Dressage ponies?

[Graymaresrule]

I’m thinking of bring on this Irish Draught Sport Horse (maybe pony).

He sticks for me at 147 though I know he will need an official measurement.

In the UK he would be considered to be a show cob. He’s short and stout but not hairy. I am also short and stout so we are a good match sizewise.

He is a good free mover, tracks up nicely, good hock action but not extravagant.

What are the pros and cons of showing him as a pony. Due to my health I will probably have to sell him sooner or later and a show record might help him sell.

I’ll try to post a video but I suck at editing video

[hoopoe]

If you want to promote him as a pony, for the FEI pony tests, you will need to official measure and you will need a child rider 12-16 for those tests.

An open show record is as good as anything else. Pony rider tests are considered 2nd level.

If you were to market him it might be good to have video and show record with a young rider to show suitability.

[exvet]

I agree with hoopoe. I have one currently that could make the measurements and have considered getting him a card. The only reason would be if something happens to me and I can no longer ride. He is schooling third level now and has earned decent scores at second with me riding. To really make him more marketable having a kid ride him and show him would seal the deal so-to-speak. It used to be that I had my kids to do that for me while they were growing up and I was actively breeding/producing Welsh Cobs; but, they’re all grown. I have no intention of selling my gelding which is the only reason why I’m still on the fence regarding spending the money for an official card and finding a junior rider. If the opportunity presents itself, though, it would be enough to tip the scales for me to pursue it in order to increase my guy’s marketability should I no longer be able to ride him. Truth be told, though, I’ve had more than one petite adult rider ask if I would sell him.

[Graymaresrule]

Thanks. I did not know he would have to be ridden by a child.

[soloudinhere]

@Graymaresrule

Thanks. I did not know he would have to be ridden by a child.

You can ride him, just not at a CDI. National level only, but the FEI tests are allowed.

[CobJockey]

Unless you have aims on the highest level of the sport where you need a child rider for him per the rules, I say go for it. I’m a child-sized adult that feels very out of place and ineffective on big horses, and I’ve been showing a 14.1hh Welsh Cob for years now in Dressage. We have a blast together, and I’ve never once regretted not having a full-sized horse. We did National Dressage Pony Cup a few years ago, and it was so fun seeing people of all ages showing ponies.

[joiedevie99]

Go for it! An adult can show a pony at any level at a national show (intro to GP), including at Regionals and Nationals. For 90% of riders, height makes no difference.

Within the FEI sphere, there are special tests for Children, Pony Riders, Juniors, Young Riders, and Under 25 Riders. They all have age limits - so even though one has pony in the title, it’s for riders aged 12-16 working at second level. These are offered at many national shows (in addition to the regular levels), and at CDIs.

Ponies are not eligible to compete in CDI’s with adults (so no ponies at FEI championships - like Pan Am Games or Olympics). They can only compete in CDI’s in age-divisions which don’t have a height restriction (Children’s and Pony).

[rothmpp]

@CobJockey

Unless you have aims on the highest level of the sport where you need a child rider for him per the rules, I say go for it. I’m a child-sized adult that feels very out of place and ineffective on big horses, and I’ve been showing a 14.1hh Welsh Cob for years now in Dressage. We have a blast together, and I’ve never once regretted not having a full-sized horse. We did National Dressage Pony Cup a few years ago, and it was so fun seeing people of all ages showing ponies.

Good for you! I worked with a trainer that was very small - under 5’ tall. She always seemed to end up with the biggest damn horses. On the 17.3h horse she looked like a little kid in a leadline class. She managed to ride effectively, but it still was a odd picture. 10 or so years ago, I tried to get her to look at sport ponies or even honies. She could have gotten a ridiculously talented dressage mount for pennies on the dollar compared to their 16.2h counterpart. With her in the saddle, they’d have looked like a 16.2h horse in the ring with no one else around to compare her to. Now that she’s more receptive to the idea, of course the sport ponies and honies have become more popular and their prices have gone up.

[sing]

I am not sure that I agree that height makes no difference. Especially the older you get, the further away the ground seems to get. A nice roly poly wide backed pony
with legs like a basset hound is just the ticket for the over 50 crowd.

Throw in a show record to demonstrate one could still get out and about with him and have fun and you got a winner there.

[CobJockey]

@rothmpp

With her in the saddle, they’d have looked like a 16.2h horse in the ring with no one else around to compare her to.

