By Janie Pride
Note, these photos are shared in a historical context. USDF strongly recommends all riders wear protective headgear when mounted.
In 1996, I took a wonderful trip to the Netherlands to look for a dressage pony. Little did I know then that this trip would change my dressage life. Earlier in the year, I was fortunate enough to meet Dutch rider and trainer Werner Geven when he came to Georgia to give a dressage clinic. At the time, I had a Thoroughbred Welsh pony cross. I rode with Werner every time he came to Poplar Place Farm for clinics, and I was incredibly impressed with his riding, his gracious personality, his ability to teach each rider in their own style, and his sense of the horse.
When I decided to look for a new pony, I knew that Werner was the only one I trusted to find the pony of my dreams. Though the attitude in America is “bigger is better,” I am very small, and I knew that we could find a very competitive pony overseas. I had no idea that I would come home with two ponies!
Werner had been training young riders on Mr. ALJ van Esch’s fabulous Nederlands Rijpaarden- en Ponystamboek (NRPS; translation: Dutch Riding Horse and Pony Studbook) ponies, so we visited Mr. van Esch first. He showed us his stunning stallions – including the brilliant Idzard – and a young stallion named Ilja, who was by Idzard. I fell in love with Ilja immediately and was astonished at his exciting gaits.
Werner had one other special pony for us to look at: a three-year-old NRPS gelding by Idzard, whom a client had purchased as a yearling for his eight-year-old daughter. Werner was impressed by this pony’s outstanding temperament and gaits, and knew we had to see him.
My first impression of Ico was that he was cute, small, and fuzzy. I told Werner that he might not be what I was looking for, and he told me to “just wait.” Then, he turned Ico out in the indoor arena, and that pony soared. He had this fantastic trot that took my breath away. I rode him, and he felt incredible. He stole my heart!
I had fallen for two incredible ponies and could not choose between them. I called my husband, Sam, and asked him what I should do. To my great surprise, he said, “Get both of them.” I was shocked!! So, I did the only sensible thing – I brought both of them home to America with me.
Ilja and Ico had incredible successes in the show ring, earning many year-end awards through the Adequan®/USDF All-Breeds Awards program, the USDF Horse of the Year program, the National Dressage Pony Cup, the Performance Horse Registry’s Silver Stirrups Awards, and the Georgia Dressage and Combined Training Association (GDCTA).
The road for Ico was truly amazing. He was incredibly talented and had a great mind, never saying “no” to any of his work. Everything came so easily for him: the flying changes, the pirouettes, the passage, and the tempi changes. Plus, he was perfect at shows; he could be taking a nap in his stall, get up to do a great Grand Prix test, and then go back to take another nap. Nothing in the ring or on the showgrounds bothered him – what a perfect pony.
I had many offers to buy Ico, but there just wasn’t enough money in the world for me to sell one of my boys.
Despite being Ico’s half-brother, Ilja’s show life and training were completely different. He was just as talented, but very sensitive to his surroundings and sounds, and was very spooky. He could have an awful test or a brilliant ride. Io showed up to Intermediate 1, in both the test and freestyle, with his scores ranging from 58% to 77%. He was a very sweet pony, and I had many offers for him, too!!
Werner Geven and his wife, Marjolein, trained, rode, and showed both Ico and Ilja, and both ponies have helped seven riders earn their USDF Bronze and Silver Rider Medals and Freestyle Bars.
The ponies showed extensively in the South, but the show we waited for and anticipated most each year was the National Dressage Pony Cup. We made the trip to Pony Cup nine times. When I first read about Pony Cup all those years ago, I knew that this was the show for us – a show JUST for ponies! We packed our bags and headed for Kentucky.
Ilja and his rider, Billy Jackson, competed at Pony Cup all the way from Training Level through I-1, including the I-1 Musical Freestyle. Ico showed through Grand Prix.
We were always excited to show amongst such outstanding ponies. It’s truly amazing what the show organizer and originator, Jenny Carol, has done with this show. Unless you’ve been to the show, you will never be able to appreciate her efforts. Every year, she goes out of her way to add new, exciting features. One year, she had Axel Steiner! What a huge deal. We were thrilled to be interviewed by Axel. The commentaries, interviews, and rides were streamed on USEF Network. They also added a Young Pony Futurity and Dressage Sport Horse Breeding classes that year.
Jenny offers amazing awards at Pony Cup: ribbons, wool coolers, trophies, vases, and other goodies, as well as goodie bags for the competitors and their ponies.
The Awards Ceremony is so exciting. Everyone turns out in their best attire – including white polo wraps – for photos, awards, and victory gallops. My ponies have both won numerous awards through the years, including Champion Open Grand Prix, and one year, Ilja was Champion I-1 Adult Amateur Pony, Reserve Champion Musical Freestyle, and Champion Dutch Pony. I was a very proud mom.
We also made some of our best friends at Pony Cup. Our group keeps in touch throughout the year and make plans to stable together at the next Pony Cup. We share each other’s successes and errors and are always there to cheer each other on! It has become a very special group.
It’s been an amazing journey with Ico and Ilja. I lost my dear Ico three years ago, and his half-brother, Ilja, is retired and happy. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that I would have a Grand Prix pony and an I-1 pony, who was schooling the Grand Prix movements when he retired.
After finding so much success with Ico and Ilja, I am very active with ponies now; I sponsor pony awards through my local GMO, GDCTA, and I work with youth riders who ride and show ponies, and I serve on the USDF National Youth Programs Committee.
I thank Werner and Marjolein for finding, training, and showing both ponies, and Mr. ALJ van Esch of the Netherlands for breeding my special boys. Additionally, I thank my husband Sam for supporting me!! I also thank my riders Marjolein Geven, Billy Jackson, Elle Turner, Maylyn Hinson, Blair Bowers, Meredith Mobley, Anna Swenson, and Kate May for their time and efforts with the boys!
But the biggest and best thanks of all goes to Ico and Ilja!!
It’s been a terrific ride with these dressage ponies!!
I sadly have to share that I had to put my pony, Ilja, due to rapidly growing melanomas inside and outside of his body. It was a horrible time for me. I love and miss my sweet Dutch boy.