The show pony, often referred to as ‘riding pony’, originated in the United Kingdom but can now be found all over the globe. Australia, New Zealand and even South Africa have been seduced by the beauty and elegance of these animals.
Is Your Pony Show Material?
The most important things, when it comes to the show pony class, are manners, performance and paces. A fairly good looking pony that is perfectly behaved can often beat a much more physically correct competitor if it doesn’t behave or move as well.
The top show ponies will also be incredibly well put together. Good limbs, an elegant arched neck and a strong front will all be looked on very favourably by the judge. Type is also very important in the show pony ring. Show ponies are expected to be quality, refined riding animals. This usually goes hand in hand with an infusion of thoroughbred, and sometimes Arab blood, mixed in with more native English bloodlines. The infusion of thoroughbred blood is usually very prominent, especially in the larger show ponies. A coarse looking animal will not be very successful beyond local level shows.
Many people, mistakenly, think that show ponies should look like miniature show hacks. This is simply not the case. There is no doubt that show ponies should possess the same amount of elegance and correctness of conformation as their larger counterparts but they should still exhibit pony like characteristics, including a relatively small, compact pony-like head.
Which Show Class?
Show ponies are divided into a number of different classes:
- Lead-rein: In the UK, lead rein ponies are not supposed to exceed 122cm and the riders are of three to seven years of age.
- First ridden: Ponies must not exceed 122cm but the riders can be up to ten years of age.
- The 128cm Show Pony: These ponies must not exceed 128cm and they can be ridden by a rider of up to 13 years of age.
- The 138cm Show Pony: Ponies must not exceed 138cm and riders must be no older than 15 years of age
- The 148cm Show Pony: Ponies must not exceed 148cm and riders must be no older than 17 years of age.
What to Wear
Standard show wear for a show pony rider consists of canary or beige coloured jodhpurs, smart brown jodhpur boots attached to the jodhpurs with clips or elastic, a smart shirt, a tie of the same colour as the pony’s browband, a waistcoat, a pair of leather gloves, a good quality navy jacket and a high-crown navy velvet riding helmet. Colours for all of these items can be experimented with until you achieve the perfect, polished look.
The show pony usually wears a fine, delicate double bridle, to flatter the small pony head, or a simple snaffle bridle if you are competing in the first ridden, lead rein or novice classes. A smart showing saddle, straight-cut to show off the saddle, can be found at most saddlery stores. The bridle’s browband is where most show pony owners really go to town. Show browbands can be made to order in a variety of textures, colours and levels of extravagance. Some people even attach rhinestones and glitter to their browbands!
What to Expect from the Class
The actual format will vary from class to class. In the sections catering for the younger children, the judge will only expect the pony to carry out the most basic of exercises. For example, the lead-rein pony will merely be asked to trot, led by a handler, with the child executing rising trot.
In the larger height divisions, the children are, generally, much more accomplished riders. In turn, the larger ponies need to show that they can accommodate a more advanced rider.
All classes, aside from the lead rein class, will ask for the riders to perform an individual show. These performances will include walk, trot and canter and the larger ponies will also have to show a short burst of extended canter.
Most judges will also want to see the pony without a saddle on, to enable them to assess the animal’s conformation. The young rider will have to practice standing his or her pony up properly for the judge and trotting the pony up so that the straightness of the paces can be checked.
Memories that will Last You a Lifetime
The British riding pony is a credit to years of breeding and experimenting with various bloodlines. However, they are no longer the sole reserve of the English. Many top quality pony stallions and mares are exported overseas every year. If you and your child get the chance to own and compete one of these stunning creatues it will be a time in your life that you remember and treasure forever...
Follow these links for more information on how to pick a show horse and how to prepare for the ring.
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