Wednesday March 26, 2003

The Heidelberg Cup

Alison Faso and Benno’s Dream Have Pony Power

The highest overall score of the entire show went to Benno’s Dream, ridden by Alison Faso and owned by Nancy Ferebee of Alpharetta, Georgia. The 148 centimeter tall chestnut German Riding Pony stallion by Blue Star, out of Dina, is known as “The Prince” around the barn. His 72.5% from judge Lilo Fore in the third level test four qualifying class adds a little credence to his nobility.

Alison’s mother Liz Faso, who with her husband Don organizes numerous dressage shows in Georgia, was thrilled with her daughter’s success. “That’s a twenty thousand dollar ribbon,” she grinned. “If you count everything spent on Alison’s riding since she was a little girl. This is the most wonderful thing she’s ever won. And it was worth it.”

Alison said that that the pony’s temperament makes him easy to work with, and she enjoys riding him because he is small but moves like a warmblood. “The German Riding Ponies are very willing and have an excellent work ethic,” she said. The great thing about them is that they don’t have a quick little pony trot and no back; you can get throughness on them and kids can feel what that’s like. They’re miniature warmbloods ad they ride like it. They’re bred for rideability for sure.”

Ferebee started her business, Through Connection Ltd. and imported Benno’s Dream after she became interested in the German Riding Pony breed in 2000, having read about them on Eurodressage.com, HorsesDaily.com’s European partner. So taken was Ferebee that she traveled to Europe and spent three weeks traveling around Germany and Denmark visiting breeders and learning about German Riding Ponies. She now owns three stallions and plans to breed them here in the United States, hoping to promote the breed for children and small adults. “My big thing is that kids need something suitable for the transition between riding small ponies and big horses,” she said.

Before Ferebee imported Benno’s Dream, she said, he was awarded the highest score ever at his 30-day stallion testing with 8.95. He is approved with the pony section of the Oldenburg Verband and is also approved in Mecklenburg. The stallion has both jumping and dressage bloodlines, but with his excellent movement she plans to campaign him mostly in the dressage ring.