Read Warmbloods Today Magazine 2012 article on German Riding ...

All three photos by Ann Daum Kustar 

G erman R 

Daz 

the Hunt 

Elegant and balanced Mini-Me’s to their larger 

Warmblood cousins, German Riding Ponies are 

bred to compete in the Olympic disciplines, 

and they often have horse-sized talent over 

fences trapped in those adorable 14.2 hand (or 

less) bodies. Developed over forty years ago in Germany, 

these ponies were originally crosses of the British riding 

pony breeds such as the Welsh B, with Anglo-Arab, Arab, 

Thoroughbred, small <strong>Warmbloods</strong> and native ponies. What 

they are now is a phenomenally successful shrink-wrapped 

version of the designer label <strong>Warmbloods</strong>, with the added 

bonus of pony toughness, soundness and good character. 

Competitive in the Hunters 

The challenge for the hunter world has been in seeing 

past the big, uphill, Bundeschampionate-winning gaits 

these ponies show off as youngsters in Germany. The 

versatility of the German Riding Pony seems to showcase 

itself here. The same ponies that power around the ring 

with free shoulders and powerful hind legs working well 

under their bodies can show up as winning hunter ponies 

in the U.S. a year or so later. 

Take top large pony hunter For the Laughter, as an 

example. While his USEF registration lists him as a Welshcross, 

his papers are those of a Weser-Ems pony bred in 

Germany. He was sired by the important foundation stallion 

Brillant and out of Mon Cheri, who descends from Black Boy— 

Black Grannus, the direct pony-line of the great Hanoverian 

stallion Grannus. For the Laughter, born Bubble Gum, was 

licensed as a stallion by the Weser-Ems and Hanoverians, 

and sired one foal in Germany before being discovered and 

imported by Scott Stewart of New Jersey. Now a gelding, 

“Bubbles” clinched his fourth consecutive large pony hunter 

champion title at the pony finals this year, ridden by Maddie 

Durst and owned by Virginian Dr. Betsee Parker. 

The USEF list of top-ranking large pony hunters is 

littered with ponies with accents. Some other famous 

names include Vanity Fair and Seven Steps, Dutch and 

German ponies also owned by Dr. Betsee Parker, and Enjoy 

the Laughter, owned by Rose Hill Farm in New York, and 

shown by Lili Hymowitz, who topped the model and under 

saddle divisions at the <strong>2012</strong> finals. 

A New Trend 

What makes the ‘Warmblood’ ponies, as they are dubbed, 

the new trend in the hunter ring? Chad Keenum, owner 

of CK Sporthorses in The Plains, Virginia, says they have a 

lot more jump and more horse-like movement than many 

of the traditionally Welsh-cross large ponies bred in this 

country. 

“The Warmblood ponies go more like horses,” Chad 

explains. “They have more suspension and a rounder 

jump—and I think the judges are liking it.” 

“It’s easier for the kids to move up to horses from a 

Warmblood pony—they go around 

the ring slower than the Welsh, with a 

bigger step, more power, a more active 

hind leg and sometimes a little more 

knee action,” he continues. “These 

ponies have great brains too. They have 

to—they’re designed for kids!” 

Chad’s After the Laughter started his 

career in Germany as the Westphalian 

licensed stallion Ruby Gold, sired by 

Chad Keenum 

Oosteinds Ricky, an M-level dressage pony. After winning 

his 30-day test in Germany with an impressive 8.84 overall, 

this multi-talented pony placed fifth in the five-year-old 

jumpers Bundeschampionate, and a week later, won the 

driving pony Bundeschampionate. This champion German 

pony has also proved to be an outstanding hunter in the 

Anna Purdy 

Photos at top: Left, SF Solaris, a <strong>2012</strong> GRP colt (bred by the author) by Smoke Free Snapdragon, a pony stallion sold to South Africa. Middle: Stallion 

ponies presented at the Neumünster licensing. Right: A pony stallion at Neumünster 

82 January/February 2013

iding Ponies 

zle 

er Ring 

By Ann Daum Kustar 

U.S., first for Scott Stewart, then for Chad Keenum. Chad has imported several German 

ponies that were licensed as stallions in Germany before making the trip across the 

ocean as geldings to star in the hunter ring. 

The drawbacks of the German ponies? Chad says the size can be tricky. Unlike in 

the U.S., German ponies are measured in centimeters, and the maximum height for the 

pony divisions is 148 cm—the equivalent of 14.2 and ½ hands, which is just oversize for 

our hunter pony regulations. Also, some of the ponies have too much knee action for 

the hunters, although Chad and other successful U.S. hunter pony trainers have found 

that even some of the bigger moving German ponies can be made into hunters by 

switching shoes, letting their heads go and schooling over trot poles at home. 

