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In the association's beginning, the
measuring crew moved from farm to farm measuring the ponies before the racing
season started. During these years the association ran two different categories
of ponies. The first category was for ponies that measured up to 48" and
the second category was for ponies who measured up to 50". Up
until 1986, the horses had to measure 48-50 inches at the withers before
they were branded and permitted to race for the season. In 1986 the measure
changed to 51" or 53". In 1995 the club went to a one-size measure for
all ponies. The size was changed to 53". This size was kept until 2005 when
the measure was raised to 57 1/2".
Up until 2005, the horses were measured using a
bar. The bar would have to pass over the horses’ wither in order for them to
be able to race in the EPCCA. The horses that needed measuring were those that
did not have a permanent brand. A permanent brand is placed on every horse over
five years of age if they have been successfully measured. It is up until a
horse is five that they needed to be measured However, after they are eligible
for a permanent brand which is when they are five years of age or older (you can
tell this by looking at the horses’ teeth), then they no longer need to
measured. Otherwise, every racer must measure all of their horses that do not
have a permanent brand once a year to make them eligible to race in the upcoming
season. When a horse is not eligible for a permanent brand they receive a
temporary hoof brand that grows out in one year. This temporary hoof brand shows
that the horse has been measured but still requires measuring the following year
in order to be eligible to continue racing.
In 2005, the EPCCA began to measure horses with a
laser. The laser is a beam of light that travels from a stationary tripod. The
light hits a dot on the wall that has been pre-measured to a desired height. If
a horse is too tall, it will “cut” the beam of light. The will result in the
horse being measured “out.” When a horse measures “out” they are not
able to run that year. If the horse is not too tall and their wither stays under
the beam of light they are considered to be measured “in” and this makes
them eligible to race for the year.
Now in 2007, the laser measurement is set at 58
1/2". In the spring of each year, all horses that need to be measured meet
at a desired location. Measuring days for the 2007 season were held on April 7th
in Porcupine Plain, Sask. and April 22nd in Standing Buffalo, Sask. These were
the two days set aside for members to take their horses to be measured for the
upcoming racing season.
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