Umm....help?!

[shandy84]

Hi a few questions:

1) What is over girthing a horse?
2) What is height grading for NF ponies?
3) When do you get height grading done and why?
4) What age would be best for height grading as she is 1 1/2 at the mo?

Thankyou just some stuff I've stumbled on and have no idea about :)

[Mehitabel]

1 - never heard of it! what context did you find it in?
2 & 3 - not something that is done on a regular basis. for some competitions you need a height certificate, which can be done annually from 5 and then you can get a life height cert when they are 7. useful if you have a pony who is borderline over height, and you don't want to bother with people complaining at shows. one of our stallions has an LHC, as he is up to height and carries himself upright, so in exciting situations when he is on his toes, he can look too big.

4 - not before 5 years old.

it's also not normally called height grading, and it isn't specific to foresters - you can get foresters graded to see if they're suitable breeding stock, and info on that is on www.newforestpony.com .

if you can show me the context you found all this in, i can probably be more helpful.

[shandy84]

Hiya,

the last three questions are based on bits I read in Bramble's New Forest passport that has just come through from the breed society so I just wanted to make sure that I wasn't meant to get her graded etc.

The overgirthing was based on a NR post I didn't have a clue hence the question wasn't sure if someone meant overfacing - I know what tha one means. Cheers for your help.

So if she makes 14.2hh and looks fairly big it may be worth getting it done, if not it's not really ness unless we do a specific competition requesting it?

Cheers for your help passports just confuse me a bit

[galadriel]

I think I saw the post with "overgirthing" in it. FRom context, I'd say they were talking about tightening a girth so much that the horse was uncomfortable or even in pain.

[Mehitabel]

hm - i will have a nose at petal's next time i am at the yard then.
they do have to have an approximate adult height on the passport. yup, the LHC isn't normally needed unless you do pretty big-gusset competing and your pony is likely to be challenged on height. when toby stands up tall he can look about 15hh, so we got it done. and when petal qualified for olympia she had to have one done.

i'd guess that overgirthing means tightening to the girth too much?

[shandy84]

Oh right dohh!! How stupid am I?!

That's good then I wont have to worry about it being done for some time if at all :-)

Thanks for your help

[Bertie]

On the over girthing question - just to check I'm up to scratch with knowledge you should be able to comfortably be able to slip your fingers between the girth and horses side. If it's a bit of push it's too tight isn't it??

[shaka]

1) What is over girthing a horse?
I think you mean to put a surcingle type strap over a horse saddle, usually when going XC, so that if the girth breaks you have the spare. Also stops your saddle flaps from rising.

2) What is height grading for NF ponies?
You mean max height? I think 14.2hh but will check for you.

3) When do you get height grading done and why?
I personally have mine done at age 7 when they are at a mature height, and for showjumping.

4) What age would be best for height grading as she is 1 1/2 at the mo?
7, as then they are at their mature height.

[shakari]

agree with shaka on the over girth-tis an extra girth that goes round the saddle for use on cross country-is it not obligatory for affiliated eventing? or is that just what my trainer used to say to get me to have one on......:D