Can i compete in pony classes at 16?

[Shauna O'Kane]

I am almost 16 years old and I am worried that I won't be allowed to compete in pony classes anymore.
I am wondering about the rules for showjumping in Ireland as i know I cannot event in pony classes when I am 16 so I was just wondering if it was the same for showjumping.
I only really ride 14.2s so I am quite nervous about moving onto horses as I only ride schoolies.
I do not compete often but I would like to know the answer to this question I have had for so long.
I would appreciate anyone with the answer to let me know?

 

[oldie48]

I think if you are competing unaffiliated, it won't be a problem but if you are competing in affiliated classes, then it will be. rule in GB is you cannot compete on ponies in the year you are 16. so if you have a birthday in Dec, effectively on your 15th birthday, you cannot compete the following year, however, if you were 15 a few days later in the January, then you could compete for the whole of that year. I hope that makes sense. In pc and RC, it makes no difference and lots of adults compete on ponies as in deed they do unaffiliated. I think this is correct for Ireland too.

 

[Shauna O'Kane]

I think if you are competing unaffiliated, it won't be a problem but if you are competing in affiliated classes, then it will be. rule in GB is you cannot compete on ponies in the year you are 16. so if you have a birthday in Dec, effectively on your 15th birthday, you cannot compete the following year, however, if you were 15 a few days later in the January, then you could compete for the whole of that year. I hope that makes sense. In pc and RC, it makes no difference and lots of adults compete on ponies as in deed they do unaffiliated. I think this is correct for Ireland too.

Thank you for your reply unfortunately I am 15 now and turn 16 this December. I compete regularly in sportsman competitions on a 14.2 but would I be able to ride that same pony in a horses class as I be competing him in a registered show soon so I am wondering if I can still ride him.

 

[AnShanDan]

In the UK you can jump ponies in affiliated comp. until the end of the year that you turn 16. But just google up the show jumping ireland website??

 

[oldie48]

Thank you for your reply unfortunately I am 15 now and turn 16 this December. I compete regularly in sportsman competitions on a 14.2 but would I be able to ride that same pony in a horses class as I be competing him in a registered show soon so I am wondering if I can still ride him.

Hi I think you need to check with the show. In the uk you would not be eligible for pony classes but he would not be elgible for horse class class if he were 148cm or under, but I am not expert!

 

[Shay]

As suggested before you need to check the SJI website - but in the UK you can compete a 148 in horse classes once you are over 16. In fact people regularly do. The pony does need to be full up and capable of the greater stride length. But is he is then simply switch to horse classes and keep going. My daughter competed her last beloved 148 in horse classes for a year after she turned 16 and a young woman on yard at the moment competes a fairly small 148 in horse classes at the moment. Perfectly possible.