| In 1954, Les Boomhower
was a Shetland pony breeder and a lawyer with his own practice in
Mason City, Iowa. A neighbor offered Les an Arab/Appaloosa mare who
had accidentally been bred to a Shetland stallion. She was due to
foal that spring. Les waited until the foal was born before he
bought the mare. The little colt born of this union was white with
what looked like black paint smears all over his body.
What intrigued Les the most were the
spots on the colt's flank that formed a definite black hand. Another
idea was forming in Les' mind as he watched the colt he named Black
Hand. He called his Shetland breeder friends to his Memory Lane
Ranch to discuss his idea, and the Pony Of the Americas Club was
born. Les' expertise in the law set up a solid foundation for this
new breed registry.
The standards Les and his friends set
up were a real challenge to any breeder. To be registered as a POA,
strict guidelines were followed. The pony had to be between the
height limits of 44 inches to 52 inches. The head was to be small
and dished as the Arab; the body was to be muscled as the Quarter
Horse; and the coloring had to be Appaloosa, visible at 40 feet.
This was to be a breed for children to ride and show. Adults could
only show the animals at halter or with a cart. So these equines
must also be gentle and easy to train.
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