Max jumping height for pony/horse size

trieste

trieste

Active Member
Mar 5, 2004
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Norfolk/Suffolk border on the coast
Now I realise that there are talented ponies out there that can jump crazy heights. What height could an average 13.3 pony be expected to jump carrying a 10 stone, not particularly brave adult. :o
Panda and I did 2ft and 2ft 3 at Jump X last year, was planning on going up to 2ft3 and 2ft6 this year, the thing is it appears most clubs expect adults to be jumping at least 2ft6 & more like 2ft9 - 3ft :eek:

this got me thinking, so what can Panda realistically be expected to jump - I'm thinking it's more the spread than the height
 
Not sure for definite but Harvey who is a middle of the road riding club pony and is 13.2 (ish, maybe 13.3hh) was jumping 2ft and 2ft 3 showjumping courses with me last year (I was 10st 7 and am not particularly brave/good at jumping!)

However I know he can jump about 3ft courses with a similar sized adult. (It's just me who isn't brave enough!)

This year I'd like to be jumping up to 2ft 6 but due to my (lack of) talent we probably won't go higher.
 
trieste said:
this got me thinking, so what can Panda realistically be expected to jump - I'm thinking it's more the spread than the height
Click to expand...

I think 3' high is very reasonable - but I am sure he will let you know what he is happy with.

I always think spread is more of a rider-frightener than a real problem for the horse/pony (until you get to mental badminton-style spreads:help:) But 'normal' spreads don't seem to require much extra effort from the horse - just a slight change in technique. And skill from the rider to get back together for the next upright:unsure:
 
i'll be doing 17 and overs 2ft 6 on my slightly less than 13'1 mare this year :bounce: only because thats the smallest class im eligable to enter at my age (21) I'm 5ft 8 and weigh 8 stone.

I've got a photo of me jumping her in one of my threads, the jumps 2ft 7 and she's clearing it by at least a foot if not more....... she's also jumped that from a standstill with me.

I worry she won't be able to do a full course of 2ft6 with me on her back but i think its just me being silly.

We seriously under estimate what these ponies are capable of!!! So i think what your aiming for is very realistic and you won't have any problems!

I'm still hoping to beat some of the big horses in the classes i'm entering as we can turn alot smaller and quicker than the big 16handers!!
 
Me and my old pony Twig used to jump up to about a metre (think that's just over 3ft!?) but that was probably his limit with me on board. If he got fitter and we improved our technique I guess we could have gone higher but I was like you, not so confident, and if I wasn't confident neither was he!
 
I think it will probably depend on the not very confident rider more than the height of the horse. Although the horses education will of course play a part too.

My 14.1hh Mixed breed could do 6 foot as a 1 off jump but we never went higher than 3 foot doing a course under saddle. That was more than high enough for me.
 
Sisters 13.1 will do a 1m class quite happily, think that is prob her limit as jumps offs tend to be about 10cm higher, 110cm's okay but i think she'd struggle with a 120cm jump off bless her!. Thats with about 7 stone including tack on, so probably lower with an adult on :)
 
My RS horses and ponies can generally jump 90cms-1.10m (3'-3'6) with a competent rider but with a less confident/experienced one I seldom ask them to do any more than 2'3-2'6. It really doesn't seem to depend on horse/pony height.
 
Louise is supposedly 14.1 but I measured her at barely 14hh the other day :rolleyes:
She is still very green so her jumping has a way to go, but this is 1.05m

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It's more a combination of technique and schooling and rider competency than pony height - my 15.1hh TB can't get over much more than 105cm as a single fence and is almost guaranteed to roll a pole round a 95cm course because he tends to rush and get flat, he's also long backed. That pony is a good hand smaller but has good technique and natural ability so even as green as she is, she can do an 85cm course easily and it learning 95cm courses.

This is about 70cm, and Truffles is only 11hh!
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I don't think height of horse or pony comes into it, it is based on the partnership and confidence.

I have not edited myself out of this photo, I was not on him. I love jumping but Jack loved it even more.

picture.php
 
It was hard to get the shot just right as i had him in one hand and the camera in the other.
 
I often wonder the same thing, but with my 13.3h boy i think he will jump quite big if i had the confidance too.

As soon as he feels me get nervy about height he wont go near them! :redface:

This is how big we have done so far...no idea on actuall height?

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thanks all, little update, Panda is very happily jumping 2ft6 and apparently - I of course don't see- is clearing them by miles! Local riding club team manager commented on Sunday at a team event I was watching, have you in the team next year, but said I, it's 85cms :eek:, seen the pop on that pony, says she, gulp
 
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I was just free jumping my families 11 welsh a, jumping 60cm with ease. The barriers were 1.05 and she decided to jump out of them, clearing it!:eek:

I've jumped 1m on my 13 welsh b and will soon be free jumping him to see how high he can go.
 
90cms isn't all that big to the pony really and I really wouldn't think he would struggle :)

Just go and have fun :) my boy and I used to do 1.10 courses and hunted and he kept up with the big boys no bother I was more afraid of the hedges than he was lol ;) he's 14.3hh
 
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