Showing question

[Marigold4]

Went to a lovely show yesterday and even missed the rain. Companion pony did her first ever show (youngstock). Really pleased with her laidback attitude - wouldn't trot round but apart from that a successful day out.

Class was big with lots of lovely useful looking younsters that would make great ridden prospects, some hunter types, some nice M&M and a couple of potential riding horse types. Class was won, plus second place by two ponies whose purpose mystified me. 12 hands, tiny versions of riding ponies, minute heads with bulging eyes, very, very fine legs and movement that took daisy cutting to extremes - very, very straight movement from the shoulder. What is the purpose of these ponies? Who will ride them? They look quite hot with lots of TB so can't see them being a first pony but can't imagine them being able to carry very much weight at all. Who would break them in? They wouldn't be able to carry an adult. Or are they just for inhand? I'm a little bit horrified by them! Is this what we are now looking for in show ponies??

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Sometimes judges' decisions are unfathomable. It's best to concentrate on the fact that your own pony did what you asked her to do (bar trotting) and you had a good day giving her experience.

 

[minesadouble]

My mum breeds RP first ridden, they are now very refined. You can get away with a smidge of native blood in a LR but FR not so much.
Broken by small adults. I used to break them years ago. They do tend to be sharp but they're generally not lunatics.
One of my mum's was 2nd at HOYS as a 4 year old with a small child on board, she was a super little rider. They have a lot to cope with at big shows. A massive ask for any 4yo to deal with that atmosphere no matter what the breeding.
The children who ride them are usually brought up with RPs and it's all they ever ride. It was all I ever rode until I got to 16 and one person's 'sharp' becomes your normal.

 

[Marigold4]

Sometimes judges' decisions are unfathomable. It's best to concentrate on the fact that your own pony did what you asked her to do (bar trotting) and you had a good day giving her experience.

Yes, we had a lovely morning and had absolutely no expectations of a rosette. I can see the ponies were stunning examples of what they were. Judge clearly had a thing for little ones - third place went to a miniature. I'm just questioning the point of pretty but unrideable ponies and hoping this type of breeding doesn't go too far!

 

[lottiepony]

They may have been British Riding Ponies? Once upon a time these were what a lot of children rode...have a google. Sadly you don't see nearly so many of them now, class numbers at local shows are on the decrease from what I see and hear. I think they are wonderful and would love for my niece to end up with one as think they are just beautiful.
https://www.nationalponysociety.com/the-british-riding-pony/

eta glad you had a lovely outing!

 

[Marigold4]

I'm not sure they were BRPs though. There was a really super BRP in this class who to my mind should have won. I have think the old-fashioned BRPs are really rather wonderful, but they had some native in them for bone and substance and could turn their hand to anything. I'm a fan. These ones were 12 hhs and very, very fine.

 

[Marigold4]

My mum breeds RP first ridden, they are now very refined. You can get away with a smidge of native blood in a LR but FR not so much.
Broken by small adults. I used to break them years ago. They do tend to be sharp but they're generally not lunatics.
One of my mum's was 2nd at HOYS as a 4 year old with a small child on board, she was a super little rider. They have a lot to cope with at big shows. A massive ask for any 4yo to deal with that atmosphere no matter what the breeding.
The children who ride them are usually brought up with RPs and it's all they ever ride. It was all I ever rode until I got to 16 and one person's 'sharp' becomes your normal.

I think the ones I saw yesterday would snap if you sat on them though! 12 hh and very, very fine.

 

[lottiepony]

Was it a mixed age group youngstock class? as in potentially a range of 3 years in age? Might be why they looked particularly small? I'm really intrigued and want to see what they looked like lol!

 

[minesadouble]

Like this? If they were youngsters they may have looked more 'leggy' because of their age.

 

[Marigold4]

Like this? If they were youngsters they may have looked more 'leggy' because of their age.
View attachment 72399

No - those are lovely and positively heavyweight compared to the ones in question. I have photos of the ones in my class but daren't post them!

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

A lot of the 12.2 show ponies are quite fine and most are shown in hand as youngsters before they are backed, they will probably look finer if they are young but they do fill out and look better with age, a friend of mine breeds them and the foals and youngsters are tiny compared to the adults.

 

[fetlock]

Wonder how this glorious and prolific 12.2 of the late 70s/early 80s would fare in the ring these days.

Suspect measured down and stuck in 122cm SHP classes instead.

Nantcol Anwyl, for those who remember those days, when show jackets were longer and the ponies had bone and substance (and weren't all bay).

 

[Marigold4]

That's lovely! The rider looks very confident and in control and sits beautifully. What a great start to a riding career to ride a pony like that. The longer jacket and the ribbons create a really lovely picture.

I had been planning to breed this summer from this stallion - he has 9" bone and I chose him because of it! He's 3 x Bwylch Valentino