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Because Australia has no indigenous breeds of either horse
or pony, the development of their breeds relied on the importation of breeds
from other countries. The first horses, which arrived at Sydney in 1788 from
South Africa on the ship First Fleet, were the first ones to arrive in
Australia. The increasing importation of the Timor pony breed of Indonesia
followed from 1803 on.
This provided the basis of the breed, which was then
subjected to a large range of sources through its development. Some of the
most notable influences on the Australian pony were the Welsh Mountain Pony,
the Hackney Pony, Arabian, Thoroughbred, Timor, Shetland, Highland, and the
Irish Connemara. Sir Thomas and Dennington Court, two Exmoor ponies,
featured in the development of the breed, along with a Hungarian stallion
names Bonnie Charlie during the mid 1800's.
Today's Australian pony clearly
shows how early breeders concentrated on using native British stock as well
as maintaining the quality of the Arabian. The influence of the Welsh
Mountain Pony is very evident, and the Welsh Mountain Pony Dyoll Greylight
is generally considered to be founding sire of the breed. Dyoll Greylight
came to Australia in 1911 and passed on his incredible beauty and
conformation to his offspring. Formed in 1931, The Australian Pony Stud Book
now registers over 27,000 horses.
The Australian Pony makes a good
children's pony, considered to be first class with quality, presence, and
ability. They usually have excellent conformation and a good legth of
stride. They excel in all areas of riding, including
jumping,
dressage,
pony club, gymkhana, mounted games, English and Western pleasure, and
driving. They have wonderful temperaments and are ideal for children and
small adults, experienced riders and novices alike.
In appearance they
exhibits a quality pony head and large, kind eyes. The neck should be well
set and arched, with well formed sloping shoulders and a short straight
back. This breed tends to have short legs, with strong and dense cannon
bones. They are mostly well put together. Australian ponies are typically
grey in color, although any color is allowed apart from
piebald and
skewbald. They usually stand anywhere between 12 hh and 14 hh.
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