Small dressage ponys?

[Paula]

I have a client with a small welsh pony who is gearing her towards hunter riders. But this pony has really nice movement and I think she would make a nice dressage pony for somebody - but here is the catch - she is tiny. I have seen a lot of nice riding ponys out there under junior riders and small adults but they are all in the 14 + hand range. This pony is on the petite side and will probably be 13 hands tops. I really don't think she would be in the size range for an adult or most of the more experienced juniors. And I think her movement would scare a lot of smaller children. So where does a pony like this fit? Is there a market for them? Here are some pictures of the little filly http://www.pbase.com/finnskeeper/maddie
So who rides these little power houses?

[spmoonie]

Shes gorgeous! I think she would work for a small--really small--- adult that prefers ponies over horses. Or maybe the right child--there was a little girl at my old barn that was tiny and she had a small pony that she evented. She was a really talented rider that was also small--perfect for ponies

[draftdriver]

There are some really talented Pony Clubbers out there on Welsh Ponies.

[rabicon]

She could probably do well as an eventing pony for a brave small child. She is very nice looking. Market wise you need to gear her for the hunter ring I would think because there is more of a market there (if she is a nice hunter mover). If she can make the lines the small/med pony division would be the best market for her.

[Mini_Me]

There are more qualified people than me to answer your question, but I just wanted to say.... Holy schnikies! NICE pony!

Good luck with her.

[Dune]

Sorry to have to say this, but she's a "bad size" for either hunters or dressage. IF you can find the right person for her, great! Most likely it will be difficult. She is darling though!!!:yes:

[swgarasu]

What a lovely pony. Maybe she could have a career as a broodmare for someone producing sportponies? Crossed with a 15 hand stallion or something?

[butlerfamilyzoo]

She is a "bad" size marketing wise, it will be tough. HOWEVER, if she has welsh papers, you may find better luck advertising her in the welsh world. Many adults ride 12-13h ponies at the welsh shows, no one looks down on them for doing so or think it looks odd. And many of these welsh people are branching into dressage on their ponies!

I personally love ponies, i'm 5'3, so probably too "big" for a 13h pony, but that doesnt mean i dont ride them! I was very disapointed to hear of a jr rider showing a 14h pony in dressage and having the judge write on her score sheet that she needs a bigger mount... Its that train of thought that has women struggling to ride the bigger horses in the dressage and hunter ring!

I would LOVE this mare as a broodmare too. And that may be the easier market, but a lower one. Hunters is where the money is, but if they arent 14-14.2 it seems a hard sell now days. Driving may be another option for her!

[Paula]

Yes she does have Welsh papers, but for such a little athlete it seems a shame for her to "just" be a broodmare. I was afraid this would be a tougher height bracket for dressage ponys...

[unbridledoaks]

I ride the smaller Dressage Ponies and I'm 5'1. I have fun riding them dressage and they seem to do quite well.

Here is a stallion that I rode and did quite well on. He was 13:2
http://www.wishbroke.com/jpgs/undersaddlenwshbc2006.jpg


Just for fun, here is another one that I rode who was 12:2. I wanted to ride him dressage, but he was only with me for a season for English Pleasure.
http://www.wishbroke.com/jpgs/jack_nationals_2007_small.jpg

[Ambrey]

The mama of my pony was a section A welsh, around 12.2hh I think, and was a dressage pony for a young rider. His old owner said that people would say... you want to do dressage on a PONY? and then see her and say "oh, well OK then."

[DownYonder]

Yes she does have Welsh papers, but for such a little athlete it seems a shame for her to "just" be a broodmare. I was afraid this would be a tougher height bracket for dressage ponys...

They have a saying in Germany - "breed the best and ride the rest". It basically means that the best mares SHOULD be used for breeding. In fact, that is how you help improve the next generation - better broodmares make better foals. There is nothing wrong with being "just a broodmare", esp. when the broodmare is a stellar individual.

[quietann]

OMG what a lovely pony! She looks like a horse! Makes me wish I was small enough for a 13-hander; I am 5'1" but 145 pounds, which is a bit much unless the pony is quite sturdy. One of the beloved school horses I rode when I returned to riding was 13.1 but very "thick" and probably weighed 800 pounds He had a lot of dressage training and it showed (when he was not being a brat, that is...)

I loff deh ponehs!!!! Best of luck finding her a good home, and my bet is that the Welsh breed people will love her.

[Trevelyan96]

OH HOW I WISH!!!! I'm only 4'11" and I bet I'd have a blast on her.. but I'm at my limit horse wise. :(

[elly]

Well, I'd ride her in a heart beat - as long as my 12.1 hands Welsh pony dressage dynamo Foxcry Nicodemus does not get jealous.............!
These little guys make training a blast - between their intelligence and athletic abilities, there is really nothing they can not do.

I am sure, that there is a petite Adult or small talented child who would give an arm and a leg to ride your gal.

Best of Luck !!

[unbridledoaks]

Elly - We are such big fans of Nick! He is such a wonderful pony.

[J-Lu]

Paula,

MARKET HER well and you can sell her. There is a small niche for children's dressage ponies, but it is growing. And the people who want these ponies *really want* these ponies.

