Mikani Park
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Mikani Park
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The following article was published in the Australian Horse Scene, February 2001 Edition.
As Riding Ponies are becoming more prolific in Australia, there are noticeable differences in types. We often hear comments like, ‘some are becoming to delicate to ride’. A few breeders are going back to Arab blood, while others are introducing new lines via A.I. etc. What are your ideas for the future of this increasingly popular breed? Response – Michael Holzer, Mikani Park The Riding Pony has changed the Show scene forever, introducing elegance and movement that had previously been the sole reserve of Saddle Hacks. The Society Standard of Excellence is very clear, the Riding Pony should look like a ladies hack in miniature with pony characteristics. Elegant, refined, full of quality and presence. To achieve this the Riding Pony was purposefully bred; as such it is not a breed but rather a type. This type has been achieved using a combination of breeds, mainly Thoroughbred, Arab and Pony, predominantly Welsh Section B. From the Thoroughbred – elegance and height, the Arab – movement and front, the Welsh Section B – the dished head and small ears. The outcome is that the Riding Pony is a combination of a variety of gene pools in various ratios resulting in the diversity we see today in the show ring. For the breeders there is the challenge of retaining the type across generations, we need to retain the conformation. For example a beautiful front can not be at the cost of a poor rump; elegance can not be at the cost of bone. Bone needs quality, not too delicate and not too coarse, it must be in proportion to the pony, not extreme. Above all, these are saddle animals and quality must be developed along with confirmation, soundness and temperament. To maintain the characteristics of the type, it is necessary to return to the foundation breeds (Thoroughbred, Arab, Welsh Section B) every couple of generations, failure to do so results in the predominance of one set of genetic characteristics. As the Riding Pony has evolved innovations in the breed have seen us cater for the Show Hunter type and the growth in the Leading Rein events. All of this adds to the enjoyment and challenge of the breeder in developing the Riding Pony as we must regularly introduce out-crosses into our bloodlines. From a genetic perspective we need to continue enhancing the Riding Pony from each of the source breeds every second or third generation. For Mikani Park, our strategy is to continue crossing our “pure” Riding Pony Section A’s which are predominantly derived from Welsh Section B and Thoroughbred bloodlines. The result is an up-to height, elegant saddle animal of quality. |
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