To no disrespect to the horses who have won that you mentioned but it's hard to compare the winners of those classes when we are talking about the size class difference. Under Moderns there were only 2 in 3 years and older, 1 in 1 year old, and 2 in foal of current year. The one who was Reserve was a yearling. The Modern Stallion, Over classes 3 in 3 years old and older, and 2 in 1 year olds. Both Grand and Reserve Modern Stallions were Sr. horses.
Now lets compare those numbers at AMHR Nationals:
Gelding, 3 and older, 30" and under - 7
Gelding, 3 and older, 30" to 32" - 17
Gelding, 3 and older, 32-34" - 26
Gelding, 3 and older, 34"-36" - 19
Gelding, 3 and older, 36" to 38" - 17
Mares, 3 and older, 28" and under - 5
Mares, 3 and older, 28" to 30" - 7
Mares, 3 and older, 30" to 32" - 16
Mares, 3 and older, 32" to 34" - 28
Mares, 3 and older, 34" to 36" - 12
Mares, 3 and older, 36" to 38" - 23
Stallions, 3 and older, 28" and under - 6
Stallions, 3 and older, 28" to 30" - 10
Stallions, 3 and older, 30" to 32" - 19
Stallions, 3 and older, 32" to 34" - 22
Stallions, 3 and older 34" to 36" - 18
Stallions, 3 and older, 36" to 38" - 13
The only problem I see with this rule is you see all those height classes going to have to add another class for each height class. That might be more then what we could handle. My thinking was oh boy this would be great but after typing all those classes down we may be going over our heads lol. I also see 10 might be a big number, 5 years and older sounds reasonable to me and 5 years is considered Sr. horses in the full size horse world. IMO what we are facing isn't a age issue it's more so having halter classes available to those who don't have the shetland factor. Like you mentioned above the 2 horses that won National Grand that are older horses are shetlands. I would personally like to see a type division class before we add a age class. We do have something in front of us and that's the draft type halter class which was introduced at Nationals this year and I think it did very well with entries.
Gelding Draft Halter - 8
Mare Draft Halter - 4
Stallion Draft Halter - 2
Yes those classes aren't huge but you got to remember you have to show in a draft driving class and it would be hard to show multiple horses unless you can show them in a team set up, but it was also last minute planning, you have your wagons your harnesses and that of course is money some people didn't have. I think the class could do better if driving in a draft driving class wasn't required but I understand why but you are still limiting your entries. I would like to see these classes be placed before another age class. But thats JMO. Being at Convention I will listen to all arguments but after typing this out and thinking about it before I was for it but now I don't see the reason to have it as we aren't fighting an age issue it's a type issue.