Breed Registries | History & Origin |Area of Breeding | Uses

Historical Landmarks | Conformation

French Saddle Pony History & Origin

The French Saddle Pony, also called the Poney Français de Selle, is pony breed developed as a sport pony for children and smaller adult riders. Thus, it fills a role similar to that of the British Riding Pony and the German riding pony.

The French Saddle Pony was created by crossing native French pony mares with Welsh pony, New Forest Pony, Arabian horse and Connemara Pony stallions. The breed's section of the French Pony Stud book also includes ponies that were bred through the crossing of Arabian stallions with Connemara, New Forest and Welsh Pony mares, as well as Selle Francais, Connemara and New Forest stallions with Merens, Basque and Landais mares.

French Saddle Pony Area of Breeding

The greatest numbers of French Riding Ponies are found in the West of France, in Mayenne, Normandy and Brittany, where there are many broodmares.

However, the French riding Pony is all over France, and is more and more exported abroad. He is in fact an excellent sport pony, and is often sold for top level competition.

French Saddle Pony Uses

The French Riding Pony is a versatile mount. He is used for competition in every field (Show Jumping, Eventing, Dressage, Driving) where he shows a real quality, including at the top level, but he can also be used as a leisure riding pony: trail rides, hacking, and even in pony racing.

The French Riding Pony should be a good-looking saddle pony with good paces, a good jumping ability and a good temperament suitable for children. Many riding schools and pony-clubs use French Riding ponies for schooling.

These ponies can adapt to beginners and to riders who wish to start competing and the best of them are liable to go on with their rider, up to the European level. The French Riding Pony’s size means he can also be ridden by adults, making him a perfect pony for the whole family.

Historical Landmarks of the Saddle Pony

• The French cross-bred Pony Association was created on September 17, 1969, following the need to organize the breeding of such ponies.
• Stallions books were then created, thus marking the first step of a Stud Book organization.
• In 1972 the cross-bred pony Stud Book was created by Jean LASSOUX, followed by the first pony stallions licensing gradings.
This Stud Book remained open to newly registered ponies until 1991.
• The main objective was to create a sport pony through the selection of ponies and competition riding.
• The pure Arab horse was highly appreciated due to his small size, his spirited looks, his stamina and his sport abilities. He was thus widely crossed with Connemara, New Forest and Welsh ponies, and to a lesser extent, with thoroughbreds, in order to produce the “French Riding Pony”.
• In 1991, the cross- bred pony was named “French Riding Pony”, or “French Saddle Pony”.
• The competition series dedicated to young ponies were subsequently organized in order to select and test the best sport ponies.
-These series include show-jumping for 4, 5 and 6 year old ponies who are registered in either one of the French Riding Pony, Connemara, New Forest, Welsh, or “Landais” Stud-Books.
-Thanks to these competition series for young ponies, it is easier to select stallions according to their performances.
• As well as selecting stallions which meet the performance requirements in the “young ponies series”, the stallions licensing commission looks at the conformation and bloodlines of the stallions.
• In the late 1960s, precise selection criteria were laid down for assessing ponies which were entering the stud book.

French Saddle Pony Conformation

The French Riding Pony stands from 125 to 148 cm at the withers. (13.2 hh to 14.2 hh).
His looks are that of a small horse, with its gaits and sport ability, linked to the hardiness of a pony.

He must be smart looking while showing a good temperament. His physical characteristics must be typical of a small horse: Deep chest, good shoulder, good top line, strong back, no conformation faults in the limbs. He must have a good balance, and good paces. All colors are permitted.

*All information courtesy of The French Saddle Pony Association, France