This July, we are highlighting “Small But Mighty” breeds on YourDressage!
Riders who choose a pint-sized partner as their dressage mount are eligible for special awards through the Adequan®/USDF All-Breeds Awards program, as there are a number of pony breed organizations that are participating organizations.
By Meghan Benge
My partnership with Rudy resulted from a bit of serendipity. I had been competing with my older pony, who was ready to retire, but traveling to look at a pony I would need to continue competing for a spot at the Paralympics was slightly problematic, as the COVID-19 pandemic had just shut down everything. Imagine my surprise when I found a very handsome and good moving pony advertised for sale, and he was just ten miles away.
I was unsure when I first met Rudy that I would be able to ride him. He has significantly more power than either of my previous ponies. However, because of COVID and being in the same town, his owner was willing to let me take him on trial to get to know him and see if we clicked. Rudy has a way of wrapping everyone he meets around his little hoof, so the rest is history.
My route to FEI Para Dressage actually began with driving. I competed for a long time in both able-bodied and para combined driving at the FEI Level. In 2008, I won the Individual Gold and Team Silver at the World Championships for FEI Para Driving. A few years later, I began to feel like I had hit my limit with able-bodied driving and switched to para dressage with my driving pony. She is a saint, but is very much a driving pony, not riding pony.
Long term, I would love to be able to go to the Paralympics. Short term though, I just want to keep chipping away at earning better scores. But ultimately, I want to continue to become a better rider. My skills and confidence have increased so much, because Rudy forced them to! My biggest accomplishment with Rudy so far is definitely getting back to competing at the Concours de Dressage International Para-Equestre (CPEDI) level after having major hip surgery.
Rudy is a major cuddle bug, so when not being fancy in the ring, our favorite way to spend time together is just hanging out. And if he has any say, eating cookies!
For a long time, there seemed to be this idea that ponies cannot be competitive in dressage because of a perception of having a shorter stride. The quality of the ponies being bred has risen so much recently that this is no longer true. Breeders are recognizing the demand for quality and are placing a stronger emphasis on producing top-notch sport ponies to meet that demand. For many of us who are not tall, a pony is so much better suited to us. Having an animal suited to you and your riding will almost always result in better scores than something you are overfaced by. And, in my opinon, ponies are just way more fun!
