The Pony World’s ‘Best Kept Secret’ MICHELLE RANCK Lancaster Fanning Staff AIRVILLE (York Co.) “They’re unique and probably one of the pony world’s best-kept secrets. People don’t know about the POA breed, but once they find out, they’re hooked,” said Nikki Rineholt. Rineholt, along with husband Brad, “ride, show, train, and breed,” Pony of the Americas (POA) animals. The couple now has 24 adults and 10 babies on their 62-acre “Nick of Time Farm,” which includes a stallion and junior stallion. a frost or “roan out.” Ponies must have color to enter the *how ring, although solid ponies may serve as breeding stock. “They’re docile, very friendly, and trainable. That’s the whole point of the breed,” says POA owner, breeder, and trainer Nikki Rineholt. “They’re docile, very friendly, and trainable. That’s the whole point of the breed, is that they can be trained by kids. Young children can handle and train to ride them,” said Reinholt. The ponies can also be trained to drive. “They’re great for kids,” said Rineholt, who attests to their “great personality and disposi tion,” and pointing out that chil dren even 10-years old can show the stallions. The national organization is, in fact, expressly for people 18 years old and under, although an adult program also exists. Forty POA clubs, which may sponsor schol arships or pony giveaways, are found nationally, according to Rineholt. Show classes are based around children and “shows are a good family environment,” she said. “It’s a good place for 4-H kids to go, since it’s the next level of showing before moving onto to horses,” said Nikki. Breed History The breed traces its roots to a Mason City, lowa, according to Website information. An attorney who purchased an Arab/ Appaloosa mare accidentally bred by a Shetland pony saw po tential in the foal, which eventu ally became the foundation sire for the breed. Original standards set the pace for the breed’s characteristics; the head was to be small and dished as the Arab; the body was to be muscled as the Quarter Horse; and the coloring had to be Appa loosa. The registry went from the original stallion in 1954 to 1996’s registry of over 40,000. The breed can be identified by three characteristics. The ponies have striped hooves and “sclera,” or the white ring around the brown part of the eye, a trait of the Appaloosa breed. The ponies also have mottled skin around the eyes, genital areas, or nose. Coat color patterns acceptable to registry include “leopards,” or large spots; “blankets,” or solid up front with a patch of color over the rump; “frosted,” a solid color with a scattering of color; a “few spot,” or basically white with color along with snowflake, or marbleized roan. The height requirement is 46-56 inches, and ponies range anywhere in that specification. “We try to breed for all sizes. Ponies are meant for children, so you should have all sizes, just like you have all sizes of children,” she said. “My husband, who is 6’3”, rides. They can carry basically anybody they’re not just for kids,” said Rineholt, who adds that they have sold their ponies to older women who are looking for something “a little closer to the ground” to ride. Versatility is also a hallmark of the breed-They can compete in halter, riding, jumping, and game classes in competition. The Foals Although foaling season has kept the Rineholts close to home, as soon as the last foal is on the ground, the show tour will begin. With halter classes available, even the foals will participate. The foals can be born solid and within six months have a frost or roan out. Ponies must have color to enter the show ring, although solid ponies may serve as breed ing stock. The POA is economical and af fordable, said Rineholt. Class entry prices are $4 and include classes such as Western pleasure, reining, trail, leadline equitation, hunter, hack, costume, showman ship, barrel racing, goat tying. The over-300 shows per year con sist of three separate age groups for youth. Prices for the ponies start at $l,OOO. “A good, quiet kids’ pony will range from $3,000-$5,000,” she said. Top show horses, how- Bom this spring, the foals will grow to be 46-56 inches in height. “We try to breed for all sizes. Ponies are meant for children, so you should have all sizes, just like you have all sizes of children,” she said. ever, have reached from $12,000 to a private sale of $25,000. Working with ponies, said Rineholt, teaches valuable life lessons. Since children can not only groom, clip, and show the animals but also finish their pony’s training, “kids feel ful filled when they do the work.” “You can turn your kids loose and you don’t have to worry,” she said, adding that the some ponies even prefer being handled by children. Not Just A Phase Originally from Harford Coun ty, Maryland, Rineholt “always just loved horses,” proving that her passion was “not just a phase,” as her parents first be lieved. She began taking riding les sons from her first grade teacher and later worked in the bam to earn lessons. “I did anything I could to ride them. 1 worked to board or ride the horses,” she said. Rineholt has been showing POAs since she was six years old and is sold on the quality of the breed. Rineholt and her husband, Brad, a farrier for 21 years, met at an Appaloosa operation where she was a trainer. They were married four years later, last Oc tober, in the arena of their new farm. The new run-in shed was built with wedding money. Their current property has their finger- Free Outdoor Concert And Hoedown At Leesport Market LEESPORT (Berks Co.) mountain music. In celebration of its 54th anni- The Leesport Farmers Mar versary, the Leesport Farmers ket is in Leesport, between Market will host a free out- Reading and Hamburg on door concert of live music, Route 61. It is open every hoedown dancing, and enter- Wednesday, year-round, from tainment, Wednesday, July 11 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more in from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Concert formation, phone (610) appearances include The 926-1307, or see the market’s Mountain Folk Band, famous Website at www.leesportmar for its bluegrass, folk, and ket.com. J OUST -—v THE FI R I\/I. iv k. is, prints as they recently put in the fencing, arena, pasture water sys tem, and bam that Nikki de signed. She now allows her own riding students to help clean the bam in exchange for riding lessons, as she once did. Other plans include offering services such as clinics and summer camps. Nikki, who also showed horses on the Appaloosa circuit, has logged thousands of miles travel ing from show ring to show ring. The breed added Register of Merit Awards for halter, per formance and gaming. A POA earning all three receives the highest of all awards, Supreme Champion. In pursuit of earning the points necessary to receive the supreme champion title, she traveled from show to show before “Campbell’s Dreamcatcher” earned the title. The experience was a good one, however, as she especially enjoys the “big family” of POA breeders and show ring participants. Clubs offer a variety of events from “play day” shows and clin ics to cookouts, trail rides and awards banquets. For more in formation check out the Website at www.poac.org or write to the Pony of the Americas Club, Inc.; 5240 Elmwood Avenue; India napolis, IN 46203. Phone (317) 788-0107, e-mail poac@ iquest.net.
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