Getting an Equestrian Annual or Life Measure at Belmont Pony Club

Belmont Pony Club has an official Royal Agricultural Society of NZ (RAS) equestrian measure stand. It is the only measuring stand in the Wellington area. To meet RAS’s standards, we have a number of RAS trained certified measurers and our Metcalf measuring machine is calibrated every two years.

Annual Measure:

All horses/ponies registered with ESNZ need an annual (or life) measure. Once they're 8 years old they should be measured again, and this is the last annual measure you will need for ESNZ events as it will always be accepted by them as that horse's height.

Owners on non-ESNZ registered ponies may need a measure that complies with the above if they are competing at ESNZ events e.g. Show Hunter.

If your pony is competing at NZ Pony Club Association (NZPCA) events and is close to full height, it’s a good idea to have a height certificate. A height certificate is required for some NZPCA events e.g. Champs.

Belmont Pony Club’s annual measuring day is generally the first Sunday of August. It is advertised on the annual area calendar and local Facebook public pages. We may open the measure stand at other times depending on availability of the measurers. Additional fees apply for ad-hoc or 'special' measures - we encourage you to attend on an annual measuring day..

Annual measures made between August and December are valid until 31 July the following year. Annual measures made between January and July are valid until 31 July the same year.

Life Measure:
A Life Measure requires a bit of work and investment at the time but means you never need to measure the horse/pony again. Before the measure, you need to contact Belmont Pony Club to get a triplicate form for your vet to complete. You will also need to contact your farrier because shoes must be off for a Life measure. The horse or pony will also need to be branded or microchipped for Life Certificate.
A horse/pony must be at least eight years before it can get a Life certificate.

Important information for Annual and Life measures:

  • Payment is required prior to any measure.
  • Once a horse/pony has been measured at the stand, the measurers will advise what height they have measured it. You do not have to accept this height measurement and if you choose to decline it, it will not be recorded on any new or existing height certificate. Refunds are not available for measures that are not accepted.
  • The horse/pony must wear a bridle with bit for the measure. This is a safety precaution.
  • Allowance is made for shoes for an Annual measure (0.5cm) so they don’t need to be removed. Shoes do need to be removed for a Life measure.
  • There’s a bit of paper work involved for a measure so allow time for that. If you’re leasing the horse/pony, bring the owner’s details with you (name, address and phone number). You’ll also need to know the horse/pony’s year of birth.


Tips:

  • The calmer you are, the calmer and smaller your horse/pony will be. A tense pony can turn into a horse (i.e. over 148cm) but can come down to pony height when it’s calm and relaxed. So plan your trip to Belmont to be on time without rushing.
  • If your pony is the nervous type, bring a paddock mate along to help calm him/her.
  • Bring riding gear to the measure. Sometimes riding will relax a pony and bring it down.
  • Minis: We can measure miniature horses but please let us know if you’re boking a mini so we have the right measuring gear ready. We take minis at the end of the annual measuring day.


What's in a Name?

If this is your horse/pony's first measure please ask to have the horse's show name recorded on the card (not the paddock name if this is different).  If you're intending to register with ESNZ you should check with them that the name you want to use is available and get it locked in.  Do this prior to coming along for a measure.  You can always change the name on the measuring card later by applying to RAS, but this will cost you extra.

Paperwork:

You will be presented with Horse/Pony ID card at your first measure. This will be updated annually (unless it’s a Life card). Try not to lose the card. It will save you time and money if you bring it back each year.  If you lose your annual height certificate card you will need to apply for a replacement card with RAS.

Belmont Pony Club has a number of forms to complete and return to RAS for each measure.

Costs:​​​​​​​

First measure (on Annual Measuring Dates, either annual or young stock) with issue of certificate: $40

Pre-Registration Measure: $40

First measure at any other time with issue of certificate: $85

Annual re-measure on the Annual Measuring Dates: $25

Youngstock re-measure: $15

Annual re-measure at any other time: $75

Replacement Certificates: Contact Royal Agricultural Society

Life measure on the Annual Measuring Dates: $100

Life measure at any other time: $200


Payment is due at the time of the measure by cash or cheque, or can be pre-paid to the BPC account -  03-0518-0318101-000.


Useful links:
ESNZ Measuring & Life Certificates for Showhunter  Click Here
The Royal Agriculatural Society - Measuring  Click Here