I had realized I have never really seen a pony compete in a grand prix, and got curious. Can a pony compete in a grand prix? And are there any limitations to what a pony can compete in?
Probably because ponies were meant to stay closer to hell.
30 Likes
:lol:
Regardless of how you define “Grand Prix”, yes a pony can compete. I can’t think of any off the top of my head. But if you’re not familiar with the eventer Teddy O’Connor I suggest you look him up; he was under 14.2 hands, Arab/thoroughbred/shetland pony (!) cross that won individual and team gold at the Pan American games, and finished third at Rolex.
3 Likes
In Europe, pony jumpers are super popular. There are entire breeding programs dedicated to producing fancy ponys of sport horse type. Anybody know what height they are jumping?
The only limit a pony has is their athleticism, scope, brains, and talent. I wish that pony jumpers were more popular out here. I’m too big to ride the pony jumpers, but man do I love watching them!
Not sure on that exact video, but some heights from championships:
New Zealand HOTY Pony max height is 1.2m (http://hoy.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2…-amended-2.pdf)
FEI European Pony Championships is Obstacles height: max 1.30 m Obstacles spread: max. 1.40 m Triple Bar spread: max. 1.60 m Water jump: max. 3.30 m (http://www.kaposvarpony2017.hu/kepek…umping0712.pdf)
I can’t name any recent show jumping ponies that jump huge jumps… but I also have an eventer to throw in the mix for you - has done CCI**, new rider but still doing CIC*. Forrest Nymph (Farrah), a 14.2hh New Forest Pony, is one that I love to follow.
I was going to suggest Stroller too.
The 148 cm ponies in Ireland jump 1.20/1.30m. There’s also Connemara Puissance classes over there - if you search it on Youtube there’s ponies clearing 1.55m.
I’m sure there are ponies in the US that could jump around a regional standard Grand Prix. But most folks here move up to horses long before they are jumping anything close to that height, and at the end of the day a pony wouldn’t really be competitive against bigger-strided horses.
A true grand prix here is going to be from 1.40m - 1.60m (4’6" - 5’3") so if you have a pony with the scope and talent to get around a course - the strides, the combinations, then great. It takes a special horse to be competitive at the grand prix level that’s not to say there are not plenty of talented horses to carry many Jr. and Amateurs around Child/Adult courses and Jr/Am jumper courses, and able to do mini or lower level GP
Does anyone know what stride they set the 1.3m pony jumpers on in Europe? I’d imagine that most ponies would struggle to make the distances in the combinations on real open GP courses.
1 Like
It’s the technical questions about lengthening and shortening strides within combinations, tight corners, track and time allowed that make the today’s true 1.4-1.6 GP levels just about impossible for smaller horses. Teddy was an Eventer, apples and oranges comparing his SJ to GP/International SJ.
The International level courses Stroller jumped 60 years ago aren’t the courses they jump today, certainly not the courses of 80 years ago. Even 25-30 years ago courses were more open and gallopy, fences were huge but the time allowed more generous and combinations and track not as technical. Some of those iconic riders have said their superstars of 30 years ago woukd not have excelled over today’s courses.
Its just a different ball game if you are talking elite level GPs…
2 Likes
Yes., not to take any talent away from Teddy, it was eventing where the SJ fences are closer to 4’1" without the many twists/turns as a GP course - and no Jump Off. Though the xcountry obstacles can be quite wide at the advanced level, but as Findeight said, it’s the striding, combinations - technicality for some of the smaller horses to get around and be competitive. Sure there are a few but they’re far and few between. I seem to recall Beezy Madden saying that GP horses are a “freak of nature” which is why we remember horses like Boomerang, Milton, Gem Twist, Big Ben, Hickstead, Sapphire to name a few.
I’m speaking to the upper - international type GP horse… there could be some smaller horses/large pony who could get around a lower level GP but could they be competitive consistently? All depends on the horse, the rider and their partnership.
:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:
mic drop…
1 Like
