height of show cobs.

[Janette]

silly question here folks.
If the max height for a show cob is 15.1hh, (I think), then why (and how?) do people present horses for judging which are obviously taller?
I am fairly new to the cob world, having previously been involved with my daughter's veteran show pony.
Will we be marked down this year for 'only' being 15.1hh?

[Cochise]

It probably doesnt help you much in the UK, but in New Zealand cobs have to be under 156cm. Not too sure about converting that to hands high though lol. Its been so long since we used hands high in the show ring here!! And cobs are so rare here!!

[Mehitabel]

sadly, people cheat. there are ways and means of making a horse 'shrink' for its official measuring, and some of these ways are less pleasant than others.
commonly used techniques are dehydrating the horse by witholding water for 24 hours beforehand, doping it (both of these methods make the horse slouch and not stand up as tall) and i have heard of people putting caustic things on the withers to make the horse flinch down away from the measuring stick, or practicing at home with drawing pins on the measuring stick - again, to condition the horse to flinch away and come in shorter.

you shouldn't be marked down for it - this year the showing world is coming down harder on overheight animals, as it has gotten quite ridiculous. more horses are being measured on the showgrounds at big shows and all qualifiers for hoys are being re-measured on the day.

[Tiggerrrr]

I have a show cob that is half a cm within the 155cm hieght restriction....however we can enter the ring and be one of the smallest cobs. I personally haven't found it to go against us on the height issue....mainly the weight issue....I will NOT fatten my cob for the ring, I will only turn him out fit and muscular.:)

[Black Velvet]

Your Cob should no way be put down!! Show Cobs should be between 14.2hh-15.1hh no bigger!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My show Cob is 14.3hh and I've never found she's been put down for her height. I've won classes on my old pony and he was only 14.2hh:D All show horses are getting far too big it's ridiculous!!!!!

[ros]

It's the same in dog showing - for "show condition" read "grossly overweight" :(

[Gemma16]

Hi Jannette, I've been involved with producing show cobs and yes lots of people take obviously over sized horses into the class! They get away with this because they measure their horses when they are in poor condition and with very short feet, and any other methods of making there horses smaller. Then they get life height certificates, so nobody can tell them they are over the limit! Unfair Yes, but some people will do anything to win!

[Appaloosa]

I have a cracker of a cob myself but, as with everyone else I this forum I franklly refuse to fatten him or dehydrate him or prick him with pins of saw down his feet inorder to win a ****ant red ribbon.
It pathetic really - I mean how would you like that sort of thing happening to you. There is nothing bad about condition but thier is ample wrong with obesity. I say stick by your gut instincts, produced well schooled, well mannered, well conditioned animals and you can't go far wrong even if the horse ahead in the line up is towering 16.2 and has wobbling bum+tum you'll know you are with the rules and regs and your horse is fit and healthy.

Humph. Why is the people who truely maintain their horses to a proper standard get marked down in the show ring.

X - A - X

[Tiggerrrr]

Totally agree! I would rather have a fit, muscular show cob that is never placed and enjoy showing for 5-10yrs, compared to a fat overweight cob that will do well for a couple of years and then come out with a heart condition! No Thank you! I will ALWAYS look for Fit and Muscular!