The Classic Shetland Stallion Sweepstakes Auction is an annual event hosted by the American Shetland Pony Club (ASPC) to promote the Classic Shetland Pony. This year the program is being offered in a new format. The ASPC Classic Sweepstakes Committee announced their plans to hold the entire 2008 auction online.

The ASPC, established in 1888, recognizes four distinct types of ponies: the Classic Shetland Pony, the Modern Shetland Pony and two types of pony crosses, the American Show Pony and the National Show Pony. The Classic American Shetland Pony is a refined version of their Scottish ancestors.

In effort to keep improving the Classic Shetland Pony, members of the ASPC Classic Sweepstakes Committee came up with a new online program to recognize and promote Classic Shetland bloodlines. The committee hopes an auction online will enable more participation and allow breeders to showcase their best bloodlines. In addition, online bidders will have access to a number of very high-quality Classic Shetland stallions to bid for a breeding service.

Resulting foals are eligible for nomination and participation in the classic weanling sweepstakes class in 2010 to be hosted at the National Shetland Pony Congress. Top sweepstakes weanlings compete for an estimated $2,500 to $4,500 in prize money.

“We hope that this format will make the Sweepstakes program more accessible for everyone,” said Carin Ponder, the Classic Shetland Sweepstakes Committee Chairperson. For complete details on participation in the new Classic Sweepstakes, visit www.classicsweepstakes.com. Stallion nominations are due April 1, 2008, with the nomination fee of $200 to be paid by June 1, closing on September 1, 2008. The high bid must be paid by September 15 or it will go to the next highest bidder. All bids will go through Carin Ponder at [email protected], or call (936) 443-0566.