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iding Ponies zle er Ring By Ann Daum Kustar U.S., first for Scott Stewart, then for Chad Keenum. Chad has imported several German ponies that were licensed as stallions in Germany before making the trip across the ocean as geldings to star in the hunter ring. The drawbacks of the German ponies? Chad says the size can be tricky. Unlike in the U.S., German ponies are measured in centimeters, and the maximum height for the pony divisions is 148 cm—the equivalent of 14.2 and ½ hands, which is just oversize for our hunter pony regulations. Also, some of the ponies have too much knee action for the hunters, although Chad and other successful U.S. hunter pony trainers have found that even some of the bigger moving German ponies can be made into hunters by switching shoes, letting their heads go and schooling over trot poles at home. Despite those relatively small changes, he says the basics are the key to success. “I used to think that I could change a lot of things, and do them better,” Chad says with a laugh. “But the Germans really are smart in their breeding and training, and I’ve learned to appreciate how they do things. It all comes down to choosing the right ponies, and bringing them along the right way.” Finding trained ponies in Germany is getting easier for Americans, thanks to the popular Pony Forum sales, which showcase the best made show ponies from dressage, jumpers and eventing, as well as young riding prospects, stallions and foals at auctions held across Germany. Their professional team is devoted to promoting and selling only ponies. Eckhard Scharf, one of the forum’s founding members, says that some German pony breeders are starting to realize the potential in the U.S. pony hunter market. “First, when I saw videos of hunter ponies in the U.S., I thought they must move flat, flat flat, and not have too big of a jump. But this was not true—they must be elastic.” Eckhard explains. “The German ponies can make top hunters for Americans. The only problem is that so many disappear! We hear they are successful hunters, but their names change, and we get no pictures back,” he adds. “We love that they are winning, but we think everyone should know where these great ponies are coming from!” A German Breeder’s Perspective Sabine Meiners, owner of Hilkens Studfarm in Lower Saxony, Germany, bred the wellknown and successful pony stallion Hilkens Black Delight (Branduardi M x Morbidelli), as well as a colorful shopping list of other popular licensed stallions. “Dreamcatcher is only one of quite a few stallions that were originally licensed in Germany and then had a second career as a hunter in the U.S. I have used (the stallions) Branduardi M and Dreamcatcher quite a bit, and rather successfully. I wasn’t happy when they both got sold to the U.S., because that also usually means they’ll be gelded due Three examples of ponies sold at the Pony Forum event. Photo credit here Photo credit here Photo credit here <strong>Warmbloods</strong> <strong>Today</strong> 83
Photo credit here Photo credit here Photo credit here Dreamcatcher was reserve champion of the Hanoverian pony stallion licensing in 2003. Later, he became a hunter in the U.S. and was gelded. Photo credit here Photo credit here Photo credit here Photo credit here Hilkens Denaliwas sold to New Zealand and is shown in Grand Prix dressage. to the rules in American hunter sports that don’t allow juniors to show stallions,” Sabine explains. Branduardi M was an especially tough loss for German pony breeding—this Weser-Ems licensing champion in 1998 later became Reserve-Bundeschampion and performance test champion, showed internationally as an FEI-dressage pony, then was sold to the U.S. and gelded. He sired many fine ponies, among them Hilkens Black Delight, Hilkens Shakyrah, and Bundeschampionate mare Lady Astor. Sabine went on to describe the incredible versatility of the German Riding Ponies, which excel in all disciplines in Germany. “In Germany, they show in jumping classes up to 4.5 feet, some show in Grand Prix classes against <strong>Warmbloods</strong>, plus they do driving, western style classes, endurance riding, etc. They show under kids and adults, against ponies and big horses. Hilkens Denali (a licensed GRP stallion sired by Dreamcatcher) in New Zealand was recently selected to represent the New Zealand team at a highly ranked international dressage series, in ‘advanced’ class, just under Grand Prix. He was the only one not being ridden in a double bridle, because his owner/rider says it’s simply not necessary for him.” Marketing Challenges A familiar face to some American breeders, Otto Schalter, stud book director of the Rheinland Pfalz-Saar International and its parent organization in Germany, the Pferdezuchtverband Rheinland Pfalz-Saar (PRPS), recalls the beginning of the Pony Forum sales vividly. “This was a new idea,” Otto explains, “marketing the top trained show ponies in Germany, as well as the youngsters, at auction and open sales around Germany.” He recalls that at the first meeting of the Pony Forum, no one from the participating registries was jumping out of their seat to host the first auction. “So I said we’ll do it here, at the PRPS headquarters—Pferdezentrum in Standenbuhl, without asking anybody else in the organization,” Otto laughs. “We had the event and it was amazing. Now it’s growing every year. In <strong>2012</strong> we had top, winning dressage and jumper ponies from around Germany at the Pony Forum sale in Standenbuhl. There’s no better way to see, try and shop for a large selection of top-class ponies under one roof.” One of the main differences between U.S. and German marketing of sport horses and ponies are the gala events and auctions surrounding the stallion licensings. While each of the pony-breeding regions holds their own stallion approvals, there is also a licensing and auction held in Neumünster, in the north of Germany, which is open to ponies from every region in Germany—including separate divisions for the riding ponies, the powerful Haflingers and Fjords, the purebred Welsh A’s, B’s and Cobs, as well as the Shetlands and Mini stallions. There’s something surreal about traveling from one of the ‘big-guy’ Warmblood stallion licensings in Munich or Den Bosch and arriving to the Holstenhallen in Neumünster for the ponies. The same flowers and banners grace the arena; the same tack vendors set up behind the stadium seating; the same (at least they look the same!) panel of German judges stand seriously in 84 January/February 2013
Page 1: All three photos by Ann Daum Kustar
Page 5: Maggie from Whispered Wish Farm.

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