Hungarian Riding Ponies

Background: A number of Warmblood registries have developed a pony type and established a registry section called “riding ponies” and/or “sport ponies” over the past several decades or so. With Germany leading the way in this “Riding Pony” movement, a number of countries (USA, Germany, England, Austria and Belgium & more) too now have their own riding pony registries. These “ponies” typically begin as a cross between their smaller warmbloods, Arabs, Anglo-Arabs and pony breeds. The goal was to fulfill a need for a large pony with the athleticism and temperament for smaller and younger riders to compete with at a national and international level.

HHAA Goals:
Develop pony sized (14.2 hands and under) animals from Hungarian horses and acceptable pony breed crosses and start a new section/book in the HHAA named Hungarian Riding Ponies.

Purpose:
To provide Hungarian horse breeders with the opportunity to participate in & profit from the growing popularity of riding ponies.

Guidelines:
*To establish the pony foundation stock, it is recommended that HHAA Felver mares, HHAA Felver and Felver breeding approved stallions be utilized and approved for Hungarian Pony development. These mares and stallions can be crossed with HHAA acceptable pony breeds to produce Hungarian Riding Ponies.

*Riding Ponies are a type that is like a small warmblood. They have longer strides, smoother gaits, are more elastic and rhythmical than the typical “old style” ponies that often look like little draft horses with short strides and choppy gaits. Since the goal is to produce this type, the following ponies are recommended to be acceptable breeding stock for purposes of developing the Hungarian Riding Pony. Thoroughbred/Arab crosses with the following Pony types/breeds will also be acceptable. All ponies used for breeding from the list below, including those with Thoroughbred or Arabian blood as referenced in the prior sentence, must be registered with an applicable pony association. Draft or cob style ponies are not acceptable.

*USEF rules define a pony as 14.2 hands and under. It should be noted however that animals over 14.2 hands do not qualify as ponies under USEF rules and may not be shown in pony classes. Breeders should select breeding stock with this height range in mind for competitive and marketing reasons. However, if the pony should grow beyond 14.2 hands, he will not be denied or lose his HHAA Hungarian Riding Pony Registration. Additionally, the FEI is beginning to look seriously at pony height’s as some animals showing, described as, and registered as ponies are taller and are actually small horses. This issue is beginning to get media play and promises to be controversial.

For more information, please contact Henrietta Morey at (360) 879-5834 or at moreymax@aol.com

Hungarian Bikaver is by H. Gyemant (H. Big John) out of H. Tiszta (H. Hadur) and was bred by the Cooksley Ranch. He was bought by Linda Rudolphi as a yearling and used as a stallion producing 10 foals at WineGlass Farm. Before beginning his career in distance events, Bikaver competed successfully in dressage, jumping, combined training and played at the American Polocrosse Nationals in Texas. Bikaver is now owned by Marty and Chris Power and ridden by Chris Power.

Over the past two years Bikaver and Chris achieved the following accomplishments in UMECRA (Upper Midwest Endurance and Competitive Rides Association) CTR (Competitive Trails Rides). Competitive rides are ridden within a set time period at speeds of 5 1/2 to 7 miles per hour. Most are 25-30 miles in length although there are multi-day rides of varying lengths.

Horses are scored by veterinarians on such factors as pulse, respiration, soundness, fatigue and attitude.

In 2004 -Champion Rookie of the year -Top Ten Heavyweight (#5)

In 2005 -Champion Heavyweight -#5 Mileage horse (CTR and Endurance combined) (710 miles for a two year total of 1190 miles)

Bikaver is showing interested people around the Midwest that Hungarian horses can compete in distance riding - and win!

Commotion in Dutch equestrian world: Dutch mounted police are buying Hungarian horses.
August 20, 2004

The following article appeared in the Dutch newspaper Nederlands Dagblad:

Dutch Police Buy Hungarian Horses.

Driebergen. For about two weeks the National Mounted Police Forces have two horses of Hungarian origin in training. This was reported by a spokesperson of the forces Tuesday. According to the spokesperson only competition horses are being bred nowadays in the Netherlands. "These horses are very performance oriented; we want more quiet horses." One of the canine trainers informed the Mounted Forces about a stud farm in Hungary specialized in breeding horses for police work.

"If we like the horses, and we are very confident we will, we probably will replace more horses with Hungarian horses" according to the spokesperson. The Mounted Forces have sixty horses available. Each year a few need to be replaced. After the initial training which takes about two or three months, the horses will go out in the streets. It is the first time in history that horses for the Dutch police are purchased outside the Netherlands.