Murky world of showing - H&H news article

[Suziq77]

I remember going for a height certificate and the vet asking what height did I want my mare to be!

They should all ask this as it clarifies the expectation/aim of the person presenting the horse, it doesn't mean that the vet is prepared to cheat (although as the OP's link shows there are some bad eggs).

Our local JMB vet checks the horses' feet for signs of over trimming before measuring and I am sure would offer water if a horse showed signs of dehyrdation. They have a lovely quiet pad and allow the full amount of permitted relaxation time. Not all showing people are bending the rules

 

[GoesBananas]

I had my boy measured last week. At first he was very tense and wondered what was going on and was just over 15.2. once he relaxed he was in fact just over 14.3 - 150.6cms.

If he was measured on the day he'd probably measure out!

 

[Lanky Loll]

Back in the late 70's early 80's there was a horse called Sheila's Pride - I believe she was jumped by Harvey Smith, anyhoo... she was only small for horse classes and obviously struggled to make the distances etc, so she was operated on, (I believe part of her wither was removed), and she was then jumped VERY successfully as a pony... there are definitely worse things that can be done to get a desired measurement than trimming and dehydration, but I agree it still doesn't make them right.