“I don’t think I’ve had this much fun since I was ten years old,” says Louise Rascoe, who is thoroughly enjoying her new pony. This isn’t particulary suprising, since the pony is a German Riding Pony, a breed that’s becoming one of the rising stars of the German equestrian powerhouse. Sweet Rock Solid, the five-year-old dark chestnut Hanoverian German Riding Pony stallion that Rascoe imported from Germany in 2005, is showing the large promise, talent and heart of an elite champion competitor, at 14.2 hands. No wonder Rascoe sounds like a kid at Christmas.

                Owner of Longview Farm in Bahama, North Carolina, Rascoe has had a long career breeding and training elite German Hanoverians and Oldenburgs, but working “large” eventually took its toll. “I was getting to a point where I wasn’t enjoying handling the big, powerful, young warmbloods – they can be a real handful. I saw this as an opportunity to appeal to smaller and older riders as well as the growing market for young riders competing in dressage,” she says of her decision to down size.

                The German Riding Pony (GRP) has been developed over the last four decades to meet the demand for a uniquely athletic pony with which young riders can compete at national and international levels of dressage, jumping and eventing, and has made inroads as a serious competitor in Europe and the U.S. over the last 20 years. Seeking the best qualities of the formidable German warmbloods in pony size, pioneering breeders in Germany crossed hardy English pony stock such as section B Welsh with Arab, smaller Thoroughbreds, and German warmbloods. The result was a pony between 13.2 and 14.2 hands with all the looks and athletic movement of a warmblood: muscular build and elegant proportions with an elastic, large stride, clear hindquarter impulsion, uphill movement and expressive gaits.

                In the highly competitive German market, the GRP has made it’s mark in youth competition and breeding, and those individuals that go over size are increasingly in demand as mounts for smaller riders. In the U.S., the increasing numbers of young riders competing in dressage as well as the growing numbers of aging baby-boomers have created a growing demand for a pony with athletic abilities and precise gaits. This is the market that Rascoe aims to capture with Sweet Rock Solid in North America.

                GRP foals are inspected as weanlings and exceptional individuals are awarded Premium status. At age three or four, stallions must be licensed and subsequently undergo a 30-day performance test. Sweet Rock Solid, whose registered name is Stibby-Me, has been inspected and licensed by the Hanover Pony Verband in Germany, the Weser-ems pony division of the Oldenbery Verband, and the Sport Pony division of ISR Oldenburg North America. Sweet Rock Solid’s sure is the Premium stallion Sweet Dream SF, who also sired numerous other championship stations, including Southern Comfort. At the Hanoversches Reitpony Championate, Rascoe’s Sweet Rock Solid placed second behind his half-brother Southern Comfort with an overall score of 8.1. At his ISR/Oldenburg NA inspection, he scored an 8 for elasticity and 8 on his free jumping. He also successfully competed in the Bundeschampionat, a national competition, at age three before his purchase for Rascoe by German native Britta Johnston, who imports select GRP stock to further awareness and the quality of the emerging breed.

                “Anything forced or misunderstood can never be beautiful.” That’s trainer and rider Bailey Cook’s philosophy of creating a quiet, supple and obedient. Under Cook’s tutelage, Sweet Rock Solid consistently scores in the high 60’s and 70’s competing in first level dressage. Rascoe intends to keep him in the show ring throughout his breeding career. “He’s just done so well under saddle. He’s a great ambassafor [For the GRP] in the U.S., “says Rascoe. “I don’t know who’s having a more wonderful time- Bailey riding him, or me watching her riding him!”

                Sweet Rock Solid’s first foal crop is in Germany, and he had his second foal crop here in the States. For his third foal crop, due in 2008, he was bred to ponies, Thoroughbreds, and warmbloods. His first breeding mares were a section A Welsh and a Hanoverian. Amoung the mares in foal with Sweet Rock Solid’s U.S. crop in Rascoe’s own Hanoverian Falla, who is currently for sale. “The big guys are nice, but I’m really enjoying the German Riding Ponies- they’re hardier, so much easier to keep, which is perfect for me at this point in my life,” says Rascoe, noting the virtues of pony ownership: hardiness, intelligence, and thriftiness – in the GRP’s case, all the features of a luxury model in a convenient, economy size model.

                For competitive junior riders, size matters. Pony division FEI competition for junior riders abd USEF hunter/jumper regulations require mounts to be no more than 148cm and 14.2 hands, respectively. But GRP progeny that top those measurements are also highly desirable to a growing population of older horsemen and woman who have matured away from the “bigger-is-better” mentality without compromise to their appreciation and demand for superb athleticism.

                The German Riding Pony is indeed eye-catching, with a grand presence that far exceeds its diminutive size. Rascoe’s chestnut stallion, with his muscular performance in the show ring, promises great things for the breed in the U.S. “The German Riding Pony’s extension, balance, and animation is sheer warmblood,” declares Rascoe. “Everyone should have one.”

                For more information , contact Longview Farm at 919-479-0969 or 919-451-7072 or log ontowww.longviewfarm.us