Brought to you by The Plaidcast
With over 140 pony jumpers entering the ring at Pony Finals this year, there’s no question the division is on the rise. But as with any new or revitalized program, growth comes with questions and some growing pains. A top question among the ongoing conversation is: how high should the ponies be jumping, and what changes are needed to refine the format going forward?
The Height Debate
Right now, pony jumper classes at Finals run at relatively modest heights. Small ponies compete around 0.6–0.65 meters, with jumps up to 0.7m. Mediums and larges follow a similar incremental scale, with the large ponies topping out at 1.05m.
For Sonja Ochadlik, who now lives in Ireland and trains in a system where ponies regularly jump bigger tracks, the contrast is striking. “The ponies in Ireland jump quite a bit larger at their national championship,” she explained. Large ponies there may face 1.30m courses, while even the smallest ponies tackle 1.10m.
Still, Ochadlik doesn’t think the U.S. needs to follow suit right away. “What happened this year was very positive and very safe,” she said. “It could just happen again the same way and see where the interest is for the following year.”
Balancing Safety and Development
The tension between creating inclusive opportunities and preparing riders for elite sport runs through many of the conversations around pony jumpers. Piper Klemm pointed out that this year’s finals saw a wide range of riders, including children as young as seven. In Europe, many pony jumpers competing at 1.30m are 15- and 16-year-olds.
Keeping the U.S. heights lower allows younger kids and a broader pool of ponies to participate safely. But over time, many believe the top end of the division should evolve into a true pipeline for future teams and junior riders.
What Still Needs Work
While the success of this year’s jumper finals was undeniable, both Ochadlik and Klemm highlighted areas where improvements are needed:
- Results Transparency: Unlike the hunter divisions, which had easy-to-follow PDF results, jumper scores were confusing and difficult to track online. “It was incredibly confusing,” Ochadlik admitted. “I couldn’t even tell which teams placed.”
- Team Format: Combining pony sizes into single team classes limited the strategy aspect that’s central to international show jumping. Ochadlik, familiar with the Irish system, noted that kids there are introduced to team riding as early as age ten, learning to ride as first, middle, or anchor members. That element was missing this year.
- Course Design Clarification: There was confusion about whether combinations should be included at different heights. Ochadlik pointed out that doubles and combinations can be set safely for ponies, but the lack of clear direction made things inconsistent from show to show.
- Qualification Specs: Jumper riders currently qualify by simply jumping the height in a regular class, which means they could qualify jumping the height in the hunters instead of specifically the jumpers. This left some competitors unprepared for the championship format. Clearer expectations could help riders arrive more ready.
Building Year or Raising the Bar?
Looking ahead, some argue that the division should remain at the current heights for several years to continue building numbers and confidence. Others believe the demand is already strong enough to warrant slightly higher fences, at least for the largest ponies.
As Klemm put it, “This was such a building year. Maybe we need three building years before we think about going up.”
Ochadlik agreed that the most important step now is refinement: “I really hope they make sure to separate out the divisions and make the results more clear. If the U.S. pony jumpers want to serve as a true championship, the details matter.”
Despite the hiccups, the momentum is undeniable. Pony jumpers are finally drawing big numbers, excited crowds, and serious attention. The next step is figuring out how high these ponies should go and how to structure the division so it continues to grow while preparing the next generation of riders.
Want more insight from Sonja Ochadlik? Listen to her conversation with Piper Klemm on The Plaidchat and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform for conversations with the most influential voices in the equestrian world.
