Special sports pony: Rhythmical

Everyone knows a special sport pony from competitions or because it has gone through the whole family and won prizes with everyone. Therefore, these ponies deserve their own section.

The first pony to kick off this section is a pony that has been champion several times in both Overijssel and Drenthe. It is Rhythmical from the Krieger family.

Passport

Name: Rhythmical
Welsh A
Date of birth: May 14, 1995
Pedigree: Elferinks Winston x Amahashi Cockade x RevelCaruso

How long has Rhythmical been in your possession?
Since 3 years old owned by Erica Krieger- Kerssies

How did Rhythmical come your way?
Rhythmical was bred close to us by Sylvia Dijkman-Reimink of Lemelerveld. We were looking for a small pony for our oldest son Kevin, who was 6 years old at the time.
Rhythmical was light on his saddle, naughty, racing monster and could also buck well... He did learn to ride! By now Rhythmical is the most well behaved , patient little topper.

At what point did it become clear that Rhythmical was very special?
Already in 1999 as a 4 year old he won with Kevin the Overijssel championship Best Riding Pony. Eventually he also won the big size and was delegated for Overijssel to Ermelo where he won 5th prize in the final. Special detail Kevin even got bucked off, pony returned, Kevin got back on and galloped on. Was also allowed!

What are your biggest successes?
The biggest successes? From 1999 until now, Rhythmical has been champion of countless shows. 30 times Regional Champion and also 4 times Dutch Champion! Rhythmical is very versatile. Champion Bestgaand, dressage, jumping, 4 horses, 6 horses and he was Welsh Sportday Champion all round Small size. It should be mentioned that he had to teach all his riders how to ride light as well! He took them all to the highest class for A ponies in dressage ( first L2 , later M2) and also in jumping.

Besides the many successes, Rhythmical is also just a family pony?
Our ultimate family pony, all brothers and sisters learned to ride him, then he stayed and was the teacher for many girlfriends. Hence the picture taken by Vivian Hesen with all his sashes, surrounded by all his competition Champion riders through the years.

Kevin, Mitchell, Tyrone, Jayeleigh, Fayegale and Gwendolyn Krieger, Nienke Fokkert, Ilona van Leussen, Louise van Nes, Yelin Kayalar and Lindy Jansen. Besides that, Rhythmical is up for anything, he is lawnmower around the house, occasionally he even walks into the house, walking pony for grandson Logan. - Kevin's oldest already- Rhythmical has been along on Animal Day many times and also in the schools, we can't think of anything else. Right now he is the teacher and cuddle pony of 8-year-old Gia Sanders. She decorated him yesterday on his 25th birthday with all kinds of watercolors. Special pony!

What is the fondest memory you have of Rhythmical?

The very fondest memory? Now that I ask it here in the house all the kids come up with a different cutest memory of their own ... there are too many and hopefully many more to come!

For myself maybe once in Exloo during a Welsh judging, he is way too narrow and really doesn't fit the desired breeding type. But in the section first ridden , where Fayegale as a 5 year old competed with him, constantly rode against everyone, trotted all sides between the judges and also galloped. The English judge finally stood up and reported by microphone, that he was going to do the most special placing in his life, that despite the Ugli pony, he wished he had had such a pony for his children and grandchildren... Rhythmical won!

If you have such a special sport pony, you can mail it to: webredactie.nwpcs@gmail.com and who knows, maybe your pony will be in this section!

Text: NWPCS

Photos: Vivian Hesen