Pick one pony per section.
I’m predicting Goldhills As You Like It will win the mediums. She has dominated the mediums since last fall and is currently the #1 Medium in the U.S. I will be so proud if she wins. We owned her since birth until she was 8. She had a few foals for us, got started under saddle and then she was sold down to the U.S. to begin her pony hunter career.
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I love that pony! I am predicting Storyteller for larges and Rico Suave for smalls
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She is honestly the sweetest pony we’ve ever owned!
I think I just saw an article about the fact that the clone of Rico Suave will be available for breeding soon? I remember him from live streams a few years ago and he was always one of my favorites but I’m not sure how I feel about generating a clone so he can be used for breeding. It hasn’t seemed to me as though there has ever been a shortage of top notch breeding stallions who consistently throw winning offspring, so do we really need to start cloning pony geldings to add to the gene pool?
I’m not a breeder so I have no idea if my concerns are shared among the pony people and would love to hear what others think of cloning geldings for breeding specifically with regards to pony hunters.
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Colorful Scenario and Panda (if they are there). And any other pinto or appaloosa ponies! It’s the only chance I get to see some competitive pintos in the show ring!
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Is creating a clone for breeding really any different than breeding a horse exclusively to stand at stud? Not really. This doesn’t bother me. Not my money, but if that’s how those people want to spend theirs what’s the harm. Genetically, breeding to the clone is the same as breeding to the original. Perhaps at some point they’ll ride/show the clone but you don’t breed in the training— you breed in the genetics.
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I think you missed my point - I don’t have any concerns about clones in general. I understand the thinking behind cloning Gem Twist - that was an attempt to bring back a successful TB bloodline that had largely died out. I don’t see why the pony world needs a clone to breed to when there has really never been a shortage of really great pony hunter stallions to choose from that have been bred the traditional way. I will admit I know nothing about Rico Suave’s breeding - maybe it is something unique and really special where it makes sense to clone him for breeding purposes.
They would have to geld the clone to show him in the pony divisions. I guess that would be an interesting experiment. The famous pony mare Rainbow Connection has at least one clone on the ground but I wasn’t able to find out any recent news on any of them.
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Doesn’t your post point out WHY this might be necessary?
If you want a pony to show in the regular divisions with a kid, you have to geld the pony. So if you want to have the genetics of a proven winner, that has done the regular division with a kid, the solution is to create a clone. The clone keeps the gonads and can breed. The original does the divisions with a kid and cannot breed.
I don’t see why this is different than standing any other kind of stallion. People stand all kinds of stallions that may not be “necessary” because there are other equally nice stallions available. It’s never been a quota system.
I get your point. I just don’t agree. The people standing the clone must think there’s a market for the breeding or else they wouldn’t do it (or maybe later they’ll ride/show the pony, perhaps under an adult). But it makes sense that they would do it for exactly the reason you point out-- because children can’t always show a stallion you are left with the choice of geld/show or breed/don’t show. The clone adds a third option. Do both.
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Brighton always has a great chance in the large regulars. Absolutely gorgeous pony. I’m not sure if Armani is going in smalls, but I’m obsessed with him.
Oh My. Watching section 7, Large Under Saddle. A grey is definately lame! Head bobbing lame, both ways at all gaits. Can’t they be pulled, or just not be given a score?
Not going to handicap for the winners, but I am so excited for the 3 ponies we have going this year. Can’t wait to try to catch them on the live stream. One small, one medium and a green large (2021).
I’m not there, or watching. But if it’s lame, it should not get a score.
I’m watching the small greens under saddle. Interesting camera perspective from overhead makes them look even smaller, like they are riding those Breyer model horses. They almost don’t even look real! Look more like toys! hehe
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Is this a new ring? It does not look like the same as pony finals in the past. It seems smaller.
They’re in the Rolex Arena not the Walnut Ring this year. Seems to be made smaller by the fencing.
I’ve recently acquired a super fancy medium pony and trying to work out a plan for it.
Can someone brief me on how the pony finals works? How do you qualify etc?
Pony thing is 100% new to me.
It’s actually not that hard to qualify if you can have one good show in the right company at the right time. That’s why there are so many ponies at pony finals. But then once you get there, you are up against the best of the best as far as trying to actually get a ribbon there.
One thing that is unique about pony finals is that they put on a lot of fun activities for the kids outside of the show ring. So lots of kids go and have a fantastic time, even if they come home without any ribbons.
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Mellow Yellow is cool
