Riding Pony - What's the definition?

badgerdog

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The sire of my filly is registered as a 'Riding Pony'. He is 15.3hh (so a horse not a pony) and is half TB half Riding Pony.
Forgive me for my ignorance but what is the definition of a 'Riding Pony'?
I was trying to work out the breeding of my filly and the term 'Riding Pony' doesn't seem very useful!
 
I think its a term for unridden show ponies. When I used to work for a showing yard all the show classes for inhand show ponies were called riding pony. eg riding pony broodmare. Just to add i think it is an older term for show ponies and some breeders still use the term especially abroad.
 
Thanks! So it looks like it's a show pony, but it still confuses me that a horse of 15.3hh can be classed as a pony!
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Riding pony is under 14.2hh and used for showing. If a breeder crosses with a larger breed to perhaps get a foal to make a show hunter pony there is a chance that when they register them with the National Pony Society they think it will stay under 15hh but by the time it matures it has become a horse but its papers will state that it is a pony. Also if there is large breeding in the history of a riding pony it can when bred from throw back to the larger breed.
 
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