Breed portrait German Riding Pony - Versatile athletes

The German Riding Pony is still a very young breed, which has, however, established itself in the pony sport to a real size. They are often called "miniature warmbloods" because they combine the positive characteristics of a large horse with the typical pony traits. We introduce you to this versatile horse breed and give you an insight into the beginnings of breeding up to its use as a versatile sport and leisure horse.

Profile German Riding Pony

• ‍Breed: German Riding Pony‍
• Height at the withers: 138 to 148 cm, in international tests up to 151 cm
• Discipline: Youth riding horse. Versatile in leisure and competition sport with great disposition for dressage, jumping and eventing.
• ‍Conformation: Athletic and noble, slim and elegant. A reflection of a sporty warmblood, but with a small stature and a certain pony charm due to large, alert eyes, small ears, and wide nostrils.
• ‍Character: Kind, uncomplicated nature, easy and reliable to handle. Willing to learn and perform with a fighting spirit. Intelligent and strong nerves.
• Movement pattern: Spacious movements with little knee action. Clear beat with pronounced impulsion from the hindquarters and clear suspension phase in trot.
• ‍Colors: All colors, most frequently represented are bay, chestnut, grey and black.
• ‍Health: German riding ponies are very robust and exhibit good health and high resilience. However, there are a few hereditary diseases (myotonia, cerebellar abiotrophy) for which breeding animals must be tested before registration.

‍History and origin of the German Riding Pony

Just in the 1960s, the German Riding Pony finds its origin. At the meeting of the Working Group of Pony Breeders in Bad Harzburg in 1965, an increased demand for youth riding horses was noted. The demand for small horses that could be shown by children and young people at horse shows increased increasingly during this time. This was mainly because more and more children discovered their love of horses through television broadcasts or books.

Warmbloods were too large for junior riders and most pony breeds were not suitable for competition due to their often stocky and broad build. So the breeding goal was to produce a small, athletic horse that was capable of performance and competition, but at the same time had a gentle, friendly disposition that its under-sixteen riders could handle. A cross of the qualities of a large horse with the will to perform of a pony was needed.

One tried in the mating of, for example, Thoroughbred x Fjord Horse or Arabian x Haflinger, but unfortunately, the success of these crossings failed. Only with the import of British ponies and a real pony boom in Germany, the steering wheel of pony breeding was turned. In 1975, the breeding areas in North Rhine-Westphalia (Westphalia), Lower Saxony (Weser-Ems), Schleswig Holstein, and Hanover established themselves as the main breeding area for the German Riding Pony. They started with the local wild breeds and crossed them with British ponies, such as the Welsh Pony. The breeders oriented themselves to the British Riding Pony. Due to the high percentage of Welsh, the German Riding Pony can also be called Welsh-Partbred. However, this name is not used in Germany. The "basic breeds" were finally refined with Arabians, Anglo-Arabians, and other thoroughbreds. The result was a noble riding pony that was willing to perform.

In the 1990s, pony breeders in the major breeding areas attempted to improve performance by crossbreeding with warmblood stallions such as Trakehner, Hanoverian, or Holstein. However, they made great losses in the characteristic pony traits, so that this attempt was quickly abandoned. Instead, the focus was on crystallizing first-class sires whose talent and ability were and still are proven in stallion performance tests, first in the field and later also on the station.

With a lot of commitment on the part of the pony breeders, the new breed, the German Riding Pony, developed in less than ten years and quickly conquered the up-and-coming show sport. Today, the German Riding Pony breed can call itself the most successful and strongest breed group in German pony breeding in terms of numbers.

The most famous German Riding Ponies - FS Don't Worry and Dornik B.

Among the most famous German Riding Ponies are the two top stallions FS Don't Worry and Dornik B. They were not only extremely successful in competition sports but also had a significant influence on the breeding of Riding Ponies.

The chestnut stallion Dornik B., born in 1991, is considered the most victorious dressage pony of all time. He was able to record numerous successes at the European Championships and Bundeschampionaten. From 2010 to 1014 he stood on station and as a successful dressage sire passed on his talent to his offspring. His progeny includes 39 licensed offspring and 44 state premium mares. In 2020, Dornik B. died at the age of 29 at Bönniger Stud, where he was also born.

