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The HorseQuest.com team is very excited to announce the establishment of the American Sport Pony Registry. This is a very exciting era for pony enthusiasts and breeders alike. Finally, the sport pony will get the recognition it deserves.
We would like to introduce Leigh Preddy, who is the owner of one of the first American Sport Pony stallions in America.
Deann: Hello Leigh. Thank you for allowing us to ask you questions about the American Sport Pony and The American Sport Pony Registry, a division of the American Warmblood Registry.
Leigh: Hello, and thank you for asking me here, and for your support for the Registry.
Deann: I just learned about the American Sport pony registry two weeks ago and was estatic.
Leigh: Estatic, that is exactly how I felt when I heard about this tremedous opportunity for pony fanciers and competitors.
Deann: When and how did you learn about the registry?
Leigh: I first heard about the American Warmblood Registry's new American Sport Pony registry in August of '99. It was all the rage on several email lists that I belong to that cater to the interests of sport pony owners.
Deann: What was your feeling when you first learned about the registry?
Leigh: I was very excited, finally, the sport pony was being recongnized on a trully international level. Warmblood ponies have been promoted in Europe for decades, with much sucess, and now we have this same opportunity in the United States for our homegrown ponies!
Deann: What is it like working with the American Warmblood Registry?
Leigh: Super nice people, knowledgable and helpful. They didn't mind the daily calls for information! I am new to the Warmblood world and didn't know how it worked, so every time I would call and get answers, I would think of other things I should have asked! They know what they want, and will help you all they can to understand the requirements and the rules.
Deann: How many ponies did you have inspected?
Leigh: At the Virginia inspection in October, '99, I had three ponies of my own, plus three of my trainer's, Karyn Becerra, ponies inspected. All six ponies were graded First Premium!
Deann: What were their results?
Leigh: As I said, all the ponies we took were graded First Premium. Two of my stallion's foals were awarded Champion and Reserve with a score of 8 overall. I was extremely pleased with how they were graded.
Deann: What was the process of the inspection?
Leigh: The process of grading the ponies was a lot of fun. Ponies do need to be cleaned up as if to show, but winter coats were exceptable. The ponies were stood and judged in hand, then walked and trotted on the triangle as they do in dressage. An "at liberty" phase was particularly nice as the judges could see how the ponies moved without the restriction of a handler. During the liberty judging, the ponies were required to trot and canter. All three gaits were judged. Older ponies are required to perform the "free jump", which is just the pony jumping small fences at liberty. Older ponies also need to be performance tested if they have no verifiable show record. This was basically a training level dressage test showing movement under saddle or in harness, submission, obedience, and attitude. One thing that I would like to elaborate on is the educational benefit of attending an inspection. The judges bring each pony up front and tell the spectators what that pony scored on each phase of judging and why they scored as they did. This was great! I learned so much, it surprised me, as I have been breeding ponies for over 25 years. I enjoyed every minute of the inspection. It is casual, yet professionally done.
Deann: As a Sport Pony breeder, how did you feel prior to the registry?
Leigh: As a Sport Pony breeder I felt that we needed credibility. These ponies are out there doing a great job for their owners in many, many fields of competition, yet there are very few awards to strive for. Also, many competitions are very limiting for ponies. At a recent Horse Trial, I noticed many ponies competing and realized that the interest was there for people riding ponies, but the rules of competition are too limiting for ponies. Example being the levels that are available at Horse Trials. As the ponies complete the lower levels, they are required to jump higher and higher fences as they progress up the levels. It is unfair to expect small or medium ponies to do this. Other types of competitions, such as the hunters also have limiting factors. A pony stallion is in what I call "no man's land", as he cannot be shown by children and ponies cannot be shown by adults. What the AWR-SP division gives us is an opportunity, first to show support for this registry, but next, gives us venues to show our ponies and strive for awards that are meaningful. As this "newborn" breed gets off the ground, AHSA, USDF, USCTA and others will follow. I can see in the future, hunter pony divisions for adults, horse trials and eventing levels designed for pony height fences, dressage classes full of upper level sport ponies, all because of one registry, really listening to the pony competitors and responding to their wishes for a registry that will support them in their efforts to breed, raise, train and show top quality sport ponies and allow us the opportunity to earn the respect these wonderful ponies deserve.
Deann: What are your long terms goals?
Leigh: I love really good ponies, period. What I personally want to do for the rest of my life is to raise pony foals. That is what I love and that is what I do best. My foals are all willing, personable, sweet and quiet ponies. I am proud of each and every one, should they go to show homes, or someone's back yard. I have a wonderful stallion, Wynnbrook Starburst, that gives me the type of sport pony foals that I can market very well. I rarely keep a foal over 5 months before they are sold, which tells me that I'm doing this correctly. My personal goal is to raise two or three top quality pony foals each year, breed a few outside mares and enjoy!
Deann: What performance successes have your ponies earned over the years?
