>>> i think it's changed. last summer (age 37-38) i showed and pinned on a 12.3 paint pony at a variety of area shows. maybe some organizations in particular care, but there are plenty of shows that don't.
I don't think you read what I said. I said that (to the best of my knowledge) adults may be allowed to ride ponies in "local" shows in hunter classes. But, those classes aren't usually very demanding, and usually the jumps are low - low enough that many/most sound horses of any breed should be able to do them. Some of our local open shows here even have "cross rails" classes, where the jumps are about 12-18". You'll even see 16+H TB-types in those classes sometimes. I'm sure I could enter my Icelandics in those classes without anyone saying anything, since they are mostly just for fun anyway. But, I don't have time (or interest) to go look up the current US national show rules, but in my old AHSA rulebook (vintage 1992, granted) the first line under "pony hunters" says: "Riders must not have reached their 18th birthday. No rider over 14 shall ride in an "A" show Small Pony hunter section. No rider over 16 shall ride in an "A" rated Regular Medium Pony section." Most Icelandics are "Medium Ponies", and despite what the Dream Horse ads say, a hunter pony would have to be measured for his division. Emily never showed in "A" shows, but stopped at the division just below, but her division also used what was then called the American Horse Show Association rules. BTW, maximum heights for Pony Hunter divisions were 2'3" for Small Ponies, 2'6" for Medium Ponies, and 3' for Large Ponies. Those are maximums, and some classes have lower jumps. I say all this because when people start talking about Icelandic's and jumping, they invariably start talking about jumping 4-feet and higher. That's just not the reality for most ponies that jump. Then again, 25-40 mph speeds aren't the reality for most people outside of Churchill Downs either. I've never, ever seen an Icelandic larger than a Large Pony, despite claims. (If you think you have one, you're welcome to stand him/her next to 14.2 1/2 H Thunder, and 14.1H Holly and Gracie. Thunder was "officially" measured at one point.) So, even in the most competitive national shows, the highest most Icelandics would be expected to jump would be 2'6" - hardly a strain for many healthy, conditioned and sound Icelandics. Again, I haven't kept up with hunter rules since the mid-1990's, but that is a very conservative world, where things change slowly. (And as I said before, I don't really expect many Icelandics to make it to the "A" shows, just saying that the jumping height requirements for pony hunters aren't so terribly demanding.) Jumpers are another division altogether. Karen Thomas, NC -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.16.7/619 - Release Date: 1/7/2007 6:29 PM "The greatest enemy of the truth very often is not the lie- deliberate, contrived and dishonest -- but the myth -- persistent, persuasive and unrealistic." "All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident." ~ Arthur Schopenhauer [] The video every Icelandic Horse owner should have: http://IceHorses.net/video.html [] Lee Ziegler http://leeziegler.com [] Liz Graves http://lizgraves.com [] Lee's Book Easy Gaited Horses http://tinyurl.com/7vyjo [] IceHorses Map http://www.frappr.com/IceHorses [] IceHorses ToolBar http://iceryder.ourtoolbar.com/ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IceHorses/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IceHorses/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
