French Saddle Pony

Infobox Horse
name= French Saddle Pony


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altname= Poney Français de Selle
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country= France
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The French Saddle Pony, also called the Poney Français de Selle, is pony breed developed as a sport pony for children and smaller adult riders. Thus, it fills a role similar to that of the British Riding Pony Bongianni, Maurizio. "Simon & Schuster's Guide to Horses and Ponies". 1988, pg. 151. ISBN 0671660683] and the German riding pony.

History

The French Saddle Pony was created by crossing native French pony mares with Welsh pony, New Forest Pony, Arabian horse and Connemara Pony stallions. The breed's section of the French Pony Stud book also includes ponies that were bred through the crossing of Arabian stallions with Connemara, New Forest and Welsh Pony mares, as well as Selle Francais, Connemara and New Forest stallions with Merens, Basque and Landais mares.

Breed Characteristics

The French Saddle Pony generally stands 12.1 to 14.2 hands high and can be any color. The head is small with a straight or convex profile. The neck is long, the withers prominent, the chest wide and deep and the shoulders sloping and long. The croup is sloping and the legs are strong with large, clean joints and clearly defined tendons.

Uses

French Saddle Ponies are mainly used as riding horses in competition events such as show jumping and dressage, but are also used as harness ponies.

References