Showing a Native - clothes/tack?

[EnduranceAli]

I would love to show Frayne this year - just the local 'agricultural' shows. However, I ride her in a rope halter and synthetic treeless saddle :rolleyes: Can't afford 'conventional' tack, so that puts us out of the ridden classes. A friend suggested showing her inhand. She will be 8 this year? Will she need to wear a bridle or can I get away with a simple rope halter? What sort of clothes/footwear will I need? Thanks, Ali xx

[Daffy Dilly]

From what I remember, exmoors are shown in bridles, particularly as she's a ridden pony.

Just a simple snaffle bridle, preferably with a flat noseband/browband, in brown will do. As she's ridden without a bit I would just use a snaffle, with reins, rather than anything like a pelham. You might be able to borrow one, or you can pick up imported leather ones for £15-20.

If she'll go in the snaffle, you could do ridden classes, but I would do them at local shows rather than agricultural, and avoid T&T like the plague, as treeless saddles aren't always the best looking things. She would have to be bitted for the classes though. It's all experience, and whilst treeless saddles aren't common in the SR yet, synthetic saddles are becoming more prevalent at local level.

Clothing wise, ideally you want a bush hat/beagler for inhand, though ridden hat is fine. You should wear a shirt and tie, and brown leather gloves, preferably with a tweed jacket, green or brown is better if possible. It's also good to carry a cane. On the bottom, I'd wear sturdy boots that you can run in, or discreet trainers, and beige/pale trousers. Dark trousers if the pony has light legs, but I don't think exmoors are allowed white markings. For ridden, just creamy-canary jods (not banana! but beige are a little washed out when there's a lot of it) and short brown boots.

Provided you're willing to bit her for the competitions (even if it's rubber, as long as it's not blue, pink or purple!) there's no reason why you can't have a go at it all. :)

[Vicki&Milo]

Sorry to thread hijack, but what exactly are the judges looking for inhand with M&M.
Obviously confirmation, although I can't do a lot about that.
And you need to look smart-although does/should that make that much of a difference (eg if you have riding hat instead of beagler).
Is it mainly the way they move (as in ridden) eg going straight (Milo has to stick his head towards me when I lead from the left :rolleyes: ) or things like their obedience (more dressagey) ie. would I be marked down for the ears back attempted ledarope eating?

Vicki xx

[Mehitabel]

it's both - and different judges will vary as to what they put most importance on.
turnout does matter - but if you are clean and tidy and have made an effort that is the most important thing, the 'right gear' is the right gear precisely because it tends to look better, but things like strappy hats instead of beaglers for inhand are no problem at all - you should never be marked down for wearing safety equipment. (and you can't show an M&M ridden in a beagler.)

inhand, youngsters are often cut some slack with behaviour as long as the judge can see them move - for instance as long as they do trot, and not leap around the entire time - and they are not dangerous. a bit of bouncing is often overlooked with a youngster, although i'd expect an adult to be put down for it.

thinks like biting the leadrope or turning the head are not penalised inthemselves, but if the horsei s trotting with its head turned, it can affect the movement and make it look like it doesn't move straight. also it's less of a good picture if the horse looks half asleep, so a perkier horse who looks enthusiastic will show itself of better.

[Vicki&Milo]

Well we're definitely not lack enthusiasm.
Milo leads beautifully from the right, but as soon as you get on the left he thinks he's a stallion. The head comes right up, he takes off at ninety miles an hour (stopping is more a case of spinning in towards you) and threatens everything (alive or otherwise) that dares to cross his path, particularly my right arm. I end up running with my right arm somehwere up near his crest (something I seem to see stallion owners doing when they are at gradings)and looking like a right ponce.....men.....tut


Vicki

[Mehitabel]

if you show in a riding bridle, then keep the right rein a bit shorter to keep his head straight. also holding the showing cane up by his muzzle can help to keep the teeth at bay, or at least givew him sometihng to chomp besides you, and a swift elbow in the neck works wonders too.

[Vicki&Milo]

From what I remember, exmoors are shown in bridles, particularly as she's a ridden pony.

Just a simple snaffle bridle, preferably with a flat noseband/browband, in brown will do. As she's ridden without a bit I would just use a snaffle, with reins, rather than anything like a pelham. You might be able to borrow one, or you can pick up imported leather ones for £15-20.



Black or brown?

Vicki xx

[Vicki&Milo]

If you see my post in the cafe we are working on the lead rope biting, its only when I try and pull that out his mouth he goes for me!

Vicki xx

[Mehitabel]

brown is better.

[Vicki&Milo]

Maybe something like this then http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250087996754

Vicki xx

[Mehitabel]

yes, that'd be fine. you can get them bitless too - scroll down here to 'inhand show halter with matching lead' - http://www.usfriesianreferral.com/halters.html
or here - http://www.newforestpony.com/Shows/2005/Pics05/NFShow/brockbewitched.jpg

[Vicki&Milo]

I think I will try and get a bitted one with the *can't remember what they're call* leadropes with the two attachments. I think it will give us more control if he does his stallion impression and he's happy and used to that set up as I'm leading him in a bridle and leadrope concoction at the mo whilst waiting for a new saddle.

ETA Although looking at that NF inhand picture I think we are probably wasting our time anyway, good job I like a laugh

[Mehitabel]

why not just use a ridden bridle? you've got more control with 2 reins - or four, if you use a pelham!

the NF is brock bewitched - twice supreme champion of the breed show, so she isa lot to live up to! she was the first one who came to mind who i knew showed in a bridle rather than white.

[Daffy Dilly]

I used to use a ridden bridle for inhand, switched to a white halter when I got the guts up. Found four reins on a pelham quite a lot to handle sometimes, although he never chewed them like he does with a leadrope. It did mean that I could encourage his head lower, or slow the pace a little with a small tweak on the curb rein. Much more effective than a single lead, or two reins.

[EnduranceAli]

Thanks for your comprehensive replies :) She does go in a bit - but hated the bit she came with (a rubber covered, jointed, D Ring snaffle) and, as I was starting Parelli, we have just continued with a rope halter for riding and groundwork (why do anything more complicated when we are both happy). Would a simple unjointed rubber snaffle be ok in her typical Exmoor mouth (I understand they have a large tongue and a jointed bit can cause problems)? I could then practice doing inhand (because of the Parelli she is excellent inhand, but tends to be lazy :rolleyes: ) and perhaps try ridden as well (if I can find a treed saddle to fit her - her first owner just had a Wintec Synthetic and that was ok on her very wide back). She is such a lovely looking example of the breed and a fantastic character - I just want everyone to admire her :D Ali xx

[Vicki&Milo]

why not just use a ridden bridle? you've got more control with 2 reins - or four, if you use a pelham!

the NF is brock bewitched - twice supreme champion of the breed show, so she isa lot to live up to! she was the first one who came to mind who i knew showed in a bridle rather than white.

In part because it had an accident (the noseband snapped off-not the end of the world) and because i is a training bridle, with clips onto the bit and reins.

His owner has, I think, bought another one, but if its the one I think it is its a bit.....erm..........chavy.

[tillsmum]

Hi Ali why don't you try a straight bar snaffle as they are quite narrow and the jointed bit problem will be removed. I have just brought Saski a cheapy 2nd hand synthetic saddle which is a wide fit if you want to try it.

Love Kelly