How High is too High?

My mare, Leia, is a 7yo ASB/pony cross mare show has done 2'6" and 2'9" courses easily and even some 3' lines. My trainer, who is also a vet, said she had no problem whatsoever jumping 3' and that she could go higher, but I shouldn't make her. She said 2'9" should be my limit with her because pushing a horse like that is what ruins horses in the long run. She said eventually, I wouldnt be able to jump her.

BUT my friend has a welsh/qh who's the same height and about the same build, only a bit fatter :P she does 3' and 3'3" courses easily and has been doing them for a long time and is fine.

I'm just wondering if I should stick to 2'9" or should I try 3' courses? Keep in mind I don't want to do ANYTHING that could jeopardize her soundness.

Any pics of her ? Jumping ones too ?

Its really depends on their build & scope.

My horse is 14.3 but was never that comfortable jumping over 3ft, only certain types of jumps. I have also ridden 12hh ponies who could jump 3'9" oxers & coops

Personally, I find that really quite odd. I know many ponies that jump 3'6" on a regular basis - keeping in mind too that their legs are well cared for. As long as the pony is brought along to those heights in a suitable manner, and attention is paid to a proper warm up and cool down, she should be fine. Just keep an eye out for signs that she's reached her height limit.
The great late Teddy O'Connor was a pony... Theodore O'Connor - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I do just want to respond to this; while build does play an important role, sometimes a horse's heart overcomes any conformational oddities - for example, Big Ben wasn't exactly what you'd call a conformation specimen, and yet he was one of the greatest jumpers of his time.

There are always exceptions. But build does help a lot imo. A horse that doesnt have good confo for jumping is more likely to hurt themselves from it, not bc they are a bad horse, but bc they just arent suited for it. That also doesnt mean you can't jump a horse if it doesnt have perfect confo, no horse does ! But if they have major faults you should be careful

I also want to add that teddy was bred specifically for eventing

Absolutely, not disagreeing with you there :)

I would ask your vet what about your mare makes her say just to stick to 2'9". Is she just going off size or (like other have posted) are their confirmation faults that indicate that jumping that high could put more stress on her then another pony.

How tall is she? I had a welsh cross when I was a kid who easily cleared 3 ft + and he was 14 hh!

Unless she has some conformation flaws that would seriously hinder her, or she just doesn't have the 'drive' to want to jump those higher courses, I would try it atleast. From the pics you HAVE posted of her, I don't see a reason NOT to try a little higher. What have you got to lose?

This also made me think of Stroller, the only pony to make it into the olympics.. he jumped. :P

Leia's 14.2 she has almost perfect confo and she jumps 3' without hesitation or difficulty.

Pics of her jumping

2ft


2'6"








I don't have any 2'9" or 3' but she looks the same over them as she does over 2'6"

Now that I have seen pictures of her she looks like she can do that height just fine and maybe more.

While I would still talk to your vet more about the subject, I would also keep in mind that not all vets (even equine vets) are familiar with all of the different equine sports in depth. Her experience may be that the ponies that she has worked with in the past ended up lame from jumping and the height truly was too much for those ponies.