Four Danish Sport Ponies (DSP) were the odd appearance in the Riding Horse Test for 4-, 5-, and 6-year old warmblood sport horses at the 2006 Danish Warmblood stallion licensing in Herning, Denmark.
Only a few years ago, the Danish warmblood society founded the pony breeding branch DSP with its own brand and organisation. Today, four of these breeding products were presented under saddle. Eurodressage took pictures of three of them.
Probably the most spectacularly moving pony of the four, Coelenhage's Promise. This black Coelenhage's Let's be the Best offspring was presented by Anne Sofie Aaen. This black stallion has a fantastic engagement and lovely front leg in trot, as well as a well suspended canter, but he was a nervous wreck and could not walk today in Herning. He scored 9s for trot, canter and potential, but 7 for walk and rideability (which was still overrated). Movementwise Promise's trot is the goal of sport pony breeding, but ponies are meant for children and need to be manageable as well.
Zendro was an example of a super rideable sport pony. Rider Anne Fabricius Tange sat quietly in the saddle and had to give minimal aids to make her liver chestnut go. His movements (trot and canter) lacked suspension and power today, but his behaviour (and outstanding walk) are worth gold.
Marchi, ridden by Katrine Lindboeg Lang, was a nice combination of good rideability and lovely movements. This pony made a very nice impression in the ring and behaved well, though he could have moved the hindlegs a bit more under the body.
The fourth pony presented was the lovely Roegild's Kilimanjaro. This bay Danish sport pony combined excellent gaits with a delightful appearance. Mille Alberg rode Kilimanjaro.
Text and photos by Astrid Appels - No reproduction allowed
