I started Sport Pony Imports organically after a search for my own unicorn pony. It's become a three-pronged approach, and people fit in in the place that is best for them and I get to do a whole host of fun things. Now that I'm pretty versed on importing ponies I can:
-Import and sell sales ponies
-Act as agent (I find you a pony and I walk you through the import)
-I stand a German Riding Pony at stud
Here's how it breaks down.
About our Services
Importing Sales Ponies
So, obviously, I'm importing ponies to sell in the US. This is the backbone of what I'm doing and makes everything else possible. I go to Europe, have the extraordinary pleasure and honor of meeting some of the loveliest, smartest, most interesting people around, falling in love with several ponies, and then bringing them to the US and, of course, to you! That's Sport Pony Imports in a nutshell.
see the sale ponies
Agent Services
I can find way more ponies than I could ever import all at once to the US, which has led me to the next piece of the business: Acting as agent to riders wanting to find their own pony in Europe directly. It's a little like building the roads and highways and then doing the road trip together. I've done the heavy lifting, made all the mistakes, bought the wrong souvenirs at road-side vendors, and discovered the on-the-road gems. I just connect you from point A to B without the pitfalls, and then fly through the logistics of getting the pony from point B back to you, at point A.
For some, this is a less expensive way to go, or just more fun and interesting. It can also be an outgrowth of timing and logistics. If I don't have a pony on tap who's immediately available in the US, riders can keep their own journey moving forward. Because when you're ready for a pony, who wants to wait around?! No thank you. Let's get this pony party started.
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Stallion at Stud
Well, that's not something I thought I'd ever say! I come from a non-horsey family and owning a stallion, let alone standing one at stud, is not something I ever imagined for myself. Enter, the adventure and joy of life lived. I came across a 4 yo stallion who was perfect in every way, exactly at a moment when I had zero need for a 4 year old OR a stallion. But I'm a believer in going with your gut when it's viable, and I did. The stallion was exactly who I thought he'd be and, with US dressage rider Kaitlin Blythe at the reins, winner of the 2023 Devon Materiale Championship and Stallion Championship. With my interest in research and breeding I knew that a sensational German Riding Pony would be an asset to the pony and horse breeding world in the US. It was one more way to do ponies and I was in.
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About the Owner
On my journey to find him I, to my surprise, had the loveliest time! I met wonderful, thoughtful pony owners and families, breeders frantic to land their ponies in the best of homes, and sellers with the highest quality ponies and highest quality integrity. I talked to friends and trainers and riders about all the other riders they knew who were looking for the same kind of pony. I wasn't alone, I realized, and I'd also had so much fun.
I knew there were homes here in the US ready to care for these ponies in only the starriest 5-star ways, and I knew there were sellers who were pacing their hallways at night, losing sleep as they anxiously steered their ponies to their next homes, dreaming 5-star dreams. This was a thing, I realized, and a thing I could do. AND be with ponies all the time. AND meet the loveliest people. AND travel. AND watch pony videos on loop everyday. I was in, and Sport Pony Imports began.
Hi. I'm Courtney, and I started and run Sport Pony Imports because I set out to find my own perfect pony and couldn't.
I Pony Clubbed through my childhood, and as I entered young adulthood, I also entered the Young Rider program, competing through preliminary eventing and joining a Young Rider team in Canada to ride at Bromont and meet and train with Canadian Young Riders. I learned the sport at the heart of the sport in the Virginia countryside, never knowing how lucky I was, but knowing the right place for me was in the saddle.
As a college student and young professional, I let horses and competition slip off the center of my world and focused on my career in social justice, marketing and digital media, and let horses be my love and passion. Never my main focus and never my job. But, as things do, sometimes great things come together when they are meant to. And so it was when I stumbled onto what looked to me like an unmet need, my greatest love and passion, and education in research and marketing. I didn't have to do much; just put the pieces of the puzzle together and set out to do the things that I do well, and to do them with joy.
And here we are. It's so nice to meet you.
Developers were eating up the Virginia countryside and, along with it, my little riding school. I told my teacher I'd buy my 16yo, 13.2 pony with dubious navicular, and when I pitched it to my parents, they tried to put me off by reminding me that I had no saddle or bridle. To be fair, they were right, so I took it back to the riding school and they agreed to include the ancient Crosby saddle and bridle in the deal. I was victorious. BUT my parents, understandably disinterested in keeping a pony as pet, reminded me that as suburban residents, we had nowhere to put this pony.
Undeterred, I recruited my friend who, also 10 years old, agreed that we could keep my pony at her farm where she and her sisters had their own ponies, a horse of dogs and an unclear number of cats. My parents caved, thinking this would be the end of it, and here we are some 30 years later and I'm still riding ponies with my friends and brokering deals for ponies. It was meant to be I guess!
I started riding at age 8 and, as legend has it, brokered my first pony deal when I was 10.
Importing a pony is pretty straightforward, but there are also a lot of pitfalls.
When I import a pony, I'm making sure the pony I'm bringing in from Europe is ready to go home with you in the same condition and state in which I keep my ponies. In other words, they're healthy, sound, and up-to-date on their maintenance. Below are some of the things I check off before they arrive at your farm:
Sport Pony Imports ponies see the best care because it's just how I care for my own ponies and it's how you care for your ponies too. When I hand a pony off to you I want you to know it's in top-notch condition and ready for its job and life with you.
import Protocols
Dentistry
Ponies have littler mouths than horses do, duh. And that means they can be more susceptible to ulcering. When a pony arrives, I make sure they see an equine dentist to get their teeth floated (ALL of them, not just the ones that are easy to reach) and assess any issues or ulcering that is present.
Our ponies need to be happy and comfortable, and they can't do that if they have sharp edges on their teeth and ulcers in their mouth. When your pony arrives at their new home with you they are comfortable and ready to get to work!
ulcers
Yuck. Ulcers give me the heebie jeebies and make me so nervous because sometimes it feels like they come out of nowhere. I'm constantly anxious about them. The transport from Europe to the US is nothing to sniff at with ground transport from the original barn, sometimes a layover before the flight, the air travel itself, quarantine (weeks for mares and stallions), and then ground transport once again. Yeah, it's kind of a lot.
I treat all my ponies preemptively and prophylactically for ulcers to make their transition as smooth and, honestly, as quick as possible. They can't work or be a good friend if they have ulcers from stomach acid eating away at their tummy. Poor things. This is a serious issue and I consult with lots of vets about it on the regular and especially before anyone makes the journey to the US.
Farrier Care
Like the old adage says, "No hoof, no horse". When a pony arrives one of the first things I look at is their feet. And then I have the best farrier look at their feet. Often I wail and lament and plead. I get their feet right, should they need a change, and if they're not right I keep working at it until they are!
Vaccines and Worming
It's not anything fancy or difficult, but of course I make sure all ponies are up to date on their vaccines and worming. Once they get to your farm they can roll right on to your vet's schedule for vaccines and worming. Easy peasy!