Haha, it’s funny you say that, I’ve been at clinics before where I rode into the ring on my guy, and more than once when I got off at the end auditors have said “Oh my gosh, I thought that horse was so much bigger until you got off!” :lol:

Cute pony tax from back when we evented for proof of this optical illusion:

[ATTACH=JSON]{“data-align”:“none”,“data-size”:“full”,“title”:“36692106_10214405689273375_6707221482931486720_o.jpg”,“data-attachmentid”:10732755}[/ATTACH]

[hoopoe]

as an adult, you can ride any horse or pony in any national show test EXCEPT the FEI Pony tests, which are restricted to children.

So you can show training - fourth level and the PSG / I1/2 and GP tests at national ( USEF) shows

You cannot show pony in CDI / FEI events at PSG and up or in the FEI Pony tests

[Graymaresrule]

@CobJockey

Haha, it’s funny you say that, I’ve been at clinics before where I rode into the ring on my guy, and more than once when I got off at the end auditors have said “Oh my gosh, I thought that horse was so much bigger until you got off!” :lol:

Cute pony tax from back when we evented for proof of this optical illusion:

[ATTACH=JSON]{“data-align”:“none”,“data-size”:“full”,“title”:“36692106_10214405689273375_6707221482931486720_o.jpg”,“data-attachmentid”:10732755}[/ATTACH]

Lol, back in the day when we would show up at a horse trial people would say “you’re not going to event that are you?”

Yup and probably leave with a pretty ribbon.

<<<<<<<That’s my old event pony.

[equinelibrium]

@joiedevie99

Ponies are not eligible to compete in CDI’s with adults (so no ponies at FEI championships - like Pan Am Games or Olympics). They can only compete in CDI’s in age-divisions which don’t have a height restriction (Children’s and Pony).

I didn’t know this. Do you know how they specify this in the rulebook and what the reasoning is behind the rule?

[2tempe]

have posted this before but I know several adults who are showing ponies. One had two Welsh ponies showing PSG/I-1 and took them all the way to pony dressage championship or whatever its called. Another right now is bringing a very fancy GRP up the levels. There are more. I cant see any “cons” in the idea. I’m not quite to the pony level yet, but as I’m looking around, nothing over 15.3 hands. It may be a bit tougher to sell the pony but you will have fun in the interim.

[joiedevie99]

@equinelibrium

I didn’t know this. Do you know how they specify this in the rulebook and what the reasoning is behind the rule?

It’s Article 422: “1.4 Horses of any origin may take part in International Dressage Events provided they are a minimum of six (6) years of age. Junior tests: minimum six (6) years; Young Riders/Prix St. Georges/Intermediate I: minimum seven (7) years; tests above Intermediate I: minimum eight (8) years. Horses at all levels must have a height at the withers exceeding one meter and forty eight centimetre (1.48 m) without shoes, with the exception of Children’s events (CDI-Ch) where Ponies are allowed. See also specific Competitions/Events for five (5), six (6) and 7 (seven) year old young Horses.”

https://inside.fei.org/sites/default/files/FEI_Dressage_Rules_2020_Clean_Version.pdf

[Graymaresrule]

IIRC Seldom Seen barely qualified

[hoopoe]

@equinelibrium

I didn’t know this. Do you know how they specify this in the rulebook and what the reasoning is behind the rule?

I am not sure the whys of the FEI about ponies in the FEI / International association classes, including the Olympics. It has been argued to drop the restriction, however it has never passed.

I have heard some very odd opinions from old guard FEI judges about what horses do or do not belong in the dressage ring. Perhaps some of these opinions will leave, over time and a new voice will be heard in the future.

[angelssix]

I rode a well trained quarter pony at my trainer’s barn and now I am ruined, LOL! Ponies are definitely a different ride, but for me, I love the size. I am more effective with my legs for sure and I find I don’t feel like I am sliding off to one side as I have with some other horses. I do have better balance on a pony for some reason.

[poltroon]

@carolprudm

IIRC Seldom Seen barely qualified

If you need the pony to measure overheight, use all the tricks they use to make them measure shorter, but backwards…

I enjoy showing a dressage pony very much. She does have a card and sometimes there are special awards for high score pony that we’ve won.

[eightpondfarm]

I have a ponymule and a 4 pony horses. I’m 5’0 and i look fine on a 13 - 14h equine. I think i’m happiest right at 14.2, but i did just pick up a fancy little black mustang two days ago that is right around 14.0. He’s going to be a fun one. Personally i think it’s more aesthetically pleasing to watch riders that look size-compatible with their mount. All these little women riding giants looks odd to my eye. And i actually feel kinda sorry for the horse when i think of them in the average size stall in the average board and train barn…(hopefully they all get good daily turnouts)