How did the German Riding Pony (GRP) evolve?
In 1965 German pony breeding associations saw the need to develop a breed of large pony that would be suitable for national and international competition for children. The goal was to maintain the pony character, type and willingness to perform along with the competitive athleticism of a riding horse. Breeders’ first attempts were what they thought would be the easy solution: to cross thoroughbred and Arabian stallions with Fjord and Haflinger ponies. These cross-breeding attempts to produce a sportpony in one generation did not lead to success. Some German breeders began to import British pony breeds, primarily Welsh, which were bred to one another and also selectively crossed with local horses, infusing Arabian, Anglo-Arabian, thoroughbred and some warmblood blood, and by 1975 a German riding pony type developed. These first ponies of the riding pony type showed their superb abilities at local, national and international competitions. Several important and prepotent stallions emerged