Leigh: I have raised ponies for over 25 years now, most of those years were uneventful, even though it was fairly sucessful. When I put the pony business on hold for several years while my own children were very young, I decided to educated myself about the market trends. During this time, I attended all of the American Hunter Pony Auctions, plus several other upper end pony auctions. I also attended breed shows and hunter shows to see what was winning. With my new knowledge, I started hunting for the perfect stallion. A stallion that could give me the foals that would sell year after year. After a three year search, I found Wynnbrook. I bought him as a foal from Sandy Rose of Wynnbrook Farms. I have since put all my efforts into promoting this one stallion. He has served me well. As a youngster, he was awarded many Reserve Championships from Hunter Breeding classes to WPCSA classes. He was also pinned in USDF breeding classes as early as a yearling. Currently he is 5 years old, showing USDF, always in the ribbons. He was the '98 WPCSA Reserve Champion Section B Jr. Stallion and Open Pony Hunter at the Eastern Nationals. He also won his very first Horse Trial just last month. During '99 he has averaged mid 60% in the USDF classes, always in the ribbons in the open classes. He will continue compaining in 2000 at First Level. Wynnbrook's foals have not been shown very much. Wildwynn Solitaire won his colt/foal class at the WPCSA Eastern Nationals in '98, only time shown. "Unnamed" colt by Wynnbrook was Champion at the AWR inspection in VA and his half sister Wildwynn Cameo went Reserve at the same inspection. These were the only time any of Wynnbrook's foals have been shown, so at this point, we are at 100%.
Deann: What has been your greatest success?
Leigh: This may not mean much to others, but I entered Wynnbrook in an AERC recongnized endurance ride in April of '99. I did this for the diversion, as he had been in full time training for many months and was in need of some "fun". He surprised all the arabian riders by coming in 5th place overall and had the highest vet score in the Best Condition judging. He looked like he was ready for the show ring. This took place in the mountains of North Carolina. It was a difficult and challenging course. I was very proud of him. It takes more than good looks and good training for a pony to compete that well on a rugged and steep ride. It takes heart and soundness, concentration and willingness. These things are some of the immeasurable qualities that I am most proud of.
Deann: What do you look for when choosing breeding stock?
Leigh: First and foremost, I look for correct conformation. Then I continue to evaluate temperment. But, I also study pedigree. For breeding stock, you must have it all. There has been a tendency in the hunter pony market to breed ponies that children can't ride without full time trainers and proffessional handlers. This is a mistake I beleive. These are ponies for children primarily, they must be quiet and even tempered. Ponies should be athletic and sound of mind and body. Great movement is also needed if you plan to compete or sell a pony. Here, too, there are immeasurable things when selecting breeding stock. General personality, if I am going to keep a mare year after year, I want to like her personally. Ease of breeding, needed for stallions and mares. Ease of conception and delivery, necessary for broodmares. All these things are important to me.
Deann: Have your breeding goals changed with the establishment of the new registry?
Leigh: Not really, except that I plan on registring all my broodmares and foals with the AWR-SP. The ponies I am producing are the sport type that they desire. They are also the awesome movers that are sought after by the hunter pony market. Dressage riders are also buying my ponies and breeding to my stallion. So, this tells me that I do not need to change one thing!
Deann: What breeds cross well with your stallion?
Leigh: With Wynnbrook only 5 years old, it is hard to give you specifics about this. At this time, I can tell you that his really outstanding foals have come from arabian or arabian cross mares. He has several super purebred welsh foals on the ground and we are expecting 7 foals in 2000 out of Thoroughbred mares that will be interesting.
Deann: I understand that American Sport Ponies stallions must have 10 premium foals on the ground with in 3 years to obtain their permanent registration card. How many of your stallions foals have been approved?
Leigh: Wynnbrook had three foals inspected and graded First Premium at the Virginia inspection in October, '99. We are having a North Carolina inspection on Dec. 4th and he will have three more foals presented at that time. I don't feel that I will have any problems getting the ten premium foals within that time frame.
Deann: What disciplines does your stallion excel in?
Leigh: He seems to excell in anything Karyn points him at! Seriously, he is competing USDF quite well indeed. He has won a horse trial, has a Reserve Championship in Pony Hunter at a National Show, and received highest Vet score after an endurance ride! He is athletic, great mover, shows well on the line, will jump anything put in front of him. He loves to work and tries his very best.
Deann: Please write whatever you would like here that would best promote the > American Sport Pony Registry.
Leigh: I can only plead with other pony owners to support the efforts of the
American Warmblood Registry. This is the wave of the future, if you have
ever wished for more respect, and a better market for your ponies, you need
to support this registry. If you are a competitor, don't feel left out. The
registry is planning new and exciting awards for exhibitors competing on
American Sport Pony registered ponies. All those wonderful unregistered
ponies out there doing a great job for their owners can now get the
recognition they deserve. Contact the American Warmblood Registry for more information.
American Warmblood Registry
P.O. Box 127
Davis, CA 95617
Phone: (530) 757-1377
Fax: (530) 756-0982
American Sport Pony
Interviewee: Leigh Preddy
Wildwynn Ponies
Youngsville, NC
919-556-9070 Barn number
Email: Leigh331@aol.com