HOW DOES MEASURING WORK?

NEW rules from 2018 mean the FEI reserves the right to carry out unannounced pony measuring at events and out of competition.

Ponies at FEI events are given some leeway on height, but must be under 150cm without shoes or 151cm with shoes.

This works differently to most national competitions in the UK, for which most societies require height certificates from the Joint Measurement Board (JMB).

The FEI does set out requirements for measuring, but JMB rules are stricter.

Concerns have been voiced over the process outlined in the recent FEI tribunals.

“When people go to the expense to compete ponies, the last thing they want is to measure out, especially if they are chosen to compete internationally,” said Caroline Nelson, a steward of the JMB.

Mrs Nelson explained the strict processes and controls in place for owners seeking JMB height certificates for their equines.

All JMB measurements must take place by a JMB-accredited measurer on one of 97 approved pads. Measuring locations are checked to ensure the environment is quiet and suitable, and pads are inspected at least every four years to ensure they are accurate.

Surfaces on which the pads sit are inspected and checked with a spirit level. Equines are always measured without shoes.

Horses and ponies aged four, five and six years old are measured annually. Full measurements are carried out on equines aged seven years old or over, who have been measured in a previous year.

A “gold” measurement is carried out by two official measurers in the presence of a JMB steward or official. It is otherwise the same as a full measurement, but animals with these measurements cannot be remeasured except by order of the JMB stewards.