I'm arguing with my fellow breeders. It's my opinion that the curent sportpony registries aren’t doing what they could (and, IMO, should) do to help establish and promote that market. Some have provided anecdotal evidence of a strong market for registered sport ponies, but my perception of their market is that it is a “Welsh sport pony” market, which does not really help support the concept of a sport pony (itself somewhat problematic because that concept isn’t yet widely agreed upon, in part due to some registry confusion).
In updating this, I have to agree that there does seem to be a nascent "dressage pony" market evolving, but unfortunately, that remains a market flimited to ponies trained, not bred, for the job. As a result, even with the influx of European-bred, non-Welsh pony stallions, and the expanding development of so-called sportpony inspections and approval processes, there remains 1.) an inconsistency in the type and talent of the ponies being approved and/or recieving inspection scores, and 2.) only a (comparatively) weak demand for the stud services and young offspring of those stallions.
Meanwhile, I continue to greatly, greatly admire the Welsh pony--especially the hunter-bred Welsh pony, so please don’t take this as breed bashing. The problem is that, for obvious as well as somewhat selfish reasons, I do not want the sport pony market to piggyback on the Welsh one, even though I can see how (and have actually invested in) the blood of certain hunter pony Welsh lines could contribute greatly to increasing the elegance, correctness and length of stride of many sportpony breeding lines. TheDownland line in particular has clearly made its mark in producing exceptional athletes in pony breeding programs in Great Britain and Australia as well as the U.S. However, I continue to feel obligated to point out that unless someone registering sport ponies without a Welsh tie-in can attest to the "health" of a sport pony market and the value of registering with a sport pony registry, I will keep arguing for BETTER promotion of the type and its potential.
Indeed, I must admit to great concern about the dominance of the Welsh type in sportpony breeding programs, especially the riding pony type (not necessarily the Cob or the driving type) in the so-called “success” of the sport pony market (indeed, I dare say the Welsh dominates ALL pony markets--and as an outstanding type of pony in general, perhaps that is justifiably so). However, this is compounded by the fact that one cannot deny the dominance of the Welsh and welsh-cross in the hunter ranks, a high-valuing market which does de-value (i.e. place a lower monetary value on) the sport pony “type.” But the hunter market’s perspective is only logical: just look at the big-dollar hunter pony’s way of going and it becomes clear why the sport pony type is not desireable.
The best of the best hunter ponies--maybe 80% of whom have a significant amount of Welsh blood, BTW--go with a topline that is long, reachy and somewhat flat or even downhill. A watcher’s eyes are not attracted to what the back and hind end are doing, but rather to the front. The temperament is that of independence and sensibility, not necessarily traits that will react suitably to the demands and complexity of the aids in upper level dressage and/or the kamakazee courage required when jumps become more physically challenging. Lastly, and most importantly, the ability to rock back on the hocks and compress the topline, a trait which is absolutely mandatory for upper level competition in any of the sport disciplines, is by no means a valued or tested trait in the breeding and competition of hunter ponies.
Of course, all of this is based on my personal perspective that the sport pony should be more than a kids, driving or lower-level, small-adult mount. (Indeed, my spiel is that they are the alternative to warmbloods for the small adult). Nevertheless, this is why I feel I must continue to argue these points to breeders and to the registries: The distinction needs to be made loud and clear. The “Can Do” potential of the sport pony type must be established and it must be heralded (again, like the VPBA’s support of successful hunter ponies) before the sport pony can become a valued type that is independent of the popularity of any particular breed.
Moreover, I will not support registries until they show an understanding of and willingness to address the niche marketing needs that the sport pony requires. Indeed, I can't support them (because they don't offer anything my business needs, and I am seriously in business--not "at play"--with my breeding program: I have no rich husband, parents or other relatives to allow me to make sentimental decisions or basically do whatever I please regardless of the expectations associated with professional business standards). So, no, I won't invest any efforts in that direction until there is a registry (or association) that shows an appreciation for reaching-out marketing principles instead of the reaching-in insularity of the current spate of inspections, specialized competition and awards.
|
