Need help from you children's pony hunter folks please

Can anyone under 18 ride in the children’s hunter pony division, and do all shows that offer this require pony measurement cards? I appreciate your feedback!

Use words like “anyone” and “all” limit the value of the answers to your questions. The answer to your first question as written is “No.” The answer to your second question as written is also “No.”

There are age limitations of the rider in the childrens division based on the size of the pony. There are cross-entry limitations for the rider based on other divisions in which the rider is showing. In my experience, there are different practices regarding measurement cards depending on whether you show rated vs. unrated and in some cases the venue.

What zone are you in? In Zone II, you did have to have a pony measurement card.

Actually, unless I’m remembering wrong, there are no age restrictions in the children’s ponies. Yes there are in the regulars, but I thought that any aged junior can ride any sized pony in the children’s division.

Also, as the children’s ponies are a zone division, not a national division, specs may vary by zone. I just checked, and zone 3 appears to have no age specification on children’s ponies.

Zone 1 has quite different cross entry restrictions than does zone 3, but still no age restriction.

At least in zone 4 there are no age restrictions beyond being under 18, and there are some cross entering rules.

[QUOTE=AmmyByNature;8533382]
Also, as the children’s ponies are a zone division, not a national division, specs may vary by zone. I just checked, and zone 3 appears to have no age specification on children’s ponies.[/QUOTE]

I stand corrected - that’ll teach me to respond off the top of my head.

ETA: And the following will teach me to look it up myself:

For Zone 3:
CHILDREN’S HUNTER PONY – SMALL & MEDIUM - NOT TO EXCEED 13.2 HANDS Eligibility: To be ridden by exhibitors who have not reached their 15th birthday by December 1 of the current competition year.

                                            [B]CHILDREN'S HUNTER PONY – LARGE – OVER 13.2 HANDS, NOT TO EXCEED 14.2 HANDS[/B]  Eligibility: To be ridden by exhibitors who have not reached their 18th birthday by December 1 of the current competition year. 

https://www.ushja.org/zones/documents/specs/specs_2015_hunter_Z3.pdf

[QUOTE=Bent Hickory;8533659]
I stand corrected - that’ll teach me to respond off the top of my head.

ETA: And the following will teach me to look it up myself:

For Zone 3:
CHILDREN’S HUNTER PONY – SMALL & MEDIUM - NOT TO EXCEED 13.2 HANDS Eligibility: To be ridden by exhibitors who have not reached their 15th birthday by December 1 of the current competition year.

                                            [B]CHILDREN'S HUNTER PONY – LARGE – OVER 13.2 HANDS, NOT TO EXCEED 14.2 HANDS[/B]  Eligibility: To be ridden by exhibitors who have not reached their 18th birthday by December 1 of the current competition year. 

https://www.ushja.org/zones/documents/specs/specs_2015_hunter_Z3.pdf[/QUOTE]

Those appear to be the 2015 specs. The 2016 specs were what I looked at. Zone 3:

http://ushja.org/zones/documents/specs/2016/2016%20Zone%203%20Specs.pdf

CHILDREN’S HUNTER PONY
Sections offered and requirements:
• Small/Medium Children’s Pony
• Large Children’s Pony
Cross Entry:
Rider:
Open to ponies not showing in a rated division, ridden by a rider not showing over fences exceeding
3’0" at that show.
Horse/Pony
Pony
Horse and Rider Combination
n/a
Fence Height:
• Small/Medium Ponies: 2’0" with spreads not to exceed height of fence.
• Large Ponies 2’6" with spreads not to exceed height of fence.
• Combinations will not be permitted
Combining/Dividing Sections:
The Children’s Hunter Pony sections may be combined if there are fewer than four (4) in either height
section. .
Awards:
Zone Horse of the Year Awards will be presented annually to the following sections:
• Children’s Hunter Pony-Small/Medium
• Children’s Hunter Pony-Large

Seems like they changed it recently?

That’s interesting as I know of at least one rider who has shown this winter in Zone 3 shows in the small/medium children’s ponies as well as the junior hunters. Why aren’t these rules enforced? Especially at small, single ring shows, it’s not hard to see what’s going on.

agreed, interesting that they do not mention the age limitations in the 2016 which i believe was just put into place in 2014 or so. wonder why they changed that?

Thanks guys. Always appreciate Cother help. It’s the best!