|
The NorthAmerican Sportpony is a relatively new pony breed in the United States. Its origins are from a diverse group of breeds, because the "Sportpony" is not derived from specific bloodlines, but rather is a conformation type, akin to the American Warmblood. As their name suggests, they are commonly used as smaller mounts for both adult and youth competitors in sporting competitions that range from dressage to jumping with competitiveness that ranges from local shows, to the international level. The Sportpony registry was a spinoff from the American Warmblood registry, and originated to fill the need for an equine mount that could be as athletic and competitive as its Warmblood cousins, but in a size more practical and manageable for smaller riders. The Sportpony is first and foremost a pony with a height range of . It must look and move like a small horse ideally, and must be physically capable of competing in a wide variety of disciplines. Bloodlines of both horses and ponies, including the Quarter Horse, the Thoroughbred, the Arabian, the Morgan, the Connemara Pony, and the Welsh Pony, can be found in the Sportpony. The ideal Sportpony is capable of being a family-friendly pet as well as a successful animal in the show ring. == Breed Characteristics == The NorthAmerican Sportpony Registry has one official breed standard even though they participate in a variety of different disciplines. They must look and move like a small horse, with the ability to compete in the internationally-recognized disciplines of jumping, dressage, eventing, and combined driving. It should not look like the stereotypical pony, which is stout, and stout, but rather be an athletic, willing, mount. Movement is a key characteristic of a Sportpony. The animal should have excellent elasticity, impulsion, articulation, and suspension. The traditional ‘flat-kneed’ movement that is popular in the hunter ring now is not a goal striven for by the Sportpony breed, but it is accepted. Ideally a Sportpony would move like a Warmblood, and be very smooth, agile, and elastic but on a smaller scale.〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://www.americansportpony.com/breed_standard/breedstandard.html )〕 To be accepted into the Sportpony Registry, ponies must undergo an inspection as well as be DNA-typed. The reason for this is that the Sportpony is not a breed that originated in bloodlines. With a DNA base that can be referenced, it will create a bloodline that follows the physical type and can be referenced. The inspection includes not only looking at the pony’s conformation, but its way of going and temperament as well. Stallions looking to be accepted into the Registry must pass additional performance and strict progeny requirements.〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://www.americansportpony.com/req_guide/req_guide.html )〕 As far as physical requirements, the pony must be between All colors are accepted. The head must be small and regal, and be cleanly attached to a long, wide neck. Limbs should be dry and have flat knees. Their movement should be rhythmic and correct, with significant impulsion from the hindquarters.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「North American Sportpony」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|