Our barn has dressage ponies and we have had petite dressage trainers ride them. They are currently priced as much as horses are.

What is this pony like? What kind of training does she have? If it is minimal, you will not be able to sell her as easily as if she has solid training on her. What is she like to ride? Does she take training and mistakes well (easier to sell as a child's horse) or does she buck people off (harder to sell). Alternatively, you might target quality lesson programs that have a small trainer to bring the pony along but would love a pony that can be used for advanced children. Sometimes, small is advantageous for kids because they aren't as likely to take advantage of their riders. Increasingly, American dressage is catching on to the fact that quality ponies can cream lesser-quality horses in the junior (and senior) divisions.

of course, it wouldn't be terrible to breed her if she is of breeding quality, either.

The market is small, but like I said, the people who want small talented ponies *really want them*. With training and marketing and patience, you can certainly sell her. Good luck!

J.

[cheekyhorse]

They have a saying in Germany - "breed the best and ride the rest". It basically means that the best mares SHOULD be used for breeding. In fact, that is how you help improve the next generation - better broodmares make better foals. There is nothing wrong with being "just a broodmare", esp. when the broodmare is a stellar individual.

couldn't agree with this more. There is nothing wrong with her being a broodmare. Unfortunately it is a difficult size as she is probably too small for an adult and children may have difficulty with that movement. Nice pony though!!

[Cielo Azure]

Sorry to have to say this, but she's a "bad size" for either hunters or dressage. IF you can find the right person for her, great! Most likely it will be difficult. She is darling though!!!:yes:

I have a wonderful 14.1 registered morgan mare (sound, young, good conformation, registered) that my son and his trainer have done a lot of dressage training with. He outgrew her. I can't even get anyone to come look at her (I am asking under $1500). The market is beyond bad around here.

Frankly, I am thinking i might have more luck breaking her to cart and selling her as a pleasure driving horse! Because no one in the South seems to want a small, dressage trained horse (no matter how good or good looking). Except I really don't have time to start training another cart horse!

Coming from Maryland , there seemed to be more of a market for the smaller horse/pony up there.

So, all I can say is that I hope your luck is better than mine!

[IrishDeclan]

She's beautiful!!!! She's a 17 hand horse stuck in a 13 hand pony's body :winkgrin: Lovely movement!!!!

[butlerfamilyzoo]

Cielo,
It seems Morgans are a tough market no matter where you are. I havent figured out why, they are such super little horses! We just moved to GA a couple months ago, i went to an auction here last weekend... Two morgan mares went through, dead broke, drove and pulled double or single, excellent dispositions... Not the prettiest morgans i have ever seen, but very nice functional horses... They sold for $150 each! I was shocked that something with THAT much training could go for that. Very sad market here, though i will say those two mares were some of the lowest selling in a predominantly QH and TW sale, and frankly, i thought they were the nicest.

A papered welsh will be a much easier sell. Dont get discouraged, she is a fabulous looking pony. The welsh lover in me wants to see a prettier head, but for the movement, she's truely lovely! And like the others said, dont look at being "just a broodmare" as a bad thing, bred on a smaller warmblood, those could be some STUNNING foals with superb movement. Sport ponies are just starting to take off, you may find more homes than you think you will! the welsh pony website moves ponies quick if they are quality.

I wish i could afford another mouth to feed this winter. Wouldnt she be a cute match with little Nicodemus! Who i saw Elly ride at DAD last year, so see, the smaller ponies are out there showing with adults and even against the big boys!

[ozjb]

Paula,

If I lived in the US, I'd buy her. My daughter is a tiny 13 year old. She has been competing her 11.2 Welsh A for the past few years. This pony is amazing. She has been to our Young Rider Dressage State (New South Wales) Championships as well as the State Pony Championships. She has represented our Zone at the past 2 State Pony Club Championships and was part of the winning team at the last one.

The judges don't quite know what to do with her. Nope, she doesn't have the lengthening as the big warmbloods, but you know what? She often beats them.

They are currently competing at Elementary level. The pony and child have learnt together and it's making really sad that my daughter is growing.

So send her to me. My daughter would love her.

[MediaMD]

I think we are seeing a bit of an encouraging sign that smaller dressage ponies are getting the respect they deserve -- Karyn Becerra showed Wynnbrook Starburst a 13.2 Welsh stallion at Regionals at 3rd level a few years ago and stopped all the snickers when he beat a bunch of bigger mounts. Since then we've seen a LOT more dressage ponies at rated shows here in NC and, like Elly's gorgeous stallion, are being taken seriously.

Yes, it's more difficult to sell the ones under 14 hands but you are starting to see more kids wanting to do dressage instead of hunters and there's nothing better than a small, easy to ride schoolmaster. My daughter credits her year riding Wynn when she was 12 as the turning point in her interest in dressage. I just wish another kid could lease him and get him back into the show ring because he's just the coolest pony and now I think he is only breeding.

BTW there is a Welsh show coming up in October in Raleigh that would be good to show your pony off. I understand it will be quite large and would be an excellent marketing tool. Good luck with selling your pony!