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American Quarter Pony |
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American Quarter Pony |
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The Quarter Horse is strong and intelligent, and has a calm demeanor, but to many equestrians, a smaller horse is necessary. For the child or adult of medium build who don't need as large a horse as some Quarter Horses can be, an American Quarter Pony or National Quarter Pony would be a suitable mount.
Formed in 1964 by Linda Grim of New Sharon, Iowa, the American Quarter Pony Association encourages the use and breeding of small Quarter-type horses that stand between 46 and 58 inches tall. Activities for the owners of these horses are promoted and publicized by the AQPA as well as providing a place to preserve and record registrations. The National Quarter Pony Association has much the same goals of the AQPA, in the breeding, use, and showing of a Quarter Horse-type pony. The National Quarter Pony Association was founded in 1975 by a group of 10 concerned people to perpetuate the blood of the original type of Quarter Horse.
There is no need to have any "traceable" breeding to a particular Quarter Horse line for a AQPA pony, however, AQHA blood in the horse's background is desirable. Regardless of the bloodlines, the pony must have easily recognizable characteristics of Quarter-type or Quarter-bred ponies. The NQPA strives to perpetuate the "original" type of Quarter Horse which was so prevalent from the Colonial era until recent times. The "original" Quarter Horse was often less than 58 inches at the withers.
In the NQPA, the registration requirements are somewhat different from the AQPA. While the horses must measure between 48 and 58 inches, a stallion must have AQHA breeding on both sides, and a mare must be registered with the AQHA on either the dam or sire's side. A gelding need not be AQHA- registered, but must meet all other qualifications and must be of Quarter-type. Oh yes, it is possible to register one animal in all three registries - AQHA, AQPA, and NQPA!
Many of the original Quarter Horses were indeed ponies though the larger of them are what our ancestors would have considered horses. And they are not ridden by just juniors and kids for they are a favorite of adult riders. These animals can also do horse-sized work - they are real, working horses!. Today the shows with Quarter Horses are full of taller, rangy Quarter Horses resulting from the introduction of Thoroughbred blood. It is hard to find the short, stocky traditional quarter Horse competing like horses.
Horses promoted by the AQPA and NQPA are adaptable to gymkhana, pleasure riding, team penning, cutting, roping, jumping, and hunt-seat classes. The larger ponies often compete and win against full-sized horses. The Quarter Pony has the disposition and quickness of their larger counterparts, and display a calm temperament along with the proportional strength and working ability of the larger horses. Unlike other pony breeds, the Quarter Pony looks like a full-sized Quarter Horse shrunk to less than 14.2 hands.
When the Grimms started the AQPA, they were interested in essentially a small horse to fit into backyard operations without the problem traits of Shetlands and Welshes. The Quarter Horse would seem to be an ideal starting point, with a real nice disposition. Plus there were some good, small, Quarter-type stallions already available. To purchase a pony, you can spend a lot of money for a well-trained one, and even more for one with hunt-seat experience. And these ponies aren't just for kids, being big enough for an adult to ride and calm enough for the kids, making the Quarter Pony a multiuse animal because of its versatility. These ponies are shown in all the events that any other horses can be used in - western pleasure, halter, barrels, cutting, etc. And you probably won't find many of these ponies at auctions as most purchases are made directly from the breeders.
For more information about Quarter Ponies, contact:
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© 1997-2007
NW Breyer Horse Club & Refiner of Gold Creations Equinealities in place since 1997, Section in place 2001, Updated 3/13/2007 |
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