Legendary pony tournament brings out the best

Among the ponies in this year’s start list you find a riding school pony as well as privately owned and treasured best friends, with an impressive age range from 7 to 22 years old. To qualify for the tournament the pony riders must be under 16 years old and the ponies not over 138 cm at the withers. The combinations ride a course over 90 cm and receive scores from the judges. 

The qualifiers are arranged throughout the autumn, from down south in Sweden up to 3000 km north in Luleå. Many of the qualified combinations have travelled many hours with family and pony as Sweden spans over long distances. This week in Sweden is a  school holiday in many parts of the country– Gothenburg horse Show is a destination for the whole week for 37 seven well-riding pony-riders and their ponies.  

Henrik Ankarcrona were runner-up to the trophy back in 1992, Angelica followed in 1999 with a 9th place in the final and many more have continued to pursue a career as professional riders like Sofia Kroon who came 7th also in 1999. 

The tournament is ridden as a jumping equitation class. 

Two judges, this year Henrik Ankarcrona and Anna -Clara Pettersson, uses a protocol to assess the rider’s seat, rhythm, impact, and tempo over the course, as well as the rider’s choice of path to the fences. The rider should have good balance in the saddle. The judge looks at the rider’s seat both over the fences and between them. It is important to remain steady over the fences, adopt and maintain a good position on your pony and have good balance. 

The rider’s aids and their impact on the pony will also be taken into consideration by the judges, and maintaining a good position in the saddle is a key factor. The perfect equitation round is characterized by rhythm, fluency, and precision. The judges want to see a rider who has planned their path and has good rhythm and control. Rider’s aids are intended to help the pony execute better jumps and the pony should respond willingly to these aids (legs, seat, arms, hands as well as voice commands). The rhythm should be adjusted to suit the way the pony works and jumps, and preferably it should be an even rhythm. 

Jumping equitation is popularly referred to as style jumping, but it is not a beauty pageant. If the riders are well presented this should be sufficient to create a good impression. The pony’s mane should be braided, and it should be natural and well-kept. If your pony has a very long mane, it is probably a good idea to do a running braid to secure the mane. 

Henrik Ancarcrona, chef d’equipe of the Swedish jumping team explains: 

“To encourage young riders to strive for the perfect seat and impact is the foundation for for future Swedish success in the sport and on the courses. This tournament Sverigeponnyn is an important incentive to promote good riding and I am very pleased that Gothenburg Horse Show continues to provide this excellent opportunity for young Swedish equestrians.” 

The qualifier, also a semi-final, brought down the 37 participants to ten finalists. Among them was young Mirelle Karlsson who competes from one of the most northern riding associations in all of Sweden – Luleå Riding club up north close to the Finnish border.  She rides her pony Munsboro Pirate nicknamed Sixten. She was excited as only a young finalists can be, just having performed in an arena that is the home of the World Cup. 

“It felt great! Before, I was super nervous but when I finally entered the arena it was like that just faded away. Sixten thought it was great fun! He even jumpd a little more than he usually does. The best thing with Sixten is that he always tries his heart out! Jumping is his favourite thing in the world. This feels super fun and exciting – to be in the final, at last. 

Saturday is the big day, ten combinations ride in the final in front of a jam-packed Scandinavium with the best audience in the world. It will be a blast of fun and nerves and pony pride, the love these mini-miracles are showered in is endless. 

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