The Australian Riding Pony is a
breed of
pony
A pony is a type of small horse ('' Equus ferus caballus''). Depending on the context, a pony may be a horse that is under an approximate or exact height at the withers, or a small horse with a specific conformation and temperament. Compared ...
developed in Australia since the 1970s. It has been greatly influenced by the British
Riding Pony, the
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are ...
and
Arabian bloodlines.
Characteristics
These ponies are small copies of elegant
show hack
The show hack is a type of ridden show horse, exhibited to a standard first established in England.
Affiliated showing and breeding of the show hacks in the United Kingdom is overseen by the British Show Horse Association.
In the US and Canada, ...
s, developed from English Riding Pony bloodlines. They range in height from in contrast to the
Australian Pony
The Australian Pony is a breed of pony that developed in Australia. It was greatly influenced by the native British breeds, especially the Welsh Pony, as well as some Arabian bloodlines.
Characteristics
The Australian Pony stands between . ...
breed, which does not exceed . Australian Riding Ponies have a free-flowing, lower action than many of the older pony breeds. Australian Riding Ponies are of one of the solid colors, with small heads and ears.
[Australian Riding Pony Stud Book Society](_blank)
/ref>
Breed history
Equids are not native to Australia. The imported foundation sires which contributed to the establishment of the Australian Riding Pony were:Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are ...
/Welsh
Welsh may refer to:
Related to Wales
* Welsh, referring or related to Wales
* Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales
* Welsh people
People
* Welsh (surname)
* Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peop ...
mare Chirk Catmint.
*Treharne Talisman a son of Bwlch Valentino
*The Laird, imported to South Australia
South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...
, also a son of Bwlch Valentino.
The Australian Riding Pony Stud Book Society was formed in about 1980 in the wake of interest aroused in the Riding Ponies that were shown in several Royal Shows. A foundation section was formed which required at least three crosses of animals from approved breeds before a pony could be entered in Section A. Originally there were four sections, but with the foundation firmly established some have been finished. Nowadays most of the major British and New Zealand bloodlines are represented in the Australian Riding Ponies. The use of artificial insemination
Artificial insemination is the deliberate introduction of sperm into a female's cervix or uterine cavity for the purpose of achieving a pregnancy through in vivo fertilization by means other than sexual intercourse. It is a fertility treatment ...
has permitted even more bloodlines.
Uses
Today, the pony is mainly used as a children's show mount and for small adult riders. They compete in dressage, show jumping, combined driving
Combined may refer to:
* Alpine combined (skiing), the combination of slalom and downhill skiing as a single event
** Super combined (skiing)
* Nordic combined (skiing), the combination of cross country skiing and ski jumping as a single event
* T ...
, gymkhana
Gymkhana () ( ur, جِمخانہ, sd, جمخانه, hi, जिमख़ाना, as, জিমখানা, bn, জিমখানা) is a British Raj term which originally referred to a place of assembly. The meaning then altered to den ...
, mounted games, and horse show
A horse show is a judged exhibition of horses and ponies. Many different horse breeds and equestrian disciplines hold competitions worldwide, from local to the international levels. Most horse shows run from one to three days, sometimes longer ...
s.
See also
* German Riding Pony
*Welsh pony
The Welsh Pony and Cob is a group of four closelyrelated horse breeds including both pony and cob types, which originated in Wales in the United Kingdom. The four sections within the breed society for the Welsh breeds are primarily distingui ...
References
{{reflist
Other sources
* Huntington, Peter, Jane Myers, Elizabeth Owens: ''Horse Sense: The Guide to Horse Care in Australia and New Zealand''. Nature: 2004, p. 86.
Horse breeds originating in Australia
Horse breeds