>>>> The association that my kids have competed in for years had the rule that anything under 14 hands couldn't be used by an adult. I put in for a change in rules and they refused saying that they couldn't imagine some of the oversized adults sitting on these little ponies and hurting them, not in reference to mine, but to all the other little boned things that others would try to compete on. ... .
That's unfortunate, but at least they are looking out for the best interest of the smaller-boned ponies. I was trying to think of another angle to approach a rule change, but I'm not thinking of one. I think it's fairly common for local shows to try to work within the breed conventions for the less-common breeds. Unfortunately, I'm not sure bringing up that Icelandic's are typically shown by adults, even by men, isn't necessarily going to help your cause. I'd sure hate for the jury considering an exception to stumble across the pictures of the World Championship pictures. That certainly wouldn't change many minds, would it? >>>> I was really looking forward to competitive trail courses at the show and maybe a little western pleasure competition so I would have to work on gait maintainance in competition. How about approaching the judge/rule makers to let you enter a couple of classes for experience only, telling them not to include you and your horse when handing out ribbons...? That way, you could still "compete" for a personal-best type acknowledgement, but you wouldn't be unfairly competing against the smallest kids? Maybe you could even suggest that you do that for a year or two, no awards expected, to see if anyone abuses the "adults on small ponies" idea, and if it's a non-issue (no huge adults on tiny ponies) maybe then, and only then, they'd agree to lift the ban. It's worth a shot. Karen Thomas, NC No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.19.11/1244 - Release Date: 1/25/2008 7:44 PM
