Dressage and ponies

[B.D.2000]

Question: are ponies actually allowed to compete upto Grand Prix level and FEI?

If so, why is it only the Warmbloods (and similar) I see competing against the big names?

The only time I've seen ponies in an FEI level competition is with youth riders. So I'd like to just know whether it's possible to even attempt to do with an adult rider.

Is it crazy for me to hope to see a pony at the Olympics one day? Probably. But I can dream.

 

[Pinkvboots]

You need to speak to Halo on here she has Welsh ponies that she competes with at the higher levels she is an adult.

Milliepops on here took her Welsh D to GP so I would think its a done thing.

 

[catkin]

I think there is a lower height limit at FEI comps of 14.3hh which rules out many pony breeds. National federations will have their own rules.
(personally I think it is completely bonkers to have a height limit in dressage, it's not as if there's a safety element like through a jump combination.
The geometry the movements is the same for all, a 10m circle is 10m for all, the markers are in the same places for all, and anyone seriously training will get to know how to set up a movement to suit your mount's individual stride length etc.)

 

[Pinkvboots]

I think there is a lower height limit at FEI comps of 14.3hh which rules out many pony breeds. National federations will have their own rules.
(personally I think it is completely bonkers to have a height limit in dressage, it's not as if there's a safety element like through a jump combination.
The geometry the movements is the same for all, a 10m circle is 10m for all, the markers are in the same places for all, and anyone seriously training will get to know how to set up a movement to suit your mount's individual stride length etc.)

It's mad isn't it so many ponies are so capable of doing what a big horse can do they probably will last longer and sounder as well.

 

[Pinkvboots]

I would love to see ponies compete at the Olympics I think alot if people would agree I love riding ponies they are so much fun, if your a small enough adult I really don't see why you can't compete a pony the same as a horse.

 

[B.D.2000]

I think there is a lower height limit at FEI comps of 14.3hh which rules out many pony breeds. National federations will have their own rules.
(personally I think it is completely bonkers to have a height limit in dressage, it's not as if there's a safety element like through a jump combination.
The geometry the movements is the same for all, a 10m circle is 10m for all, the markers are in the same places for all, and anyone seriously training will get to know how to set up a movement to suit your mount's individual stride length etc.)

Thank you.

Oh gosh. It really is bonkers! Exact same movements and like you said their isn't any safety limitations. I don't know where they come up with these rules?

I can just hope things will change one day. Might need a high demand of it first though.

 

[B.D.2000]

I would love to see ponies compete at the Olympics I think alot if people would agree I love riding ponies they are so much fun, if your a small enough adult I really don't see why you can't compete a pony the same as a horse.

Thank you.

It really is mad, isn't it?

Yessss. Me too. I actually struggle to absorb the movement of a horse, especially breeds like the warmblood, ISH and thoroughbred. I ride ponies best because of my build (short body) and height. So I'd love for them to change these silly rules one days.

Not staying I'm Olympic material? but I'd love for it to even be possible and see someone on a pony get to the level. It would be amazing.

 

[Pinkvboots]

Thank you.

It really is mad, isn't it?

Yessss. Me too. I actually struggle to absorb the movement of a horse, especially breeds like the warmblood, ISH and thoroughbred. I ride ponies best because of my build (short body) and height. So I'd love for them to change these silly rules one days.

Not staying I'm Olympic material? but I'd love for it to even be possible and see someone on a pony get to the level. It would be amazing.

I've got Arab's so basically they are small horses but I just love riding them they remind me of ponies in a sense.

 

[Cortez]

Ponies are great, but they are not horses. The vast majority of adult riders are simply too big to ride ponies, hence why they're not seen in international FEI competition in any/all disciplines.

 

[Burnttoast]

A height rule for dressage in particular does seem a bit nuts. Non-FEI, GB sent a 13.2hh Welshie to the working equitation world champs the time before last.

