What is a sport horse / sport pony?
The Sport Horse 
The title of Sport Horse has been given to a horse of a specific 'type' VS a specific breed. This type of horse has a conformation (physical build) and movement style that is suitable for english based riding sports such as dressage, jumping (which can range from hunters to jumpers to eventing). Many people also include performance driving (marathon, combined driving), distance riding (endurance, competitive trail) and even fox hunting.
There are many organizations or associations based on the 'sport horse' type - specifically warmbloods such as Oldenbergs, Swedish or Danish warmbloods, Hanovarians, etc. Typical a sport horse registry (association or organization) will give a 'record of registration' to a horse based on some kind of inspection process. This process judges the horse based on conformation (physical build) movement, athletic ability, and disposition. Some of these organizations even judge a certain number of offspring from the horse before awarding permanent 'registration' status in their breeding divisions records. Some of these organizations are performance based and weigh the individual animals performance record more heavily VS sheer physical traits at the time of an inspection.
This is very different from the way most purebred breed associations
- such as the American Quarter Horse or Arabian Horse Registry, which
will give registration papers to any offspring born of registered parents.
It would be unfair of me to mention that many breed registries are starting
sport horse divisions - and while they may not have a process of 'inspection
passing before receiving papers of registration', they offer classes
that offer an inspection type judging process with written scores and
thus class placings.
Established Warmblood associations or registries include (but are not limited
to);
- American Trakehner Association
- The American Hanoverian Society
- The American Holsteiner Horse Association, Inc.
- KWPN-NA Dutch Warmblood
- Swedish Warmblood Association of North America (SWANA)
- Welcome to the American Warmblood Registry
- Oldenburg ISR
Other similar organizations include performance based or educational based registries;
Arabian Sport Horses
Arabians, like any other bred that has a traditional registry association (non inspection based), have certain family lines and types that excel in various riding disciplines such as saddle-seat (park horse), western pleasure, hunt seat, and even halter.
The Arabian 'sport horse', while still maintaining Arabian horse characteristics, should be more of a sport horse 'type'. By this I mean the this particular Arabian should be built with the type of conformation, and have the type of movement, so that it excels in the traditional sport horse disciplines of dressage, jumping and eventing. Arabian sport horses could also excel in racing, distance riding (such as endurance, competitive trail, hunter paces or fox hunting) or even western working disciplines (such as reining, cutting, or working cow horse), as these disciplines require similar conformation.
Arabian Sport Horses obviously have to be at least one-half Arabian
(meaning that at least one parent must be a purebred, registered, Arabian
horse). The option of cross breeding Arabians to another type or breed
of horse can help riders interested in dressage or jumping produce an
offspring that is likely to excell in these sports while keeping the
benefits of owning a registered Arabian! It can be a win-win situation,
esp to the amateur, family, novice or youth rider who enjoys showing
but may also want their horse to pull double duty as the 'all terrain
recreational vehicle'! :-)
Sport Ponies and Riding Ponies
The Sport Pony, depending on the registry and who you ask, should mimic the Sport Horse in type (which can vary depending on the sport) with the exception of size. Sport Ponies typically measure between 13.2 - 14.2H, though breeding stock can be smaller or larger. The Sport Pony should also have a temperament suitable for smaller and younger riders.
For years in Europe children have ridden well built ponies, and one example of that is the FEI dressage pony division. In America dressage ponies are starting to develop a market and demand for youth and smaller riders, while jumper ponies have been fairly popular at USEF shows. A handful of American based warmblood or performance based registries are also offering pony divisions in their stud books;
- Weser EMS Oldenburg Pony Stud Book
- American Sport Pony Registry
A variation of a sport pony is often refereed to as a 'riding pony'. Often these ponies are something between a warmblood in type and a lighter version suitable to be shown by children in show hack classes or in driving classes.
To find out more about our Arabian sport horse, and our pony, breeding program please see our breeding links.
