Pony Dressage Question

[ozjb]

I am an American living in Australia and was pencilling at a dressage competition today. My judge asked me if adults were allowed to ride ponies in competition in the US. I had no idea!! Here it’s ok and a lot of adults do ride ponies.

The judge said she didn’t think they could in NZ or Europe. Maybe that is FEI levels? Can regular adults ride ponies in competition in the States?

There has been some talk of bringing in a weight rule here, but so far nothing has been decided about that.

I personally think it’s ok. A small adult might be a lot happier and better suited to a pony that a 17 hand warmblood! But, I have seen a number of pony/rider combination where the weight wouldn’t be an issue, rather the height and length of leg of the rider sort of envelop the pony. All you see is the rider! (I would be a terrible judge.) I saw one rider on a super-duper pony today who had her stirrups up at a more of a jumping length.

Anyway, just curious what the rules are elsewhere . . .

Thanks so much.

[Willesdon]

Don’t know what the FEI rules are for ponies but British Dressage (BD) runs specific competitions for our native ponies and traditional (gypsy) cobs in which are open to adults. There is a massive growth in dressage with our splendid, versatile ponies.

[BWP]

@Willesdon

Don’t know what the FEI rules are for ponies but British Dressage (BD) runs specific competitions for our native ponies and traditional (gypsy) cobs in which are open to adults. There is a massive growth in dressage with our splendid, versatile ponies.

In BD adults can ride ponies in any class at any level except young horse classes (have to be 149cm or over)

[soloudinhere]

The FEI tests for ponies are specifically for children. However there is no rule preventing adults from riding ponies in the regular national level classes all the way to GP. Ponies can’t be ridden by adults at CDIs but they can be ridden at FEI levels at National shows.

[2tempe]

I have an adult friend and know of several others who regularly compete ponies here in US. Said friend was scoring lower-mid 60’s w/ her pony at Prix St Georges. As noted above, they can do basically anything at the National shows. In fact there is a big national dressage championship for ponies. http://www.dressageponycup.com/annual-show.html
I read somewhere that this year has been cancelled but next year to be bigger and better…

[MysticOakRanch]

I ride a pony in dressage! As others have already said, yes, perfectly legal until you get to the shows that are governed by the FEI (aka CDI shows).

[CobJockey]

@2tempe

http://www.dressageponycup.com/annual-show.html
I read somewhere that this year has been cancelled but next year to be bigger and better…

It was canceled briefly but it’s back on, this time at Lamplight: http://www.dressageponycup.com/annual-show.html

I’m one of those small adults riding a pony in Dressage, so it’s great to get to participate in things like Pony Cup. I also feel like it’s not all that unusual anymore to see adults on ponies in Dressage. I don’t think I could go back to riding full-sized horses at this point!

[LetItBe]

Definitely not unusual, there were 4 of us this weekend showing ponies and at Pony Cup last year I think there were 24 in the Training Level AA Division, not sure about the Open division but I suspect only slightly lower numbers.

LetItBe

[exvet]

I have been riding ponies, Welsh Cobs section Cs and Ds, in dressage for well over 25 years including FEI levels…I’m 54.

[ozjb]

Thanks, everyone! I think I have it . . . national classes everywhere adults and ponies are great. FEI classes seem to be OK for the US, but not in Europe or NZ. I will have to to find the specific rule for here, but I think FEI classes are ok for ponies.

Oh, one more question. Do the ponies compete against the horses or just against other ponies? What if there aren’t enough ponies for a seperate class?

[DressageChic2]

in the UK we have specific young pony classes for 4/5/6yo

then you compete against horses at all your standard levels, 1st-4th and national PSG to GP

pony FEI classes are under 16’s and ponies only

we cannot do CDIs as adults on ponies in the normal small/big tour classes

[MysticOakRanch]

@ozjb

Thanks, everyone! I think I have it . . . national classes everywhere adults and ponies are great. FEI classes seem to be OK for the US, but not in Europe or NZ. I will have to to find the specific rule for here, but I think FEI classes are ok for ponies.

Oh, one more question. Do the ponies compete against the horses or just against other ponies? What if there aren’t enough ponies for a seperate class?

FEI classes are OK in the US as long as they are not FEI recognized (aka CDI) shows. A rider can show a pony in a USDF recognized FEI test, but not an FEI recognized FEI test.

Most of our competitions are against all equines (we sometimes even get a mule in the class), although a few shows offer pony classes, and there is some kind of Pony/Small Horse “National” competition that is only for Ponies and Small horses. It isn’t a true “national” competition as it is privately run, not run by one of our member organizations (which are USEF and USDF).

[MsM]

I wonder if the FEI will ever eliminate the no pony rule. Seems odd. While there is some advantage in a smaller equine in some movements like small circles, it seems more than counterbalanced by the big horses’ bigger, more ground-covering strides and presence. So why not let them in? Though I dont think there are hordes of ponies being denied their big chance! :winkgrin:

[MysticOakRanch]

@MsM

I wonder if the FEI will ever eliminate the no pony rule. Seems odd. While there is some advantage in a smaller equine in some movements like small circles, it seems more than counterbalanced by the big horses’ bigger, more ground-covering strides and presence. So why not let them in? Though I dont think there are hordes of ponies being denied their big chance! :winkgrin:

I suspect it is one of those “animal welfare” things - the assumption that all adults are big, all ponies are small? Probably been a rule forever and ever…

Overall, I think ponies end up at the disadvantage - they have to maintain the big movements for so many more steps (extended work and passage) to cover the same amount of ground. So while they might have an advantage in the voltes, and maybe in the zig zags (where they have more room to get the job done).

There was a time when dressage rules only allowed horses - I can remember a few decades ago when USEF rules finally allowed mules in:lol: We had a mule competitor in our area that was really angry about not being able to show her mule at anything except schooling shows… They still aren’t allowed at the FEI shows either.