Debate over pony strides comes into the spotlight

Parents and a course-designer have expressed concerns over ponies' being asked to jump horse-distance doubles

- BECKY MURRAY

THERE are calls to alter distances in combination fences in pony jumping classes, based on pony heights.

Questions have been raised about whether small ponies should be asked to jump doubles on distances set for bigger ponies and horses.

In Pony Club, where horses and ponies compete together, courses are built on horse distances, and in British Showjumping (BS), pony open classes are set on 148cm distances – although there are also height-specific classes, with set distances.

SAFETY CONCERNS

LAURA LANE told H&H that when her daughter Lexi competed in Pony Club on 138cms, Laura noticed striding was an “issue” .

“You’d see 138s doing doubles on two and a half strides. Sooner or later ponies will say no and that doesn’t do anyone any favours,” she said.