It was lovely to see our old pony win the Pony Trial with her new rider. Well done to sarah Hutchings who certainly had a very good dressage score with a pony that is not always the easiest in the dressage.
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MDM: Its a vicious circle isn't it..... one of my friends has come from nothing and is in her first year of doing horses full time.
WFP told someone she was one of the most under rated YR's, but that doesn't help until she gets the rides on horses like Cottage Craft Spirals.
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Lucinda Green said the same about someone i know.. nothings going to change tho..
Either you have money or you don't
I guess i should stop waisting my time on HHO, and start with those begging letters hehe
But your paying for Yogi out of your own pocket aren't you? these people not only can afford him anyway but get funded to be trained every day by him (and other trainers)
Ponies are now measured at comps to check, so no more dehydrating, wearing out, doping etc.
All ponies at champs will be measured.
To allow for the added fitness factor ponies can be 150cm plus 1cm for shoes, total of 151cm fit and ready to compete.
We have a very talented full up 148 (who will just measure under) and a rider eligable for ponies. However she is doing JRN's (rules have just changed to allow ponies to compete Novice). She jumped a double clear at Gt Witch JRN this weekend at her first JRN (one of only 2 in the section to do so).
However like ponies money buys sucess in JRN with many of the horses ex Advanced. Willough will never do as good a dressage as them so even with her fantastic jump will never do as well. As soon as Bee is 16 Bee will do some Novices as she feels that she may have more of a chance of sucess there. The Monied riders will be chosen for their JRN areas most of the time. (Although I do know 2 in our area who have worked hard for what they have)
the point is - we DONT!!!!!!! but i guess its an attractive prospect for owners if their pony is suddenly going to double in value if it can be measured down and then does PTs successfully and makes the team, rather than winning normal PN and novice events. Also saying you have a PT pony sounds rather good - people like it!!
and the fact that its "ponies" competing against "ponies" and kids competing aganist kids so supposedly i guess its a more level playing field than normal classes
haha thank you madgirl, but i have made my views on big ponies clear to selectors so after necarne last year, i don't think I will be too welcome at the euros... I had my 14hh pony too fit at gatcombe... funny enough he still measures 140cms... not 141cms.... spooky!!
Funny that! lol I swear my 16.1hh horse doesn't grow to 16.3 at events... well maybe in the dressage on a windy day!
Good for you making your views public knowledge with selectors. I know YR's who have done the same re YR selection politics, they are not 'seen' to be welcome on teams anymore.
i'm to old now thank goodness for all youth teams! woooooo! I thought I was gutted as I would have been selected this year for YR but now im so glad. I'm living that dream through the best mate who should be on the team this time.
Only aim is to beat them all at Bramham Under 25's this year (It ain't gonna happen but its a nice thought)