With the dressage stallion FS Don't Worry, the riding pony breed has a number one. FS Don't Worry can count over 80 victories in advanced dressage among his list of successes. In addition, he was a Bundessieger stallion and two-time Bundeschampion. In breeding, he held first place in the breeding value estimation for several years. His progeny lifetime earnings total €549,573 in 2022. Although FS Don't Worry is no longer used in breeding due to his age, he can look back on his successful offspring. These include Doubtless, Dow Jones, Don Alfredo, and FS Day by Day.

‍Exterior- the appearance of the German Riding Pony

It is not for nothing that the German Riding Pony is also called "Miniature Warmblood", because it looks very similar to its larger relatives. However, a German Riding Pony only reaches a height of between 1.38 and 1.48 m and weighs 380 to 450 kg.

Unlike other pony breeds, the German Riding Pony has a slender and elegant appearance, but its head exudes the characteristic pony charm: friendly, large eyes, small ears, and wide nostrils stand out on the noble-looking head. The neck is of medium length and tapers towards the head. The shoulder is large and sloping, while the back is well-muscled and allows a balanced saddle position. The croup also shows good muscling. The foundation should be dry and not spongy.

The German Riding Pony was bred for performance and character, with coat color being in the background. Due to the many crosses and the great variability in the pedigrees, all coat colors are represented. However, chestnuts, bay, black, and gray are the most common. However, palomino-colored riding ponies are particularly popular.

Movement sequence of the German Riding Pony

To excel in the arena as well as in the show jumping arena, a riding pony should have tactful, hard-working gaits with ground-covering strides and a good push from the hindquarters. The trot should have a pronounced floating phase, but only a slight knee action should be noticeable.

When jumping, the riding pony should show composure and intelligence, which is demonstrated by skill and deliberation.

‍Interior - the character of the German Riding Pony

The German Riding Pony was bred for children and youngsters. An uncomplicated, sweet nature for easy, reliable handling is therefore a high priority in the breeding objective. At the same time, a riding pony should be willing to learn and perform to show commitment in competition and recreational sports. Since they are bred for sporting use, they must be moved and challenged accordingly. After all, riding ponies are curious and lively - they want to be kept busy and given a task to do. Furthermore, they are particularly strong nervous, and resilient, which is why they are reliable riding horses for young riders.

Application areas - Where can you use the German Riding Pony?

The German Riding Pony is a true all-rounder that can be used in a variety of sports and leisure activities. It has received its athletic disposition from its great role model, the warmblood, which is why the riding pony is predestined for dressage and show jumping, but also for eventing. With its fighting spirit, it is ideally suited for entry into competitive sports for young riders.

Due to its strong nerves and reliable character, the German Riding Pony is also a reliable leisure partner. It carries its rider safely through the terrain, through trails or composure tests, and shows joy in groundwork. It also cuts a fine figure as a carriage pony.

Originally and mainly bred for children and youngsters under the age of 16, a riding pony can also be ridden by light adults. However, it is not a beast of burden, so meticulous attention should be paid to rider weight. How much a German Riding Pony can carry depends on its level of training and constitution. Roughly, the rule of thumb, the horse may carry a maximum of 20% of its own weight, can be used as a guide.

The German Riding Pony in Sport - Versatile Tournament Specialists

In the year of birth of the German Riding Pony breeding, with rising prosperity, increased leisure time, and a generally growing interest in equestrian sports, the show sport increased strongly. At that time the pony sport developed to a firm size in the horse sport. Especially in Europe, the sport of ponying is strongly promoted. While registered tournament ponies at German tournaments may not exceed the height limit of 1.48 m, ponies for international competitions can also be registered with a height of 1.51 m. The rider may not be older than 1.48 m. The pony may be entered for international competitions. The rider may not be older than 16 years of age, which is the original breeding goal of the German Riding Pony. Exceptions are made in regional competitions and tournaments: Here the riders may often be older.

