Gideon: The Amazing Super 'Pony'
I can’t believe we haven’t done one of these on the Super Pony! He’s such a star in the Academy, and so well known in the show ring, I guess I forget that everyone doesn’t already know everything to know about our Giddy.
I call him a pony, but he’s actually 15.2, so technically not a pony. But, he kind of is a pony. At times he has that pony-tude thing going on.
Kynynmont Gunsmoke’s Gideon is a 2008 model. He’s a ¾ Connemara/Hanoverian cross. He came to me as a 6-year-old. A testament to his incredible brain and trainability, he was already getting scores in the mid 60s and even a 70% at 4th level.
I started showing him then and he was just such a blast to train and show. He is an amazing athlete who really wants to work and truly enjoys it. He was really fun to show, he just loved it!
It was so fun to ride him down centerline because you really felt he was your partner and together you would conquer the test. He would get all puffed up and was like “get out of my way!”
He was never intimidated by anyone or any place. He thought he deserved to be anywhere he went. I honestly believe that if he were not a buckskin and 16 hands, people would have taken him a little more seriously, but his stature and cute little buckskin muzzle really gave it away!
This horse has shown successfully at all of the big shows up and down the east coast. Some of the highlights include:
- Winning 4th level at Dressage at Devon
- 3rd at 4th level US Nationals
- Winning Intermediate at Dressage at Devon
- Wins at Global at I1-I2
- Won multiple BLM Championships
- Went to developing PSG and developing GP twice
- and so many more amazing moments in the show ring!
What Giddy lacks in size he makes up with his big personality. He’s very confident and super sure of himself, just a little beast. He was always very cheeky. It is very rare, but every now and again the pony-tude does comes out.
He’s really made me fall in love with the Connemara breed. He's so sturdy and well made. Just structurally sound and healthy. These horses are truly amazing athletes. Just super straightforward to train, with great work ethics, a tough exterior and a straightforward interior. Just a gem of a horse breed, and sadly a bit of a forgotten breed in this country. They can definitely hold their own against the warmbloods.
Although I no longer show him, Gideon has luckily stayed in my barn. He was purchased a couple of years ago by my dedicated and hard-working student, Kathryn Williams. A beginner rider a few short years ago, Kathryn is now working on her 3rd level scores to complete her bronze medal with Gideon.
Sadly, Gideon’s breeder, Pam Liddell, has recently passed away. She was a prolific breeder and supporter of the Connemara breed in this country. I will be forever grateful that she bred these amazing horses and that I had the honor and joy of training and showing Gideon.
Giddy is such a great example of where a sound horse with a good temperament and a few years of consistent chopping of the wood with classical principles can take an "average" mover and turn him into a super star.
Check out this video of our GP freestyle at Dressage at Devon in 2019 where he scored a 70+% Not bad for a pony!! So much fun!
https://youtu.be/IhckiKtpMj4?si=x5yfOOWKqvX-DG4u
