HSconformation.

qxp 10/25/2006 1:48 PM Page 28

conformation

PonyConformation
text and photos by Judy Wardrope

I
n previous columns, we’ve looked who have yet to develop a good seat stride behind than in front will tend to
at functional conformation for are at a real disadvantage on a pony compensate by dwelling in the air with
sport horses in various disciples, that is heavy on the forehand or has a the hindquarters. The resultant bounc-
but do the same things apply to sport lot in front of his pillar of support. ing can be extremely difficult to ride,
ponies? Many things do apply and yet Secondly, how many children or especially for young or inexperienced
there are degrees of difference. beginners can stay on a pony with the riders, as it pitches the rider forward.
First of all, pony riders are predomi- equivalent of grand prix power either on And then there’s the issue of being
nantly children, usually inexperienced, the flat or over fences? A pony with the built to do the job well enough that it
or beginners. If we want to develop soft, ability to transfer all the power it gener- does not adversely affect disposition.
giving hands in these riders, a pony that ates may pop the young rider out of the How can you encourage a young rider
is light on the forehand will make that tack. to continue in the horse industry if their
task easier. Small children and riders Thirdly, a pony built to have a shorter first experiences are not enjoyable?

PONY #1

Pony #1 is a great example of too much power for most jumper ring if he measured four hands taller than the 12.1
pony riders. His rear triangle (point of hip, point of buttock, sti- hands he does measure. He easily jumps courses of 3’6” and
fle, point of hip) is nearly equilateral and his stifle is well below could go higher, but, as it is, he needs a good rider to stay with
the level of his sheath - jumper traits. His lumbosacral joint (LS) him over a 3’ fence. He likes to work but is less tolerant of inex-
is perfectly in line from point of hip to point of hip, which lets perienced riders, who tend to be rocketed forward in response
him transfer all his power, but, he’s a bit heavy in front of his pil- to his power. Because he uses so much power due to the
lar of support, which means he will need to use more effort to amount of front end to lift, things can quickly become
lift it. His short humerus and high point of shoulder allow him to very uncomfortable for both pony and rider. His name, appro-
get his front end up quickly, so he’d be in big demand in the priately enough, is Buckle Up and he’s 11 years old.

28 HORSE SPORT / December 2006 www.horse-canada.com

PONY #2 PONY #3
Pony #2 has an LS just slightly back of ideal on a horse, but Pony #3 is interesting to analyze. His LS appears to be just
in this case, it is within the width of two fingers and functional back of ideal but within a functional range. His ilium is the short
when the rest of her conformation is considered. Her stifle side of his rear triangle, a dressage trait, but his stifle is too far
placement (well below the level of the sheath on a male horse) below his sheath for sustained collection. When we look at the
gives her scope, and, although she has been a jumper for forequarters, we see that he has quite a bit in front of his pillar
nearly two decades, she would probably have been a very of support and that he has a lower point of shoulder. He would
good eventer. She is light in front of her pillar of support and likely argue about working off his hindquarters for any length of
has a lovely high point of shoulder – both contribute to her time, but would display hunter form over fences. He could be
ability and her longevity in per- a bit heavy in a child’s
formance. Three of the Southern hands if not trained to lift
grandchildren – Kelly Koss, Ben his neck without tipping his
Asselin and Ron Heathcott - nose up. He could work as
have ridden her from her base at a driving pony; however,
Spruce Meadows. She is a very his long humerus coupled
good example of a nice pony for with the low stifle place-
learning to ride (on the flat or ment means that he
over fences) and her name is wouldn’t move like the
Merci. proverbial sewing machine.
He’ll have a long stride,
which should be an
PONY #4 advantage in open hunter
classes if not punished in
Pony #4 should grow up to be the mouth for raising his
really good child’s jumper or head. His name is Eclipse
eventer. He will have enough and he’s a three-year-old.
scope due to his low stifle place-
ment yet will not rocket his rider The pillar of support
out of the tack. He will be delight- can be determined from
fully light in the forehand and the side view by
able to snap his front legs up out drawing a line through
of the way. He has very little in front of his pillar of support, has a short and well- the middle of the near forelimb
angled humerus – not hunter movement or form, but great for jumping or eventing. straight up through the top of the
He will have a fair amount of knee action on the flat, but he’ll be efficient over a fence. horse. The more horse in front of
His name is Alec and he’s still a weanling. To prove that pedigree isn’t everything, this line, the heavier it is on the
he’s also a full brother to Pony #3. forehand.

www.horse-canada.com December 2006 / HORSE SPORT 29