You should too. Yep, this is a POA breeding farm and we raise ponies so we are biased. We don't raise ponies just because they are cute. We raise ponies because they are perfectly and fantastically amazing. We raise ponies to ride them. But that doesn't seem to make sense to most people. Riding ponies in an open show circuit means we have had to grow thick skins and develop a strong backbone over the years. There are a lot of jokes we have heard over the years and some not so joking comments as well. "You need a bigger pony", "you're supposed to ride on the horse, not stand next to it", "did you leave your horse in the dryer too long", "if you start to fall off, just stand up," "it's just a pony - anyone can ride a pony", and "are you ever going to ride a big horse"; just to name a few. People hear the word "ponies" and they think of the nasty little shetland or mini that they had as a kid so they are shocked and confused when we show up as adults or big kids on our "ponies". It's no surprise that my daughter caved to the pressure to prove herself on a big horse and rides a 16+ hand appaloosa for the moment. We can only hope that she wises up and comes back to ponies. I know that I ventured into big horses briefly, but am currently shopping for my forever pony to pack me around the show ring.
Now, in their defense, many people come to our farm, take one look at Cher and say "that's not a pony". Cher is a big 14 hand pony. She's big bodied, okay she's built like a tank, and she doesn't look like the typical pony of people's fond (or not so fond) memories. There are many many many POA's that are built just like Cher and considered "large" ponies. In fact, as the adult classes grow - there are more 56" (or 14 hand) ponies than there are the "smalls" or 51" and under ponies. But we ride them all. And since our open show circuit here requires 54" and under, we lean towards making and riding kid's ponies that fall into the small and medium categories. Hence the teasing.
True, we got into POA ponies originally as a riding pony for the kids. I didn't know 10 years ago that POA's were ridden by adults. Not just trained and then passed down to kids, but ridden and shown by adults. In fact, when you go to a POA show, the adult classes are only growing in size. More and more adults are realizing how incredibly talented and amazing these little horses are. As kids "age out" of the youth classes and graduate, POA is doing everything in their power to keep those kids as adults and not letting them get away to those "other" breeds. Not knocking a good paint, appaloosa or quarter horse, but you can't beat a good POA. Not only are they talented, they are talented in all aspects. No matter if you like speed events, pleasure events, reining, jumping, driving; you name it, the ponies are doing it successfully. Whatever trips your trigger, there is a POA for that or one that can do it all.
We have had "big" horses over the years, but the only current big horse in our pasture is China. We are a pony farm and staying that way. My mission from now until I am too old to throw a leg over the saddle or plunk my butt in a cart is to share and promote this amazing breed. I would love to see more adults willing to come with us to a POA show and see that no, you aren't too big for that pony and yes, we are all riding them. Not just the little people either. Not just the tiny adults. All of us are riding ponies. Big ponies, little ponies, wide ponies, narrow ponies - all types of ponies. But they all have one thing in common. Spots! (Unless you count the greys and the fewspots... but that's a blog on color genetics for a later date.)
So yep - you can keep teasing me. I'll help you out. I'll ask "does this pony make my butt look big" as I lope a circle into the ground and crush a horsemanship pattern. Tiny pattern? No problem for 52" Mercy. I'll keep showing ponies. Some judges won't get it. Lots of people in the stands won't understand. But if anyone wants to come visit and meet our ponies and sit on one, you'll get it. I can tell you it took one time of me riding my youngest daughter's pony to know I was making the right decision. Pony power from here on out. Come visit us! We can help you find the pony of your dreams.
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