Kiger Ponies?

[desperatehorsewife]

Just a thought. They've got Quarter ponies, why not Kiger ponies? Could be a marketing angle there. Built like horses, but the size of a pony (14.2 and under.) There's a big market for ponies who can move like a horse over fences!

[DianneC]

I don't know how good they are at jumping, but I've had the same thought. It would be interesting to cross with a Connemara.

[desperatehorsewife]

I don't know why they wouldn't be just as good at it as any other mustang. There seem to be plenty of them out in cross country and pony club world.

[Michelle Clarke]

There is a huge market for hunter type ponies and I think the Kigers would fit right in. As far as jumping, I am actually surprised no one has found that hidden talent. When I started cross training Rev and Des, I could not belive the jumping abilities and they LOVE it. It is not uncommon for our yearlings to jump between pastures and not have a scratch on them or touch the fence.

This year the colt out of Sage jumps in and out of the dressage arena (cedar rail, just over 2 feet high). He will head toward it at a dead run and just sail - scares me everytime! He is just turning two months old and has been doing it for a few weeks.

We have also done demos at horse fairs and we had a Kiger gelding in for training that we would use as our "english" horse and would set up jumps for him. He loved it too.

We are looking into finding a good event trainer when we get the right horses up and under saddle.

[canadiankigers]

In 2006 I crossed a 14hh Arab mare with Shelby and got a red dun sabino filly last spring. She turned out to be extremely athletic jumper. She clearing her mothers back at 4 weeks old. She has since been sold to a hunter pony home where she will be brought up very slowly and should start her jumping career by 2012. So far she free jumps 2 ft out in the pasture.

She often teases the other yearlings in the pasture and when they turn to chase her, she heads right for the play jumps and sails right over it. This is how she gets away from them. Its her favorite game to play!!!

I am hoping to get a few more Arab Kiger crosses but will wait to see how Baby does with her career. I personally like the cross but am cautious how this blend will sell in my area.

[desperatehorsewife]

Michelle, I've been keeping my eye open for mustang ponies in general because I know there's a market in this area (Microsoft folks have money!) for nice moving ponies. I'd love if Firecracker would work for that, but I don't think she's quite got that talent. She falls more into the cutting or reining horse type; very catty. I may see if I can get her to trot over some rails though.

Anyway, the pony thing intrigues me.

[JoanMRK]

Not exactly a pony, but "Rainy" is sired by my Kiger gelding Sunnie and out of a Twin Peaks HMA mare. She was a yearling at the time of these photos and 14.3 hands. Photos above are courtesy of Gin at www.hilltopfarm-oregon.com. Gin had Rainy and was starting her over these jumps and was very impressed with her natural talent.

[angelsdream]

Great pics Joan. He does look like a natural jumper. He really tucks his legs up under him, which I believe is what they want.

[juslyn]

Xana & Zorya both seem to enjoy jumping. And Xana can be pretty catty too. So don't count FC out just yet. Xana is usually going over jumps in an attempt to catch up to speed racer Zorya bombing around the arena. sometimes she sees the shortcut, gets to the take off, and OMG..not what she planned, but what choice is there so up and over. She's never touched a rail yet.

[cherylw]

I think this idea needs to be promoted and organized in a big way, the sooner the better. There are some smaller Kigers out there that would just fit the bill. Gerald Thompson brought this idea up at a KMA meeting a few months ago because he has a Kiger that is in the 13HH range. Kim Kellogg has some very nice smaller Kigers. This is an idea that needs to be carried out. How can we make it happen?

[desperatehorsewife]

I don't know, Cheryl. But I can tell you it's not going to get noticed if no one promotes it out in the show world. Someone's going to have to get their horses started and start schmoozing with the folks who know the ones with the money. People in the hunter world aren't going to buy it just because it's a Kiger.

Something else to take note of is that the color that brings the money is bay. After that...gray! Which doesn't mean you won't be able to market duns, just be prepared for a cooler reception until you get some attention and can prove your horses are worth it.

[nrly]

think about where these animals came from or their heritage and I bet they are all good jumpers, because their DNA, and ancestry... could be an ideal market if someone knew what they were doing. I was told that since Stormy is now 14.2 she is no longer a pony, that they are 14.0 and down. because we were so excited she made it out of the pony range and now we could show her if we wanted as a trainer friends says she can now hang with the big guys.....

[desperatehorsewife]

I'm not sure who told you that, because it's 14.2 hands and under. You'll need one of those fancy measuring sticks (not the paper ones) and to stand her on something completely level to get an accurate read on her height. Also be aware that if they're wearing shoes, it makes them that much taller, as do long toes. So being under is desirable, even if it's just half an inch, because it gives them some wiggle room.

[fantasykiger]

This is a very good link to explain measuring all equines in hands www.lovelongears.com/hands.html

[stlkigers]

Tracy:

Actually here in the midwest, the rage for hunters and hunter ponies are anything colored...Whether it's a Tobiano Oldenberg or a Tobiano sport pony...We have friends with horses at a farm out by us that are still making some awesome money and their shtick in the horse market is colored (any color; paint markings, roans, etc) well moving, athletic hunter mounts for kids and amateur adults...Mostly pony-sized (large pony hunter division)...

I think if you could get a naturally talented Kiger out there in the hunter world, it'd take off...But the talent and the exposure would have to be there...

Angela