Heightest *rant*

S

sghc88

Active Member
Joined
19 January 2013
Messages
37
Visit site
Why is it that equestrian sports are the only ones where height is legally discriminated against? In all 3 of the main disciplines you cannot compete at a high level on a pony and I cannot for the life of me understand why? We are failing to shake the oldfashioned and outdated idea that whether you ride a pony or a horse is age related when it should not be!
The BSJA for example only 'officially' let under 16s compete on ponies. If I want to jump my 14.2 mare I have to register her as a horse and compete in senior classes just because i'm 25! I am only 5ft, I would (and do when I get on my friends horse) look ridiculous on something 16hh!
We need to get back to matching horses and ponies to riders by height, the average lady of 5ft2/5ft3 is far more in proportion with something 14.2-15hh so why ride bigger? From what I can gather it's mainly because of these 'rules' from BE, BSJA and BD! You can't expect something 14.2 to get round Badminton for example, so people buy bigger to be able to do it.... NAHA people just make appropriate classes! After all it should be about the technicality of the riding! :rolleyes:
So come on BE, BSJA, BD we need to restructure our competition ladder, get with the times! Surely somebody agrees with me?
Rant over
 
We should soooo have Hobbit Badminton!

Ok, joke over, no I think I agree with you however, I find so much in competition to get angry about, this will have to join the queue.

By the way, have you posted this in Competing pages? Just that lots of folk in there don't come in here and would probably like a good debate about this subject.
 
Errrm - Phoebe Buckley's Little Tiger got round Badminton at 14.2hh?

Although I agree with you ref 'local' shows. I've often seen height and age limits so ponies can only be competed by children. If you are an adult on a pony that's not good enough to go in the open you are stuffed.
 
This is one of my bugbears too, as I ride a 14.1 pony at the grand old age of 34 ((cough)). Plus there are girls of at 14 at my yards at nearly 6ft that would look ridiculous on a pony.

It does seem very old fashioned nowadays.
 
Well actually I think the pony classes are limited by the age of the rider in order that children can compete in classes restricted to children only. Pretty much every sport has children and young people only classes for various ages (eg Youth Olympics) because they are still developing their skill so it might be unfair to make them compete against adults with a lot more experience and skill. There are also classes and a championship only for children who want to ride horses. So horse sports are no different really.

I do not understand the problem with competing against other adults on your pony? Are you advocating classes open to all ages of riders but limited to ponies?

Karen O'Connor took a 14.2 pony to Kentucky CCI4* against horses.
 
Last edited:
It's for the striding so that ponies don't land into a long double and crash or vice versa..
 
:D Glad theres someone else out there who agrees with me.

Im just over 5'1" I have a retired 13.2hh who i used to compete, and also used to have my Boo who was 14.2hh he had a decent jump in him, i was gutted when i realised that i couldn't do trailblazers with him as a senior because he was too SMALL???? wtf? health and safety rules etc. bla bla bla, would struggle with the striding etc. etc., the worlds gone mad. :mad:

im now often seen dancing around my youngster, chanting "grow weed, grow" im hoping she'll make around 15hh, so i can compete, and i will be within the rules!

I agree its high time something was done, im sure there are enough adults out there riding ponies, who want to compete, someone is missing out here!

Agree TallyHo, can i join the Hobbits please :)
 
Darremi said:
Well actually I think the pony classes are limited by the age of the rider in order that children can compete in classes restricted to children only. Pretty much every sport has children only classes for various ages. There are also classes and a championship only for children who want to ride horses.

I do not understand the problem with competing against other adults on your pony? Are you advocating classes open to all ages of riders but limited to ponies?

Karen O'Connor took a 14.2 pony to Kentucky CCI4* against horses.
Click to expand...

I can see both sides.
I have seen classes such as "working hunter pony 14.2hh and under, rider 16 and under". Then the next class up is "Working hunter horse over 14.2hh".
As a 34 year old riding a 14.1hh I can't enter either.
 
I certainly agree that children should be judged separately from adults, I just also think we need to consider the size of mount too. Although you do come across those 14.2's that are AMAZING (and I have to say I think my lady may just be one of those, but we'll have to wait and see) it is not entirely fair to be pitching a 14.2 against a 17.2 jumping 1.30+ the 17.2 will undoubtedly be far more at ease!
 