Despite those relatively small changes, he says the basics are the key to success. “I 

used to think that I could change a lot of things, and do them better,” Chad says with a 

laugh. “But the Germans really are smart in their breeding and training, and I’ve learned 

to appreciate how they do things. It all comes down to choosing the right ponies, and 

bringing them along the right way.” 

Finding trained ponies in Germany is getting easier for Americans, thanks to the 

popular Pony Forum sales, which showcase the best made show ponies from dressage, 

jumpers and eventing, as well as young riding prospects, stallions and foals at auctions 

held across Germany. Their professional team is devoted to promoting and selling only 

ponies. Eckhard Scharf, one of the forum’s founding members, says that some German 

pony breeders are starting to realize the potential in the U.S. pony hunter market. 

“First, when I saw videos of hunter ponies in the U.S., I thought they must move flat, 

flat flat, and not have too big of a jump. But this was not true—they must be elastic.” 

Eckhard explains. 

“The German ponies can make top hunters for Americans. The only problem is that 

so many disappear! We hear they are successful hunters, but their names change, 

and we get no pictures back,” he adds. “We love that they are winning, but we think 

everyone should know where these great ponies are coming from!” 

A German Breeder’s Perspective 

Sabine Meiners, owner of Hilkens Studfarm in Lower Saxony, Germany, bred the wellknown 

and successful pony stallion Hilkens Black Delight (Branduardi M x Morbidelli), 

as well as a colorful shopping list of other popular licensed stallions. 

“Dreamcatcher is only one of quite a few stallions that were originally licensed in 

Germany and then had a second career as a hunter in the U.S. I have used (the stallions) 

Branduardi M and Dreamcatcher quite a bit, and rather successfully. I wasn’t happy when 

they both got sold to the U.S., because that also usually means they’ll be gelded due 

Three examples of ponies sold at the 

Pony Forum event. 

Photo credit here 



<strong>Warmbloods</strong> <strong>Today</strong> 83




Dreamcatcher was 

reserve champion of 

the Hanoverian pony 

stallion licensing 

in 2003. Later, he 

became a hunter 

in the U.S. and was 

gelded. 





Hilkens Denaliwas sold to New Zealand 

and is shown in Grand Prix dressage. 

to the rules in American hunter sports that don’t allow juniors to show stallions,” 

Sabine explains. 

Branduardi M was an especially tough loss for German pony breeding—this 

Weser-Ems licensing champion in 1998 later became Reserve-Bundeschampion 

and performance test champion, showed internationally as an FEI-dressage pony, 

then was sold to the U.S. and gelded. He sired many fine ponies, among them 

Hilkens Black Delight, Hilkens Shakyrah, and Bundeschampionate mare Lady Astor. 

Sabine went on to describe the incredible versatility of the German Riding 

Ponies, which excel in all disciplines in Germany. “In Germany, they show in jumping 

classes up to 4.5 feet, some show in Grand Prix classes against <strong>Warmbloods</strong>, plus 

they do driving, western style classes, endurance riding, etc. They show under kids 

and adults, against ponies and big horses. Hilkens Denali (a licensed GRP stallion 

sired by Dreamcatcher) in New Zealand was recently selected to represent the New 

Zealand team at a highly ranked international dressage series, in ‘advanced’ class, 

just under Grand Prix. He was the only one not being ridden in a double bridle, 

because his owner/rider says it’s simply not necessary for him.” 

Marketing Challenges 

A familiar face to some American breeders, Otto Schalter, stud book director of 

the Rheinland Pfalz-Saar International and its parent organization in Germany, the 

Pferdezuchtverband Rheinland Pfalz-Saar (PRPS), recalls the beginning of the Pony 

Forum sales vividly. 

“This was a new idea,” Otto explains, “marketing the top trained show ponies in 

Germany, as well as the youngsters, at auction and open sales around Germany.” 

He recalls that at the first meeting of the Pony Forum, no one from the 

participating registries was jumping out of their seat to host the first auction. “So 

I said we’ll do it here, at the PRPS headquarters—Pferdezentrum in Standenbuhl, 

without asking anybody else in the organization,” Otto laughs. “We had the event 

and it was amazing. Now it’s growing every year. In <strong>2012</strong> we had top, winning 

dressage and jumper ponies from around Germany at the Pony Forum sale in 

Standenbuhl. There’s no better way to see, try and shop for a large selection of 

top-class ponies under one roof.” 

