Area 2 Show Ponies THE HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN SHOW PONY and THE  NATIONAL SHOW PONY by Johnny Robb The American Show Pony is similar to the Modern Shetland Pony with its animated gait and brilliance. However, American Show Ponies can measure up to 48 inches at the wither. They can be of Shetland or Hackney breeding or a combination of the two. These larger, flashy ponies are especially suited to driving and draw a lot of attention in the show ring. The American Shetland Pony Club offers national and world championship level competitions for American Show Ponies and recognizes their accomplishments with year-end awards for the division's top ponies. The newest small equine recognized by the American Shetland Pony Club is the National Show Pony. National Show ponies are required to have one purebred Shetland or Miniature Horse parent and can measure up to a full 14.2 hands at the withers. National Show Pony divisions for hunters, Western and driving are currently being developed and integrated into Shetland Pony shows. These larger National Show Ponies will enable children to enjoy riding a pony with Shetland and Miniature attributes longer. In addition. they will serve adults as a larger carriage pony for a variety of uses. "Traditionally children progress from leadline and walk-trot on a Shetland Pony and then move up to a larger pony. The National Show Pony will allow them to ride a pony with Shetland attributes much longer. *Read this article in its entirety in the September 2005 issue of the  EQUESTRIAN (excerpts from the article are printed here with permission).  Thank you Johnny Robb (Director of Marketing for the American Shetland Pony Club and The American Miniature Horse Registry).   Please feel free to email the webmaster with ideas, comments, and questions at christina.melton@gmail.com