Connemara doing Pony racing

[bayxpony]

Hi, when pc rallies start back up, i am interested in starting some pony racing with my mare. she is a connie, but she’s really fast. i only ever see miniature racehorses, would she be adequate? nothing too serious, just some fun, but i don’t want to be 50 miles behind the other ponies. thanks.

 

[bayxpony]

also - would like to add that she is 14.2, is that an ok size?

 

[P.forpony]

This is my 14.1 connie fully fit, she’s surprised many chaps out hunting into rude words up on their huge hunters, when despite their best efforts they can’t pull away from turbo pony! ?
If you want to, go for it ?

 

[GinaGeo]

You can have a lot of fun on any shaped Pony Racing, especially Pony club Pony Racing ?

 

[Shay]

She does have to measure under 148cm. Is she looks close you might need to get a height certificate. Pony racing is a serious "thing" and there will be proper mini racehorses and aspiring jockies. But there are also maiden races for more PC types. DD raced her hunting cob (13.2) one season. Winning through to the PC Finals at Ascot. She had an absolutely wonderful expereince and we have photos of him racing at Ascot (although the feature on him in H&H hunt heros is more precious!)

Even if she does end up a mile behind- the experience is abolsutely wonderful There are a lot of folk there who are serious in the racing scene, but they are really nice about the PC Pony races. I can't reccommend the expereince too highly.

And if you enjoy it - have a look at point to point!

 

[millikins]

We took our connie pony racing as he's fast. We had fun, the training especially, but we were cannon fodder; we were up against trainers' sons (who are now well known professionals) on under height TB's and TB part breds. I think you stand a chance of being competitive in the 13.2 and under but realistically no at 14.2 class.

 

[Orangehorse]

Yes as above. There used to be a very fast gymkhana pony locally and they took him flapping (racing in Wales) and said he came nowhere, because he was up against people who took it very, very seriously and had purpose bred animals.

 

[GinaGeo]

It's worth mentioning there are different types of Pony Racing in the UK.

Pony Club Pony Racing - Classes suitable for all

Point to Point Pony Racing - more serious. The upto 14.2hh classes can be quite competitive

Charles Owen Pony Racing Series - Very Serious. Purpose bred miniature racehorses often kept on Raceyards in 'Training'.

It's the same as all disciplines, choose the right level and you can have a lot of fun regardless of what you're sat on. In the same way your local PC ODE is quite different to BE Pony Trials.

 

[P.forpony]

GG you have just answered a vague question I’ve had for ages.
I walk through Newmarket most days and have identified at least 3 different ponies riding out from different yards. I always wondered why the pocket rockets on commercial race yards!

 

[utter-nutter]

i did pony racing on my welsh x 13.1, he had a full 'bog brush' of a mane, so really stood out as a non tb! We did beat some very established racing ponies! As mentioned it does get very competitive in some races, but equally the 'novice' races are brilliant for starting out in, did find the p2p series slightly more friendly and more fun. Am sure certain pony club branches hold 'pony club race days' maybe worth contacting your branch to see if they do, or a nearby branch does that you join in with? then at least you'll know roughly what to expect, is great fun and i loved it! if i can work out how to attach a photo i will!

 

[utter-nutter]