One of the main differences between U.S. and German marketing of sport 

horses and ponies are the gala events and auctions surrounding the stallion 

licensings. While each of the pony-breeding regions holds their own stallion 

approvals, there is also a licensing and auction held in Neumünster, in the north 

of Germany, which is open to ponies from every region in Germany—including 

separate divisions for the riding ponies, the powerful Haflingers and Fjords, the 

purebred Welsh A’s, B’s and Cobs, as well as the Shetlands and Mini stallions. 

There’s something surreal about traveling from one of the ‘big-guy’ 

Warmblood stallion licensings in Munich or Den Bosch and arriving to the 

Holstenhallen in Neumünster for the ponies. The same flowers and banners 

grace the arena; the same tack vendors set up behind the stadium seating; the 

same (at least they look the same!) panel of German judges stand seriously in 


Left to right: 

their suits and hats in the 

(1) Timo Coldewey 

center of the ring. And 

presents a 

then enter the stallions, 

stallion at the 

braided and groomed to 

<strong>2012</strong> licensing at 

perfection, trotting boldly 

Neumünster. 

next to their white-gloved 

(2) A pony free 

handlers…some of them 

jumping at 

reaching just up to the 

Neumünster. 

handler’s knees. It can be 

hard to keep a straight face! 

Adding to that humorous 

scene are the names—there 

are ‘shrunken’ versions of the biggest names of the Warmblood world, including 

Donnerhall, Chambertin and Numero Uno. 

Timo Coldewey is heir to the successful German breeding farm Kastanienhof, 

which has been home to foundation stallions Brillant (sire of For the Laughter), 

Kennedy, Kaiserjaeger and Halifax, and more recently, FS Cracker Jack, Hot Cream 

WE, The Breas My Mobility, Olivier K, Makuna Matata and Cockney Cracker. The 

young Coldewey is a big name in the German pony world and a seasoned pro 

at preparing and presenting both his own and outside-owned young pony and 

Warmblood stallions for licensing. 

“People who are competing don’t always look for the same things as breeders 

when they attend the stallion licensings and auctions,” Timo explains. “Riders want 

the product, and they want to work with what they have. Breeders want to know 

how did they do it? How can I do it?” 

“We’ve had people shopping for hunter ponies look at a pony, trained as we do 

it here, and say this is no hunter… and then later, the pony becomes a successful 

hunter! They look for the product—they should look for the talent! If you see talent, 

and make the product, it’s not so expensive that way,” he explains. 

“I think the hunters want flat movement but also big, slow movement—the 

same slow movement we are looking for too—but for dressage we like them to go 

more over the knee. If you ride a horse or pony slowly, with a long neck, for a long 

time—he won’t continue moving over the knee. But remember that a good trainer 

knows what he can change and what he can’t,” he concludes. 

Ann Daum Kustar 

Antony Quinn in Germany (1), and 

then here in the U.S. ridden by 

Dianna’s 12-year-old son Charlie. 

Quite the contrast! 

Ann Daum Kustar 

Courtesy Dianna Orona 

Courtesy Dianna Orona 

American Breeders Tackle the Market 

Timo Coldewey has some advice for the Americans too. In a huge country like 

yours,” he says, “breeders and riders need to sit together.” He smiles. “Riders and 

breeders are connected to each other. As long as you keep that disorganized, and 

don’t reward the breeders of the winning ponies, and don’t get together the riders 

with the breeders, then you Americans will need to keep buying from us!” 

In fact, some U.S. breeders of German Riding Pony are bringing the big names 

from across the ocean, utilizing the successful pony lines already here, and working 

to create top hunter ponies on American soil. 

Dianna Orona, owner of Fox Creek Farm in Manhattan, Kansas, offers North 

America’s most extensive list of top pony stallions available by frozen semen. She 

stands seven pony stallions, including the German Riding Ponies FS Daily Hero (FS 

Don’t Worry x FS Pavarotti), Chicco B (Chantre B x Nansen), Benno’s Dream (Blue Star 

x Askan), Foxcreek Diamond King (Dance Star AT x Kennedy) and Adonis (Argentino 

x Voyage), who was recently champion of the <strong>2012</strong> 30-day pony test in Oklahoma. 

Dianna’s breeding program is unique in the U.S. for the strength of its mare 

herd—she’s imported pony mares from the best mother lines in Germany, many of 

them States Premium, and often carrying a unique in-utero foal sired by stallions 

not currently available by frozen semen in the U.S. 

