Could my horse be a small hunter? Help please!

[babyd]

Were you at Port Royal today?! I saw a roan and thought hmm that looks like the pony from the showing thread!

Omg yeah... cringing, I'm so famous ������

Edit...

BUT he is a horse haha

 

[rara007]

When we got our coloured we were keen for him to measure in over 148cm so he could do cob classes as well as the coloured pony (cob, trad native) classes with adult male rider. (Yes, obviously he'd have been small in the class but we usually only want to do one day showing and coloureds often on different day to the natives). Only had his final LHC to do, shoes off but feet not trimmed, previously measured at 147.3 twice, he came in at 146cm! Coblet he is for life then He's been asked by cob 'people' more than once if he is waiting for the HW class- He's not even close! But out of a lineup you can't tell. Just today with my 130cm (12.3) pony we were a good hand taller than the supposed 13.2. Measuring both showing and FEI is a different world to the size people think their horses are!

 

[babyd]

When we got our coloured we were keen for him to measure in over 148cm so he could do cob classes as well as the coloured pony (cob, trad native) classes with adult male rider. Only had his final LHC to do, shoes off but feet not trimmed, previously measured at 147.3 twice, he came in at 146cm! Coblet he is for life then Not even close! Just today with my 130cm (12.3) pony we were a good hand taller than the supposed 13.2. Measuring both showing and FEI is a different world to the size people think their horses are!

I'm just Gona say Dexter is 16.2 then... FEI meaurement for sure! That would be a dream

 

[rara007]

For horses for FEI there's a suspicious lack of 15.3, 16.1, 16.3 etc as they're just not measured (as they don't have to be). Everything is 16hh (small) 16.2 (medium) or 17hh (large)!

 

[LPL]

Hahahaha ooooops that was a genuine mistake. He is quite ponyish hahaha. He looked a really useful type. Definitely looked to be having a good time. I was stood right next to you!

 

[babyd]

Hahahaha ooooops that was a genuine mistake. He is quite ponyish hahaha. He looked a really useful type. Definitely looked to be having a good time. I was stood right next to you!

How weird!!! Which one were you? I think a pic is necessary!

He was v good... unfortunately scared of the posters by the dresssage ring though!! Wasn't all that helpful! At least I know what to practice! We came 5th, how did you do?

 

[LPL]

I was there with a friend, not riding today. I was stood outside the sj ring in brown Brown jods and a wax jacket. I was admiring your bridle and eavesdropping on a convo the lady you were with was having with the brown/Appaloosa horse haha.

Good result then, I really like the sj arena at port royal but I have had the worst results ever in that dressage ring!!

 

[babyd]

I was there with a friend, not riding today. I was stood outside the sj ring in brown Brown jods and a wax jacket. I was admiring your bridle and eavesdropping on a convo the lady you were with was having with the brown/Appaloosa horse haha.

Good result then, I really like the sj arena at port royal but I have had the worst results ever in that dressage ring!!

That is so strange!! So funny, I will have definitely seen you then!

The SJ is pretty daunting there... always full up and a filler under every jump! Good practice though.

Slightly off topic, but on the bridle, did you like it? Honest opinions haha.
I think I've gone off it and will probably sell it but not sure what to get instead!

 

[LPL]

I absolutely loved it! I think it really suited him and wished I'd researched a bit more before I bought my new one!

 

[babyd]

I absolutely loved it! I think it really suited him and wished I'd researched a bit more before I bought my new one!

Oh thanks! If I decide to sell it I'll do your a good price haha

 

[cundlegreen]

No need for extreme measures for reducing height. I've been to a top show yard where they are very good at getting ponies measured in. They simply have a bar across the stable entrance that the horse has to go under to get out.

 

[SO1]

I agree with others your horse is a not a traditional small hunter type, he has more of a pony face and his colour as well, he looks more like a large pony than a small horse, but if think you will be safe and the judge will be safe riding your horse at a big county show and you don't mind not getting placed and you want to have the experience of riding there then why not give it a go. It will be very competitive and there will be a lot of professionals there on experienced established horses, than have come through affiliated showing starting with the affiliated novice classes {bearing in mind that novices are often horses that have not won prize money or qualified for HOYS so the standards can still be really high}.

If you want to give it a go then maybe go watch the class this year and then if you still want to go then perhaps do some affiliated novice and amateur hunter classes and see how you get on and see if you enjoy it.

I can understand why you want to go, I am very much an amateur and have a native pony, and I won't win classes at big shows even though I have a very smart pony, and the reason we won't win is because of me, I am not good at ring craft and I am not a good enough rider to school him up to the level required but I still like to take him to some county or big shows occasionally, {mainly in hand}] because I want to experience the atmosphere and the excitement and just be part of it. I have qualified him for a national showing championships and probably won't get placed but will still go so and enjoy it. However when we are standing around waiting he does look good and I remember being at show where there was a HOYS qualifier and someone asked me if we were entered in it {we weren't there is no way I would enter a HOYS qualifier!}. So even if you have the perfect horse conformation wise there is still the human element to take into consideration - I am not saying you are not a good handler/rider but more experienced showing professionals or amateurs will probably have the edge on you there too.

With regard to conformation your horse could have good conformation but not the right sort for the class. For example my pony has good conformation for a native pony of his breed but it would not considered good conformation in the small hunter class.

 

[SO1]

What is your horses breeding?

His face looks a bit like my new forest {not an example of a small hunter in case anyone was wondering}

[/IMG]

 

[babyd]

I agree with others your horse is a not a traditional small hunter type, he has more of a pony face and his colour as well, he looks more like a large pony than a small horse, but if think you will be safe and the judge will be safe riding your horse at a big county show and you don't mind not getting placed and you want to have the experience of riding there then why not give it a go. It will be very competitive and there will be a lot of professionals there on experienced established horses, than have come through affiliated showing starting with the affiliated novice classes {bearing in mind that novices are often horses that have not won prize money or qualified for HOYS so the standards can still be really high}.

If you want to give it a go then maybe go watch the class this year and then if you still want to go then perhaps do some affiliated novice and amateur hunter classes and see how you get on and see if you enjoy it.

I can understand why you want to go, I am very much an amateur and have a native pony, and I won't win classes at big shows even though I have a very smart pony, and the reason we won't win is because of me, I am not good at ring craft and I am not a good enough rider to school him up to the level required but I still like to take him to some county or big shows occasionally, {mainly in hand}] because I want to experience the atmosphere and the excitement and just be part of it. I have qualified him for a national showing championships and probably won't get placed but will still go so and enjoy it. However when we are standing around waiting he does look good and I remember being at show where there was a HOYS qualifier and someone asked me if we were entered in it {we weren't there is no way I would enter a HOYS qualifier!}. So even if you have the perfect horse conformation wise there is still the human element to take into consideration - I am not saying you are not a good handler/rider but more experienced showing professionals or amateurs will probably have the edge on you there too.

With regard to conformation your horse could have good conformation but not the right sort for the class. For example my pony has good conformation for a native pony of his breed but it would not considered good conformation in the small hunter class.

Thanks for your detailed response. Good luck this year!

 

[babyd]

What is your horses breeding?

His face looks a bit like my new forest {not an example of a small hunter in case anyone was wondering}

[/IMG]

His mum was welsh x (i guess NF because i would agree with you and his mane can get wild!) and his dad is a Knabstrupper. Random mix!