Economic Power Of Ponies
Despite recent tax breaks and incentives the horse business has been hit hard with yes... I’ll say the word politicians avoid, recession. I’m Susan Allen when Open Range returns I’ll be back with one segment of the horse industry that has exploded over the last twenty years, evidence that unlike the stimulus plan, good things can come in small packages. A product of the 60’s, like the smiley face, the pony has been endeared on our hearts, think “my little pony” toys. The Pony craze started in England when these tough tiny animals, primarily used as beast of burden became the mounts of children under twelve providing a safe way to compete in the horse show world through a an affiliation like 4-H called pony club. Some historians feel it was the pony’s ability to charm children that spawned the boom in all equestrian sports. Both English and Western breeders discovered these little gems can often be more valuable than horses. Anything under 14.2 hands that allows kids to compete roping or running barrels is one hot commodity. Ponies that can jump can easily bring twenty thousand dollars. If you visit Open Range at aginfo.net you’ll see that like my favorite wine my roping and jumping buddy Mighty Mouse is 14 Hands and I’m part of a growing trend, Jessica Wisdom a Northwest dressage rider who competes internationally on a welsh cob has found lucrative niche, marketing dressage ponies not to children but small, middle aged women like me.
