| Author | Message | ||
     Lesley Wilkinson Username: Lesleyw Registered: 04-2007 |
i know i am new here and i hope i haven't over stepped the mark i have two 8.2hh shetties and want to help ask for this class also because i think it is a really good idea to.as there is thousands of us out there who really would love to compete against other small ponies and not the big boys and girls (lol)and i think it puts a lot of peeps off the though of been up against the big ones thank you | ||
| IHDTC Office Username: Ihdtcoffice Registered: 01-2003 |
Just a thought on small ponies. Karen Swanson - Gareth Roberts - Barry Marshall - All past National Champions in the Pair class with VERY small ponies, so perhaps 2 x SP's would be more competitive. In the SouthEast we have yet another 'new' small pony pair that will need some beating if they come to the Finals. Just food for thought!! | ||
| Sue Starnes Username: Suestarnes Registered: 10-2006 |
I would like to add my support for a small pony class if there were enough littlies to warrant it. It's great to see these small ponies having the time of their lives indoors, but certainly by the second round of obstacles the surface can be very cut up and deep, and those with shorter legs can struggle. It's a shame when they then miss out. Let's hope that more drivers of small ponies can be encouraged forward. | ||
| Fiona Powell Username: Fionap Registered: 12-2003 |
An organiser's musings... If you want a small pony class, you need lots of small ponies to support it, just as, if you wanted a heavy horse class, you'd need enough to make a competition. (I didn't have any luck having a "coloureds" class when I drove my skewbald, Sonic - just me and Sue Starnes!) So I suggest you gear up your "pocket rocket" driving friends and get them to compete - and do well - at more events. Then sheer weight of numbers would quite possibly give you your own class at the Finals. It doesn't happen overnight, however. Best of luck! | ||
| Janet Sycamore Username: Janets Registered: 10-2006 |
Hi Alan I am one who will support you on this debate as I drive a 9.3 single and a pair of 8.2 shetlands although we have great fun at our events and know our limitations but I do worry that I am going to push them too hard in the every increasing standard of competition. If we can,t have a small class at indivdual events (not enough time to fit it all in with the size of entries nowdays or enough entries to make it competive enough) what about an open small pony class at the championships Just an idea may be we could have a points league for ponies 10.2.and under(combined novice open and multiplies ) the top one over all from each area to go through to the finals ?? IHDT seem to do plenty to encourage the junior drivers why not do some thing for us others who support the club but know that only the lucky few ( and I am grateful to be one !!) will ever get a chance to compete at the finals which is an amazing event to compete at I have every respect for the hard working IHDT team both at mission control and in my local areas and don,t wish to be critical of how things are run but am backing you on this one | ||
| Alan Hodges Username: Alan Registered: 10-2006 |
At the 2005/6 finals there was serious talk about a small pony class for the 2006/7 season, sadly it did not appear. I would like to put in a request for such a class to be put in place for 2007/8 with a height limit 10.2 or 11.0 hands. This would make the drivers of small ponies, and there are lots of us, much happier as we will not have to ask our ponies to perform to the very limits of their capabilities in order to be competitive especially as the indoor competition seems to be heading in a direction which delivers less recuperation time between the various elements in the events. What about it IHDTUK ? If you are a small pony or donkey driver please support this request and join the debate. |