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A Horse, Of Course Some things are named well, some things aren't. The Lone Ranger was named well. Man O' War is pretty good. Olympic Champion. That's great! Pony Club. Bad name, bad name. When you see or read the name United States Pony Clubs, Inc. (USPC) all the images which pop to mind are wrong. Pony Club isn't what it's name makes you think it is. In fact, it's almost everything you think it isn't. To get the right image of Pony Club, you have to know something about Pony Club. And one of the things you need to know is that Pony Club thinks you've got to know something about horses before you actually get the right image of a horse. And that's the first great thing about Pony Club. The second terrific thing is Pony Club believes knowledge is the essence of a super horse and rider partnership. With those two very perceptive ideas in mind, The United States Pony Clubs, Inc. was formed Feb. 24, 1954 in Massachusetts. The purpose: "To develop and encourage among children throughout the United States a knowledge of horsemanship including the care of horses, to encourage fair and friendly competition, to develop understanding of, and sympathy for the horse by its rider, and by these and other means, to help to develop in young riders strength of character, alert minds and sound bodies." Now that you know something about Pony Club, you know some of what it isn't. So, what is it? Pony Club is a worldwide nonprofit organization that teaches horsemanship and care of horses to young people (some start at age 5) through the age of 21. Most Pony Club members do not ride ponies, while some little ones do. Pony Club members, through the formal instructional program, learn more about horses and their care than do the members of any other American horsemanship organization. Members progress through a standard rating system which requires them to learn more and more about horses and their care and to become accomplished riders. An "A" rating is the ninth and highest rating. It is reached by only a few members, but when it is, you can be sure you are dealing with a highly competent young horseman. Pony Club riding activities include Combined Training (dressage, cross-country and stadium jumping), Mounted Games, Show Jumping, Dressage as a single activity, Vaulting, Polo, Polocrosse, Fox hunting and Tetrathlon (riding, running, swimming and shooting). The USPC emphasizes instruction over competition. Now isn't it interesting that most of the great coaches (in virtually any sport you can think of) also emphasize knowledge and understanding before "show time." Another way of looking at the success of instruction over competition is to know that more than 30 former Pony Club members have been members of the US Olympic teams as equestrians. Want me to drop some names. How about Bruce Davidson, two-time gold medal winner. Or there is Michael J. Plumb, two-time gold medal winner, with three silver medals. Of course, there's my favorite, William Steinkraus, bronze, silver and gold medal winner. The girls are also well represented in Pony Club. Want some big names. How about Melanie Smith-Taylor, show jumping gold medal winner, or Karen Stives, gold and silver medal winner in eventing. So what's in a name? Maybe the best times of your life, maybe a pal you'll never forget, maybe the pride of accomplishment, the joy of understanding, the gift of knowledge being given back, a career, a gold medal, the building blocks of the person you or your children will become. Pony Club. It's more than just a name. It's something you and your children ought to join.
A Horse, Of Course "I'm a mini, I'm a mini," Walter, a horse, of course, shouted from his stall. "No you're not," I corrected. "You are a Quarter Horse." "No, I'm a mini," he insisted, pointing his left foreleg at a resin model sculpted in the form of Walter. There was pride in his eyes. "I'm a mini," he said again. "No," I responded. "You are an American Quarter Horse who just happens to have an 19-inch model made in your image." "A mini," I said emphatically and with authority, "is a miniature horse." "Minis," I informed Walter, "are a recognized breed registered with the American Miniature Horse Association of Alvarado, Texas." The American Miniature Horse Association, Inc., was organized in 1978 to aid and encourage the breeding, use and perpetuation of the American Miniature Horse. The organization wants to keep the mini separate and apart from ponies and other small equines. "And," I said to Walter, "according to the AMHA's rules and regulations, an animal exceeding 34 inches in height at the last hairs of his mane at the withers is not eligible for registration. That leaves you out." I suggested to Walter there were plenty of myths and misinformation about the mini, and that most of what we know is founded in logic, supposition and speculation. Most modern historians and horsemen tend to support the idea the breed--as most breeds--is a derivative of many sources. If you examine the evolution of the horse, you know our modern horse of 16-hands is the descendant of a very small, nearly fox-sized equine. So, somewhere along the line it is not inconceivable that the mini evolved as a horse, but remained small trying to survive harsh climates and a limited food supply. Our knowledge of genetics indicates horses can be bred for size, and according to the AMHA it is known that at various times minis were bred for pets, novelty, research, mining work, exhibition and royal gifts. Of course today, there is no question, they are being bred for monetary gain. They sell well, and frequently for a whole lot of money. It is speculated, today's mini is the result of nearly 400 years of selective breeding. Of course, that's speculation. The association reports the first mention of a small horse being imported to the United States was in 1888. However, there apparently was not much public notice of the little guys prior to 1960 when the mini started to gain some popularity. It is believed the American Miniature Horse utilized the blood of the English and Dutch mine horses brought to this country in the 1800s and used in Appalachian coal mines as late as 1950. The American Miniature Horse, as documented in the pedigrees of some minis today, also drew upon the blood of the Shetland pony, according to the AMHA. When you see a mini, the general impression should be of a small, sound, well-balanced horse. The mini should have the correct conformational characteristics required of large horses. You should see refinement and femininity in mares and boldness and masculinity in stallions. The association says you should see symmetry, strength, agility and alertness, and that preference in judging should be given to the smaller horse, other characteristics being equal. After all, the AMHA says, the objective is to breed the smallest possible perfect horse. What do a mini do? They show at halter, pull carts and go over jumps while on a longe line. And, Walter, a mini can be mini in other ways. For example, the costs of stabling a mini range from $50 to $150 per month, whereas, for you, it can cost from $200 to $600 per month. And the cost of feeding a mini is about $25 per month. "The cost of feeding you, my friend, is about $150 per month. So, you see, you are not a mini, never where a mini and never will be a mini." As I walked away, Walter was looking at his model with a contented grin. "It's a mini-me!" "I heard that."
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