The American Walking Pony is really rather young when compared to many other breeds of pony and horse. The registry, founded by Joan Hudson, wasn't established until 1968. The registry number 1 was assigned to a mare named "Browntree's Flicka." The mare was one of the main ponies used in the development of the breed. The first stallion registered with the association, number 5 in the registry, was named "BT Golden Splendor." The American Walking Pony made quite a name for itself after being featured in many horse magazines; horse lovers from around the world came to catch a sight of this pony as well as others who intended to purchase the animal.
The two breeds that were crossed in order to create the American Walking Pony were the Tennessee Walking Horse and the Welsh Pony. The Tennessee Walking Horse genes are where the pony got its smooth gait as well to make the Walking Pony slightly taller. The Welsh Pony's genes graced the American Walking Pony with a good-looking face and a long arched neck. Ponies that are consisted of the breed crossing are accepted into the registration.
The American Walking Pony has three unique walking styles or gaits as they are officially called; they are the pleasure walk, the merry walk, and the canter. In fact, the American Walking Pony has seven different types of gait; they are also known for their champion jumping ability, which is one of the traits derived from the Welsh Pony.
The American Walking Pony has a fairly decent list of champion competitors each from different events. "Roan Allen" was a winner of the Fine Harness Division as well as the Five Gaited Division. In 1981, a pony named "Orrkids Minuet" won the National Championship Competitive Trail Junior Division. During the breed's development in the 1960s, a pony by the name of "BT Golden Flair" was sold to a family that took him on to win many events clear to the age of 25, but placed second against "Bt Golden Splendor," one of the original seeds of the breed. The American Walking Pony has won a number of events, such events as Competitive Trail Division, Open Pleasure, and Open Western Pleasure.
Unlike some horses and ponies, the American Walking Pony was mostly created and raised to be a show pony, but also is quite the light hunter.
The American Walking Pony's gait is a natural development but still requires a little training to go along with it, and a set of training procedures are the most common way of doing so. It is all about teaching the pony to walk a certain way and with a certain amount of pressure on the legs and such, as well as getting the pony used to being harnessed. It must also acclimate to the particular types of equipment. One example would the mouth piece required for when the pony is used to being led and commanded, after that time the mouth piece should be four and three-fourths inches in measurement.
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