and fun. Riders and their ponies can benefit from practice, position, and purpose.

Practice: Ponies as well as children need routine not only to build strength and stamina but also to develop connections and partnerships. Practicing with a set plan to include suppling exercises, strength building exercises and brain engagement will build a great foundation for success. Position: Forthe young rider, position is paramount to function and success so therefore function follows form. The riders must practice and work on their form and position consistently to benefit themselves as well as help their ponies in any situation. Strength of core and control of oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s position will aide the pony in performing their required job with confidence and ease and will help the green pony gain confidence and bravery as well as willingness to perform.

>>> Pony Quarterly

Purpose:

Every rider should ride with an objective in mind especially if they have aspirations for future competition. We have all heard it many times; every stride counts and horses only have so many jumps in them. When you ride with a purpose in mind, in that moment or in the future, the ponies are bright, they think and remember, so every step counts. These three objectives I like to apply to my hunter ponies and teach both adults and children as young as 10 the importance of striving to give the best ride possible. Flat work is very important and the foundation for any success over fences. The ponies and riders must have 3 speeds at the walk trot ad the canter and must be able to perform those at any given time with relative ease. An indication that jumping may commence is when there is a noticeable change in pace in all three gates and the riders position is secure and soft. As an introduction to jumping start your pony by working over poles and some raised cavaletties. A great exercise is to place two poles on the ground set approximately 5

Promoting and Celebrating Ponies, their Owners & their Lifestyle

strides apart. This width maintains the riders’ position and the pony and rider can canter over without jumping. When the 5 strides are successfully completed then try adding an extra stride to achieve a collected rhythm. It is very important for the rider to maintain their position thru the entire exercise. Encourage the pony to move off the leg, hand and seat without compromising the upper body position. Jumping exercises not only helps riders position but also trains the pony to be straight and quiet, yet jump athletically. A simple gymnastic will work wonders for both pony and rider after they have successfully mastered the flat work. When setting up a gymnastic, you must know what your pony stride is and have not only a purpose for rider’s position improvement, but for the style and form of the pony. A very simple exercise is the ground pole to a cross rail, then walk your distance for the appropriate size of the pony’s stride building to a small vertical or a larger cross rail. Be careful to build the gymnastic slowly so that it will instill confidence and quietness thru the exercise for both rider and pony. The final obstacle could be an oxer set at 2 strides. Ponies tend to like doing these exercises a great deal and this work will teach the rider to sit quietly and hold their position. Once the pony and rider have gone thru the obstacles quietly and confidently you may adjust the line length to work on style of the pony.

The suggested pony hunter distances when showing, are as follows:

Small:

steady stride 9’9 normal stride 10 flowing stride 10’3

Medium: steady stride 10’3 normal stride 10’6 flowing stride10’9 Large:

steady stride 11 normal stride 11’3 flowing 11’6 forward 11’9

The key to more advance exercises is being able to do the basics with ease, and in today’s horseshow environment; the tests asked of both pony and ridery are difficult and more technical. The pony medal classes are more challenging thus preparing children at a younger age to do much more advanced tests. The progression will hopefully prepare our riders for future success on the world stage.

>>> WINTER 2015

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Promoting and Celebrating Ponies, their Owners & their Lifestyle

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>>> WINTER 2015

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veryone loves a good underdog story.

Forrest Nymph’s story is no exception - A small red headed mare with strong opinions and a distaste for the dressage arena. Two owners who weren’t quite sure what to do with her and a WEG competitor who hadn’t really considered a pony as a serious eventing mount. With a little luck, and just by chance, Forrest Nymph (aka Farrah), her owner Beth Davidson, and Sinead Halpin seem to be writing a story we will all be following for sometime to come.

While Sinead was home nursing a broken ankle she received an email from Lauren DeLalla, an acquaintance she had met while Lauren lived in Virginia. The two hadn’t seen or spoken

FLY FARRAH

FLY

to each other in over 10 years. “I know of a pony you might be interested in.” Lauren wrote. After Farrahs rider left the area for college, Farrah was in need of a good rider. Lauren thought she knew the perfect person. Sinead Halpin an accomplished four star event rider who is slight in build but at 5’7’’ she’s taller than most riders who normally find themselves aboard ponies. Although a pony wasn’t really on her list of ideal eventing mounts, she chuckled as she explained what made her take a chance on a pony. “I was in a funk. My ankle was broken, and I was feeling like I didn’t have enough good horses to ride.” Sinead explained. She sent a friend to go try the pony. Beth Davidson, Farrah’s second owner, almost sent her back after the first two weeks Farrah was at her barn. Beth stuck with the mare, taking her for trail rides, and then hunter

>>> Pony Quarterly

Promoting and Celebrating Ponies, their Owners & their Lifestyle

paces, and then to a few events. Now Beth had a pretty good idea the mare could jump, and jump big! The key was to find a rider who could handle the mare. “At first, I thought I’d train her, compete a bit and then maybe she’d be for sale.” Sinead says. “But the mare hasn’t shown any signs of topping out and keeps improving. “ The pair in their first year together have completed one training, five preliminary, three intermediate, one CIC 2* and one CCI 2* together, and have never placed out of the top ten. “First the goal is to be competitive nationally at an international level. And then see where it goes. There are plans for a couple of two stars… and of course going advanced”. The pair have plans for Ocala Horse Properties, Rocking Horse II, Red Hills CIC2*, The Fork and Jersey Fresh CCI 2*. The excitement of this next year for Farrah and Sinead is certainly building, and these underdogs have gathered an army of followers waiting to see what this year brings. Afterall it IS a Pan American Games year, and what better way to continue the story but with a trip to Toronto in July representing United States. But for an eventer July is a long way off and if you ask Sinead about plans that far ahead she will likely answer “I just take it day by day.”

Stay tuned for the next article in a series, as we follow Beth, Sinead, and Farrah!

Be Apart of the

Farrah Fun! www.gofundme.com/helpfundfarrah Its not an easy task getting a pony to the top of any discipline! Beth Davidson, Farrah’s owner has started a GoFundMe account to help raise funds to cover the expenses associated with having a top athlete. “I am a biologist by day and the owner of Black Dog Farm in Plant City, Florida where I run a breeding program for Connemara Sport Ponies. Committing to this partnership and upper level expenses has been tough and has required sacrifices from my family to make ends meet. Sinead has also supported a lot of expense out of pocket, because she believes in the pony and believes ponies have a place in the Eventing world.” “We had hoped to syndicate Farrah in 2014, but have not been successful to date. Sinead and I are asking all fans, supporters, fellow eventers and pony enthusiasts to jump on board to help this partnership continue in 2015. We’d like to give them a shot at Advanced in summer/fall of 2015, but without outside assistance, we will have to place Farrah up for sale.”

“

At first, I thought I’d train her, compete a bit and then maybe she’d be for sale.” Sinead says. “But the mare hasn’t shown any signs of topping out and keeps improving.

It’s not every day that an underdog gets a shot, but I believe in the pony, I believe in Sinead, and I believe that the pair has a lot to show the eventing world!” - Beth Davidson

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>>> WINTER 2015

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