It is not only because of its size that the German Riding Pony fits perfectly into competition sport. Pony riders can compete in dressage, show jumping and eventing - disciplines in which the German Riding Pony shines with a lot of talent and ability. It also resembles a warmblood in appearance and makes a harmonious overall picture with its young rider.

For those who ride ponies, the following championships are worth mentioning: The German Youth Championship, the Junior European Championship, Future Champions, and the "Preis der Besten". Besides the German Youth Championships, the "Prize of the Best" is the most important event for young riders, where the national trainers get a first overview of the performance of the young riders for the upcoming season. German riding ponies are not only represented in large numbers here, but they also take the top places in both pony dressage pony eventing, and pony jumping.

Keeping and care of a riding pony

Riding ponies are very robust animals that develop a plush winter coat in winter despite their otherwise elegant appearance. Their keeping therefore looks very uncomplicated. Keeping them in a group in an open stable suits this breed best. Riding ponies are also very eager to run and need plenty of exercise. A daily run with grazing benefits riding ponies greatly in addition to exercise by humans. With good care and management, riding ponies stay healthy and can reach an average age of 20 to 25 years or older.

Breed-typical diseases of the German Riding Pony

German Riding Ponies are generally very robust and have been bred with good health. Nevertheless, their owners must pay closer attention to feeding than owners of large horses. This is because, like all other pony breeds, German Riding Ponies have a breed-typical tendency toward obesity. The unwanted fat deposits on the otherwise graceful and noble-looking ponies can lead to further health consequences, such as laminitis or EMS. Therefore, care must be taken to feed and provide energy, protein, and nutrients as needed, as well as adequate exercise. So watch out for grazing and too much fresh grass! The high fructan content in the sprouting grass, which serves the grass as an energy supplier for growth, can also quickly lead to an oversupply of protein in the riding pony. However, the pony's intestinal bacteria are not yet adapted to the lush grass, as they have only decomposed hay over the winter. Grazing too quickly can therefore lead to an overturning of the intestinal balance. The serious consequence: the intestinal bacteria die and release toxins, which can ultimately lead to laminitis caused by feeding.

To minimize the risk of obesity and the resulting secondary diseases, owners of German Riding Ponies should pay attention to appropriate feeding, slow grazing, and a slim line through sufficient exercise.

Furthermore, "muscle stiffness", the so-called myotonia, is a breed-typical disease in riding ponies. Myotonia is hereditary due to a gene mutation and can therefore be passed on from the parents to their offspring.

Myotonia is a disease of the skeletal muscles with above-average muscle growth. The first symptoms can already be seen in the first few weeks of the foal's life. A pony with myotonia exhibits a spindly, stiff gait, and also has difficulty standing up again after lying down for a long time. Furthermore, there is a balance disorder and stiff fetlock joints, which is why it is difficult for affected ponies to lift individual hooves without stumbling. In some cases, the eyeball may also have retracted far into the eye socket.

Breeding diseased animals to each other is not a good idea or in the interest of animal welfare. This is because the mutation is inherited recessively, i.e. "hidden", which is why there is a twenty-five percent probability that it will be passed on. For this reason, only German Riding Ponies can be approved for breeding if they have first been tested for the gene mutation using genetic testing. Only then can they be entered in Stallion Books I and II or Mare Books I and II.

Another notable hereditary disease among riding ponies is cerebellar abiotrophy. This is a disease of the cerebellum in which the nerve cells there die. Since the cerebellum is the control center for all movements, balance, fine motor skills, and coordination, there can be limitations in these areas. Cerebellar abiotrophy thus manifests itself in uncontrolled movements (ataxia) and can have varying degrees of severity. Foals are born in most cases without any symptoms, only in particularly severe cases, signs of Cerebellar Abiotrophy can be observed from birth. At three months of age, the symptoms become more pronounced.

Since 2019, all potential breeding stallions that are to be registered in Stallion Book I and II must be tested for cerebellar abiotrophy. However, the result has no influence on the registration of pony stallions.

How much does a German riding pony cost?

How much a German Riding Pony can cost depends on various factors such as age, pedigree, disposition, ability and any sporting successes. While a riding pony for leisure sport can cost up to around €10,000, the price range for a successful sport riding pony can be in the region of €40,000 or higher.