Adults on ponies, doing dressage!

[Janette]

I heard...................

That the Riding for the Disabled people, along with British Dressage, are bringing out a new rule. People who are considered too tall for a pony will be disqualified from dressage competitions. This rule is not applied to those people who may be too short for the horse they are riding.

Anybody heard anything??????

[Lgd]

News to me but I will check it out with my mole on the rules & regs committee

[Janette]

thanks :)

[alwaysfallingof]

:eek: That's terrrible!
And how on earth are they going to judge 'too tall'? By where your feet dangle? That's ridiculous :mad: We have enough problems with 'adults riding ponies' prejudice without BD joining in as well.

And I've just thought, I have a friend who is 6'7" and competes Grand Prix. He has a 17.2 warmblood, but still looks as big on him as I do on my 13.2! What are they gonna do about him?

[kyanya]

This does sound awful, but it depends how BD are going to be judging 'too tall'.

If they take rider's weight and horse's breed/type into it, then it might actually be a good thing. If they get it right, it might work. But if they get it wrong, they're going to get it very, very wrong.

I hope that BD does get it right. For everyone's sake.

[Phoenix]

I cant belive that to be true
Unless they literally mean a six foot man on a shetland pony? Esp with riding for the disabled i would be amazed if they of all people discriminated!!!!!

[horseyrose]

That sounds really odd, how will they determine what is too tall? :confused:
Would be good to hear more about this if anyone hears anything.

[Janette]

Well apparently, its a 'welfare' issue, but I think it could really backfire on them....................... What about all those skinny 14 yearolds with legs 10 yards long, on 14.2 dressage ponies?

And then there's me, built more for comfort than speed on a 14.3 and bit coloured.........

I'm doing a test at an RDA centre on Sunday - we'll see if anybody says anything.

[shirley]

What seems absurd is that actually ponies can carry almost the same weight if not more than some finer horses!!!! Surely it is not the height of the rider that is so importent as the weight. I am 5' 1" tall, would be an ideal weight for our little show pony who is is 14.1, but unfortunately I am also 12 stone, so to much weight for her frame to carry. So if I entered a dressage class on her would I be disqualified for height or weight!!!!?????
(P.S. No I do not ride her or ever would consider it at my exsisting weight!!)

[Mossy]

There are very few adults who cannot be carried in comfort by an up to height fit Highland, Fell or Dales. There are also few under 15s who could cope with Moss in a paddy!!

[shandy84]

UGHHH!!!!

I actually stable next door to a BD judge and believe it or not, Bramble will die if I continue to ride her, me all of 8 stone 11 and skinny as anything and only 5"5 on my 13 and a bit New Forest

Drives me POTTY!

Especially as she holds herself naturally nicer than the BD judges 16.2 Hanovarian youngster very well bred for dressage apprently yet it has tp be strapped down to be kept under control!

[notpoodle]

eeek! im actually far too rubbish to enter any kind of competition but STILL!! that is outrageous!! and how will the know whats 'too tall'?! if its dangling legs ... well, some ponies have shorter legs and deeper girths than others!

and what about very large teenagers?! what about 12 year old with extremelty long legs??

and nevermind all those overhorsed people ie smaller people riding huge horses where their legs barely reach over the saddle?!

will this only apply to ponies or are they going to discriminate very tall people (who, god forbid, might still look tall on a bigger horse) as well?!

julia
x

[Janette]

OK - Found it.

Its Rule 50, in the BD handbook, and is based on the RDA weights rulling.

But the thing is, many disabled riders ride 'heavy', due to balance issues, muscle control etc.

Which official is going to be brave enough to 'test' this rule?

[shandy84]

I never knew but you can't as an adult affiliate a pony, how off is that!!!

My pony is not a child's ride yet goes nicely for an adult yet I can't ride her because she's not tall enough :mad: maybe if she gets to 14.2 I'll make sure she's d for shoeing when doing a comp then she'll measure just over height!! :mad:

[DavidH]

I never knew but you can't as an adult affiliate a pony, how off is that!!!


That rule only applies to BSJA (i think) and BE (certain) although you can still compete on a day ticket at intro and pre-novice. No problem affiliating a pony under BD otherwise my OH would have a major prob with her welshie.

[RachelEvent]

In BSJA a pony can compete with an adult rider, but only in normal adult classes. ie. the pony can't compete in junior classes with an adult rider. Stroller was 14.2hh and got right to the top, and I don't think the rules have changed too much ;)

BD I have seen adults competing 13.2hh native type stallions, and win, at national level.

British Eventing on the other hand, have to restrict the heights of pony/horse that take part, due to the risks in striding between jumps cross country. 14hh to 14.3hh can take part at intro and pre-novice, and also with a junior rider at pont-trials which are novice level.

Anyway, back to the topic, I can't see that this rule will make huge effects - I have never seen anyone compete at an affiliated event on a pony which is far too small for them. If the pony was finding it difficult to carry the rider, this would reflect in performance anyway.

[shandy84]

But a BD judge just told me I couldn't ever affiliate her, god if they don't know the rules how are we meant to know it!

[notpoodle]

but where do they draw the line? what would be 'too small'. my pony is only 12.3 and i'd be more than happy to go even smaller than that!

julia
x

[jinglejoys]

Somebodys been listening to the Donkey Sanctuary! (Noone over 8st,I think, allowed on a donkey)
At first read of your thread I thought I better check it wasn't April 1st :)

[Bay Mare]

The ruling says:

Rider weight should be appropriate for the horse's carrying capacity (which is determined by conformation, fitness, condition and age of the individual horse or pony). If a judge or steward feels that the carrying capacity is exceeded they may request that the combination withdraw. For details regarding rider weight please consult the RDA Horse and Pony weight chart, which is available from the BD office on request.

It doesn't mention height that I can see. I think that it's a perfectly acceptable and doubt that it will affect very many people anyway.

The rules on ponies come under the FEI rules for international competitions and are respect to Young Riders and Juniors. I can't see anything else in the rules about adults not being able to ride ponies.

[alwaysfallingof]

Ok, that sounds perfectly reasonable, and as though they're not going to discriminate due to height. Phew! :)