I have observed this discussion and taken part in it on the FB page devoted to this issue.
A huge problem is the premise that no one should have to be inconvenienced or disappointed, let along be written up as a violator or possibly lose a client as a result of any housecleaning that would result from any rule changes. As long as this is the starting point, it’s hard to see how any system will be kept honest. We need to work on this. There are too many who simply won’t contemplate owning up to having made “mistakes,” or worse, just violating the rules with impunity. But that discussion is off the table, because we “have” to find a solution that won’t upset any apple carts.
Will the convoluted proposal that has been made work? Sure, and it will change the parameters of the pony division. Some changes will be planned, but others would be unintended. It might be worthwhile to experiment with it for a week or two at major shows to see how it works in practice–just pick any two weeks during the year, have the all ponies show that way so that points will be affected in the same way for all during that period of time. Seeing how it works in practice would be a good idea.
My own suggestion is more conventional: basically, apply the existing rules on a more regular basis, but allow for frequent remeasures of ponies that don’t make the height. I have sent it to Mary Babick and posted it on the FB thread:
[I] All ponies should be subject to periodic measurement. All measurements should become part of the each pony’s records and available to anyone (i.e. displayed along with it’s recording information).
Every pony should need to measure into the section they are showing in on the first day of that division. Ponies that are comfortably within the range can show their cards, the ones within that 1/2" (if that’s the magic range of dispute) will have to be measured each show (it’s not that many ponies at most shows, and at other shows there are enough stewards to cope). If they measure out, they aren’t thrown out forever, they just don’t show in THAT section at THAT show; instead, they must show in the section they measure into. As soon as they measure back in, they can show in that section at another show.
Owners should be able to REQUEST a measurement at any point in time, from any steward, at any show, on any day (a prudent consumer protection mechanism from the sound of things).
Documentation of these measurements will eventually reflect a trend toward one division or another for ponies that are measured repeatedly by different stewards in different settings. Stewards should be prepared to perform measures on ponies that are “close” (i.e. within that 1/2" range) many times during the show year (again, it’s not that many ponies–as the others won’t have to be done frequently if at all).
So bottom line is that EVERY pony should be expected to measure into whatever division it competes in on the first day of the division at every show. Points will count ONLY in the section they are earned in, which will keep the oversized ponies from regularly cleaning up in divisions they don’t ALWAYS measure into (though they may do it occasionally).
At Pony Finals, or any show with a division that requires a minimum number of qualifying points, part of check-in should be measuring all the ponies that have shown in more than one height section during the qualifying period and ensuring that on the first day, they are measuring as they should for the division they are showing in.
For the over 14.2 ponies that repeatedly turn out to be cobs, at long last can we PLEASE have a division for the ONLY sized equine that at the moment has no height section offered for it.[/I]
