too small horse for sen BS - possible Jrn BE?

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lizstuguinness

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I have an amazing 4/5 yr old grey mare by concorde. She sails over 1.40m and is currently doing 1m double clears and has lovely paces, she will do a lovely novice test. Trouble she stands at 15.2hh. I really need to sell her as she is too small.

if she was 16.2 she would be worth around 6k -7k, however im concidering getting a junior rider for them to compete her and was wondering if there is a height restriction for juniors in BE? and if she might be better suited for this discipin -there are not many senior riders that would buy a 15.2hh.

she is quite quick and sharp tho - perhaps polo!?
ideas?
 
She may be considered too small to BS seriously but if she is straightforward, talented and will carry a young rider reasonably sweetly she will still be worth a decent price, easily 6k with some experience and a bit of a record either BS, to prove she is talented or a few runs BE if she doesnt spoil her "potential" by being too green and getting penalties, there are no height restrictions, other than having to be over 14 hands to compete BE with a rider of any age.
There is usually a real demand for smaller horses in the PC market and also the smaller adults who want to have fun without being over horsed, there is also a market for smaller dressage horses as most are being bred to be 16.2 plus and not everyone wants something that big, I wouldnt consider polo as an option unless she is unlikely to do another job, no chance of getting decent money until she was really proven in matches and even then probably far less than as a decent PC/ BE type.
Friends of mine sold a 15 hander that was limited to 1m for over 8k as a decent hunter and low level PC ride, there were numerous people interested and they could have sold him many times over, being smaller is not always a disadvantage as long as they can still do the job required.
 
Eat said:
She may be considered too small to BS seriously but if she is straightforward, talented and will carry a young rider reasonably sweetly she will still be worth a decent price, easily 6k with some experience and a bit of a record either BS, to prove she is talented or a few runs BE if she doesnt spoil her "potential" by being too green and getting penalties, there are no height restrictions, other than having to be over 14 hands to compete BE with a rider of any age.
There is usually a real demand for smaller horses in the PC market and also the smaller adults who want to have fun without being over horsed, there is also a market for smaller dressage horses as most are being bred to be 16.2 plus and not everyone wants something that big, I wouldnt consider polo as an option unless she is unlikely to do another job, no chance of getting decent money until she was really proven in matches and even then probably far less than as a decent PC/ BE type.
Friends of mine sold a 15 hander that was limited to 1m for over 8k as a decent hunter and low level PC ride, there were numerous people interested and they could have sold him many times over, being smaller is not always a disadvantage as long as they can still do the job required.
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Oh that sounds more promising. So juniors can ride any height at BE then?
what would be your suggestion - BE at seniors, find a junior rider to BE or just play at PC/hunt till spring?
 
There is no height limit for juniors BE (juniors as opposed to ponies) but I agree that there is a market for small talented horses in all disciplines. Our mare is 15.2hh and jumped at HOYS this year having been 2nd in the Open SJ Champ at the PC Champs, so I wouldn't give up on her SJ career.
 
Polo probably a no go, friend of mine produces polo ponies and he says they only really go in for youngsters (max 4YO.) for retraining. You also will probably get very little for her as an inexperienced polo poy.

Pity because she sounds exactly what I wa looking for a couple months back...but I bought my new girl.
 
There always used to be a decent market for horses around that size for U18 classes - what about for Children on Horses classes etc? Plenty of horses smaller than her jumping BS, I know of several "larger" 14.2s that went on and jumped young rider classes back in the day so no reason why a 15.2 is too small.
 
You'd be surprised from what I've seen there is a market for 15.2 BSJA jumpers! If yo have a quick 15.2 they are great for speed classes! There is a nations cup horse (I think for Brazil or portugal) that is barely 15.2, but nevee struggles!

Or could she do children on horses? There are lots of options out there I think, ive seen a few about 15.2 in the main arena at Hickstead who haven't struggled with height nor striding :)
 
One of mine is 15.2, and I can assure you she keeps up with her bigger brother very easily. In fact my money would be on her in a jump off, she turns like a 128 pony , so fast. She did her first newcomers a month ago and definitely has scope for much more. She will be 6 in June. Don't give up on her Jumping unless she's struggling.

And we've had a few offers at shows for her, she's not for sale !
 
oh thats great every one - thanks.

I leant BS on a 14.2 1/2 didnt jump more than 2'3 before i broke him, then we went to 1.30m! he was a star but a sod. we actulay won loads aginst the bigger horses but he couldnt go beyong 1.30 as the stride patterns were to much for him at jump off. I found it very hard to sell him due to his height, but maybe the market is dfferent - that was 13 years ago!

she has her first xc session on sunday and we want to get her to some local BE in March, meanwhile she wil do her fist BS next week at markfield! Will just have to wait and see what happens.... :)

meanwhile if anyone wants a grey 15.2hh mare by concorde for 8K please let me know :)
 
If you are looking to sell her as an eventer, then I would suggest running her unaffiliated the first time just in case there are any mishaps XC - you don't really want that marked down for posterity on her BE record!
 
15.2 isn't too small for BSJ in my opinion. Have seen many smaller horses do very well, they tend to be nippier than the big ones and do well in jump offs.

I have a 15hh mare - with the aim of taking her jumping at some point. She could do it, it's just a question of her fumbling rider :)
 
Phoebe Buckley's mare Little Tiger was only 14.3hh and she competed around Badminton and Burghley!
I have a 15.3hh mare who pings around BE novices for fun and I am hoping to move her up to intermediate later on this year. I also work on an eventing yard where the top horse was a tiny little 15.3hh who is now competing round 3* and aiming for Badminton this year!
I find that horses of that size are actually in demand as they often ride more like ponies, so are easier for children to move onto from ponies.
In my opinion, I would price for her talent, and not worry about her size as there will always be someone looking for a smaller horse!
 
I have a 15.2 and I much prefer her to a 16.2hh!

There is a great market for competitive horses of this size, for good PC homes, who may not want them to jump much more than 1m. (Or short adults like me!)
 
I love how her price has gone up by 2k in the course of this thread :tongue3: (I'm just kidding OP, of course you want to get the best price for her.) She sounds fab and judging by the responses so far, like she'll be snapped up in no time :smile3:
 
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