 

[Cortez]

A height rule for dressage in particular does seem a bit nuts. Non-FEI, GB sent a 13.2hh Welshie to the working equitation world champs the time before last.

Did it win?

 

[Burnttoast]

Did it win?

Isn't it more a matter of where did it come after the Portuguese? I can't remember placings but no, somewhere in the mid-rankings if I remember correctly. Still, the combination had only been doing the sport for a year, having come from dressage.

 

[Hallo2012]

there is a lower height limit for international GP but not for national comps.
I have a 133cm welsh B (competing elem, will be aimed at medium and adv med next year) and a 133cm welsh C who is currently starting out at prelim (he's only 4) but both will be aimed at GP.

The B finds the changes and pirouette work very easy and the C shows a huge potential in piaffe and passage.....are they going to win with 70%? absolutely not but to get a small pony to GP and get 60 would be my Olympics.

my B:


my C

 

[B.D.2000]

Ponies are great, but they are not horses. The vast majority of adult riders are simply too big to ride ponies, hence why they're not seen in international FEI competition in any/all disciplines.

It's a shame because, as I've previously said, I can't absorb the movement of a horse because of how I'm made. I'm also nowhere near big on anything from 13.2hh to 14.2hh.

 

[B.D.2000]

A height rule for dressage in particular does seem a bit nuts. Non-FEI, GB sent a 13.2hh Welshie to the working equitation world champs the time before last.

That's incredible!

 

[B.D.2000]

there is a lower height limit for international GP but not for national comps.
I have a 133cm welsh B (competing elem, will be aimed at medium and adv med next year) and a 133cm welsh C who is currently starting out at prelim (he's only 4) but both will be aimed at GP.

The B finds the changes and pirouette work very easy and the C shows a huge potential in piaffe and passage.....are they going to win with 70%? absolutely not but to get a small pony to GP and get 60 would be my Olympics.

my B:
View attachment 101212

my C
View attachment 101213

Absolutely love this ❤ Your ponies are gorgeous too by the way ?

So British Dressage actually allow ponies to compete in Grand Prix? That's made my day!

 

[Burnttoast]

Billy Whizz is 14hh https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/coloured-supercob-billy-whiz-grand-prix-656504

 

[Widgeon]

to get a small pony to GP and get 60 would be my Olympics

Every time you post pictures of your ponies it makes me so happy

 

[SEL]

Every time you post pictures of your ponies it makes me so happy

And me!!

Plus I've never met a welshie who didn't think they were 16h ??

 

[millikins]

I follow "Native ponies doing dressage, not for sale" on FB, there's some crackers on there.

 

[rara007]

Yes 148cm minimum for FEI (dressage), but there’s very few below 160cm even. There’s a few ponies at national Grand Prix. The warmbloods and select few PRE/Lusos are just the best! I have a overgrown sports pony, I’d like to see something with pony breeding cracking it, but it’s not all that likely..!

 

[Alibear]

Would there be an argument that they'd have more room to get the correct number of changes in and for the canter zig-zag with a smaller stride pattern? I'm not saying it's a good rule, but I like to try and figure out possible reasons.

 

[B.D.2000]

Would there be an argument that they'd have more room to get the correct number of changes in and for the canter zig-zag with a smaller stride pattern? I'm not saying it's a good rule, but I like to try and figure out possible reasons.

Possibly.

I wonder if they could ever try to make it more fair by saying ponies should start and finish at certain places.

 

[rara007]

I don’t think there’s a stream of ponies waiting to burst into FEI senior dressage. I think it’s hard for us mortals for understand the difference between the national and various FEI GP levels, but I don’t think there’s many even around the 158cm mark at FEI…?

 

[alexomahony]

I believe it's the minority are too big to ride ponies, but the vast majority of competitive adults will go with what wins judges marks at this level - which tends to be big moving warmbloods. Which is why you also don't see many PREs or heinz 57 at Olympic level (in comparison to warmbloods).