“From the beginning our emphasis has been on the quality of our mares,” Diana 

explains. “Why re-create the wheel? The German ponies have been selected and 

Chanel, bred at Whispered Wish 

Farm, is showing in the hunters. 

Courtesy Heather Luing 

Courtesy Heather Luing 

<strong>Warmbloods</strong> <strong>Today</strong> 85

Maggie from 

Whispered Wish Farm. 

“You don’t have to go to Europe anymore to get a great 

GRP, but I think that perception continues.” 

Ann Daum Kustar Ann Daum Kustar 

Courtesy Heather Luing Courtesy Heather Luing 

Cannavaro, in Germany (1), sold to 

cindy Bohn and niece abi Russo. 

(2) Laurel Bennett owns him now; 

his name is The Foreigner. 

fine-tuned for sport for generations. We in America need to use these genetic building 

blocks already in place, along with the top-producing ponies we have here already, to 

create our own outstanding ponies.” 

“There are some very nice ponies being bred here now. Riders and trainers need to 

look first to the U.S.-bred GRPs for the hunter ring, as well as dressage,” she adds. 

Dianna has her own example of a GRP licensed stallion bred for dressage that has 

gone on to a successful career in the hunter ring. Antony Quinn is a 2004 imported 

Weser-Ems stallion (now gelded) sired by Antony Hopkins, the Polish pony eventing 

champion in 2008 who represented Denmark in the EU Championships in 2009. 

Antony Quinn was champion in the qualifier and was runner-up in the 2008 Weser- 

Ems 4-Year-Old Materiale Championship. He also had sired six foals in Germany before 

making the trip to Fox Creek Farm in Kansas, where he changed gears to become a 

winning pony hunter. 

“The pictures of Antony in Germany, and then here in the U.S. ridden by a junior, 

say it all—these ponies are athletes with the most amazing minds. They can go in 

whichever direction we ask them to go.” 

Heather Luing, owner of Whispered Wish Weser-Ems, stands the licensed German 

Riding Pony Highlife’s Burberry, by Highlife’s Bodyguard—Black Boy, out of a linebred 

Constantin mother. She began breeding GRPs in 2002, and while her passion is 

producing dressage ponies, she has seen about 50 percent of her foals go into hunter 

careers. 

“I have found that many of the ponies are multi-talented. I have a good idea 

early on if a foal has potential as a hunter. What I have found interesting is that many 

times the dressage and hunter people end up liking the same ponies. The only real 

exception would be if the pony has a ton of knee action,” she explains. 

How does a GRP differ from an American-bred Welsh pony in the show ring? 

Heather thinks that overall they tend to be more horse-like in their proportions. 

Although in Germany they are not bred for hunters, but they are bred to be athletic in 

sport. “I have yet to meet a GRP that was not a fairly good jumper, and most are great 

jumpers. They tend to have quite a lot of scope over fences since in Germany they 

often compete over much large fences,” she says. 

Heather thinks the pony trends are following the horse trends. Where the 

<strong>Warmbloods</strong> used to be unusual, they are now more the norm in the hunter ring. 

“I can tell you that of the ponies I have sold to hunter careers, the buyers were 

specifically looking for a GRP. So they are gaining popularity for sure, and I expect this 

will continue to grow. It is not overnight though,” she adds. 

For breeders, Heather finds selling ponies to the dressage market is a little more 

user friendly. “Dressage buyers are often willing to invest in a youngster and bring 

them along themselves with the help of a trainer. They also tend to shop on their own 

and be quite independent in their decision making. They tend to look at classifieds, 

websites, etc. I have found breaking into the hunter market as a breeder to be 

extremely challenging. They want a made pony or close to it and often trainers seem 

to shop by networking—it is hard to break into that loop. To some extent advertising 

seems to be frowned on and it is hard to get your name out there without spending a 

fortune on showing. As a breeder, you simply can’t afford to do that,” she says. 

“What I wish is that hunter trainers would become more interested in working with 

breeders,” she adds. “You don’t have to go to Europe anymore to get a great GRP, but I 

think that perception continues.” 

Whether bred here or abroad, the German Riding Ponies are clearly providing 

an exciting alternative for pony hunters. As more and more young riders have the 

chance to ride these miniature <strong>Warmbloods</strong>, the effects on the discipline will likely be 

profound.

Read Warmbloods Today Magazine 2012 article on German Riding ...

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