I rides ponies but have to admit I don't like competing against children so only compete in classes where my ponies are allowed. I can BE90 on my 14.2hh and I doubt I'd want to do much bigger on him. The fences look too big already!
 
little_critter said:
I can see both sides.
I have seen classes such as "working hunter pony 14.2hh and under, rider 16 and under". Then the next class up is "Working hunter horse over 14.2hh".
As a 34 year old riding a 14.1hh I can't enter either.
Click to expand...

I agree witht he above this is the problem, i can appreciate why there are classes for children only on ponies, but as an adult with a pony, generally you find your seriously restricted at a lot of shows, unless like someone else said your good enough or your pony is good enough to compete in the open class.
 
Noble Springbok who did FEI ponies as a 14.2 has also done U21s with Libby Soley and 2* with Laura Collett. I have a feeling the mare was re-registered as a horse (not sure how that works) but current reg has her height at 14.2 but she's a really exceptional talent. I think the SJ at that level must be a real challenge because of the striding. It does seem a bit unfair that adults on ponies can't do affiliated SJ as the courses are built for ponies but perhaps the problem is that there aren't many adult pony riders wanting to do the bigger classes. TBH having spent a lot of time at junior BSJ with daughter I was glad when she got too old, too many fab ponies ridden by rubbish riders with too much tack on! (sure someone will object to this!) Don't know much about the showing scene but ponies can compete alongside horses in affiliated dressage regardless of the age of the rider.
 
oldie48 said:
too many fab ponies ridden by rubbish riders with too much tack on! (sure someone will object to this!)
Click to expand...
it's unfortunately way too true to object to! I will probably be crucified for saying this but some parents just need to learn when to say NO! and just invest in some really DECENT instruction! 9/10 times the child hates having a hard lesson, but when you've been taught how to ride properly you never forget, it's just got to be done! When I was learning as a kid, if you didn't have a few tears during your lesson you hadn't worked hard enough! you never see that now!
Sadly I'm not sure if grand-prix dressage really has adult riders on ponies, I'm sure there must be junior grand-prix....... heads off to BD website to find out
Mental note to start teaching the little lady some flashy dressage moves, this could be our opening
 
Not everyones cup of tea but at Surrey County show yesterday there were two M&M showing classes for riders of any age. Lots of adults on ponies and fun to watch :)
 
If you think it would be popular suggest a rule change to your riding club or suggest some pony specific classes.

The thread in C&T explains that ponies can compete in affiliated competitions against horses for dressage, sj, eventing and endurance. And some of the showing classes (like m&m) allow adults to compete ponies.
 
The problem with dressage is horses between 14.3 and 15.2 are like hen's teeth, as dressage ponies are sub 14.2 but then there's a huge gap til your 16.2+ warmbloods!
 
Even British Riding Clubs discriminated against adults on ponies until very recently, even though this is the amateur alternative to BE, BS BD. You weren't allowed to jump a pony under 14 hands as an adult, regardless of rider height or weight. The striding thing does not apply, BRC allow juniors to ride any height horse or pony in the same class.
It's not really the Badminton or Hickstead level that is the problem, being barred from smaller stuff is so frustrating and unnecessary.
One of the reasons I was delighted to discover BHS TREC. It's open to all and compete equally, with everyone better at some aspects than others. Very inclusive and welcoming, and I've won many times with my three ponies!
 
As far as I know there are no limits on adults riding ponies with British Dressage, there are many native ponies competing in affiliated classes at medium level and even a few section D's competing beyond that. I think it's more of a jumping thing TBH.
 
Endurance GB does not discriminate against adult's riding ponies, in fact there is a special annual trophy for the high point adult/pony combination. Many have competed 100 miles in one day but I don't know if any in the UK have actually competed internationally. But spanish rider, Averil Ponton and her horse Nobby are the stuff of legends. The Spanish rider and her 148cm super-champ broke all previous records with their hat-trick that included the 2008 World title, 2009 European title and then their gold medal winning performance at the last Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky, USA. And, a year later, they have now raised the bar even higher with their fourth extraordinary success. Each of these wins was achieved following the completion of 100 miles in one day.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top