History:
The German Riding Pony is a breed whose development began almost 40 years ago. Systematic selection has led to a pony that is athletic, elegant, intelligent and well-dispositioned. In 1965 German pony breeding associations saw the need to develop a breed of large pony that would be suitable for national and international competition for children. The goal was to maintain the pony character, type and willingness to perform along with the competitive athleticism of a riding horse. Breeders' first attempts were what they thought would be the easy solution: to cross thoroughbred and Arabian stallions with Fjord and Haflinger ponies. These cross-breeding attempts to produce a sportpony in one generation did not lead to success.

Some German breeders began to import British pony breeds, primarily Welsh, which were bred to one another and also selectively crossed with local horses, infusing Arabian, Anglo-Arabian, thoroughbred and some warmblood blood, and by 1975 a German riding pony type developed. These first ponies of the riding pony type showed their superb abilities at local, national and international competitions. Several important and prepotent stallions emerged that were used to further develop the breed goal. Soon these stallions, and later the high quality mares, began to be tested and approved for breeding to further control and improve the type. In the 1990's attempts were made to further improve the breed through the infusion of Trakehner, Hannoverian and Holstein stallion blood and again this infusion of horse blood was unsuccessful: the pony type and qualities were often lost. Today's German Riding Pony breeders use specific bloodlines to reliably create German Riding Ponies that fulfill the goal of a pony type who competes with the athleticism of a small warmblood.

The Unsung Mothers:

As happens with other breeds, it takes many years of careful research to find those mares that have consistently contributed to the development of the German Riding Pony. They are not listed in annual statistics but are cherished by their breeders. One such mare is now 25 years old and many times over has produced a winner at the Bundeschampionats. Others appear again and again in the pedigrees of the top breeding stallions. Jo Hinnemann had a mare that consistently produced top performers with great dispositions: "she was Westfalien and Welsh, but right in the background was Arabian crossed with Haflinger". Another breeder has a 25 year old mare, now retired, who has produced many licensed sons and many broodmare daughters who replicate her qualities, down to the markings on their faces and legs. Such mares carry the original successful blood used to create the German Riding Pony breed.

Breed Standard:
The breed standard for the German Riding Pony is for a pony preferably between 138 cm and 148 cm or approximately 13.2 hands to 14.2 hands. The athletic and refined qualities of a riding horse which exhibits the pony type is essential. The type includes a small head, large and lively eyes with little ears, a clean throatlatch, a long, well-set neck, pronounced withers and long croup. Movement should be correct, rhythmic, spacious and elastic with distinct impulsion from the hindquarters. The pony's disposition should be unpretentious and benign, with a willingness to perform, showing courage and evenness of temperament.

Judging Quality:
Breeders in each of the German regions compete annually with their best breeding stock. The top ponies are sent to the national finals, the Bundeschampionat, where stallions and mares at each age from 3 to 6 year old compete under saddle. Pony riders compete annually at regional, national and international FEI pony competitions in dressage, showjumping and eventing.

The German Riding Pony approvals take place for both stallions and mares. Stallions may be presented for licensing at age 3 or 4 and then must attend a 30 day performance test for final approval and acceptance into a studbook. Mares may be entered into a studbook or main studbook and quality mares may attend a performance test where they can achieve the State Premium Mare designation. Each year, records show the approved German Riding Pony stallions, their 30 day performance test score, their licensed progeny and their own and their progenies' earnings. In the United States, the International Sporthorse Registry and the American Sport Pony Registry have adopted the breed standard of the German Riding Pony when evaluating stallions, mares and foals for their registries' grading and approvals.

When Does Size Matter?
The 148cm or 14.2 hand maximum pony measurement matters in several competition circumstances. Talented children 12 to 16 years old may compete on ponies 148cm or below at special national and international FEI pony competitions in dressage, showjumping and eventing. In the United States, some disciplines have special competition classes that are restricted to ponies. These are primarily the pony jumper classes and pony hunter classes that require official measurements. In 2003, the United States Dressage Federation began licensing officials to conduct official measurements of ponies eligible for the special FEI Pony Dressage Tests. On the other side of "too big" is the "too small" measurement for the very talented ponies. The FEI limits entrance into CDI competitions, including the Olympics, to animals that measure over 148cm. However, anyone, child or adult may compete with any pony of any size in open dressage shows through the Grand Prix level and also compete in showjumping and eventing classes through the highest levels, where the height of the animal is not a factor, only talent and determination.

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