Ponies for show

BRITAIN’S plaited “mini” ponies – lead-rein and first ridden – have long been the envy of the world for their quality and manners, and have also launched stellar careers for riders across the disciplines.

These classes continue to attract huge entries, but priorities appear to have changed in recent years, and today’s picture is not always a pleasant or instructive one. The sight of highly strung mini ponies going in a fixed, overbent outline – unable to walk out correctly – is becoming increasingly common.

So why is this? Some believe the trend has swung too far in favour of more finely bred ponies – often described as mini thoroughbreds – who may require extensive “drilling” before being deemed safe enough to appear in the ring.