What would she be classed as?

[Rarah]

I've only had my mare since May next year and have never done any showing for fear of looking stupid :o

We're starting lessons this week and would like to do something this summer but not sure what classes we could do. Any ideas?

I don't even know what type she would be classed as. She's 14.2, fairly chunky Clydesdale x cob.

I did describe her as a native somewhere, but that's not right is it?

Here's a little pic.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d151/gokartbandit/17-2.jpg

I don't want to hog her mane, but have been tempted to trim her feather just so I can see how she looks naked :p

[eml]

Lovely little cob and you look great together!

Ideal type for local shows, family pony, working hunter pony. Too small to be a 'real' cob in the showing sense but I would personally like to see him plaited with legs trimmed as I suspect he would look stunning (OK clever photoshoppers lets try before she trims?)

Just an aside but you will need a new hat for showing, the SJ hat just spoils your look .

[Rarah]

Thanks Eml.

That was the first time I went hunting and I soon realised I'd got the wrong hat.

Have now bought a velvet one (but keep it for best so I don't dirty it!).

x

[atillathefun]

Ok - dont tell me off for ruining your beautifull boy I only have Paint to work with :)

[Denbenj]

I personally liek to see horses with their natural feathers and mane. I wouldnt be inclined to hack them of if your just doing some classes for fun

but hey! were all different :D

[Rarah]

Ok - dont tell me off for ruining your beautifull boy I only have Paint to work with :)

Thanks for that! (Do you think you could do something with my waisteline next time too!)

x

[Laura+Phantom]

She is gorgeous! :D

Personally i'd hog her and clip out her legs but I like cobs like that.

Eml aren't show cobs supposed to be 14.2hh to 15.1hh?

[eml]

In theory yes but in practice very full up 15.1. Rarah's mare is very much pony of cob type as opposed to show cob

[Hero]

Ohhh no, her feathers look stunning...that would be so upsetting to shave them off :o

I think Cobs Look nice with natural Manes

Personnel opinion

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[Joyscarer]

Ohhh no, her feathers look stunning...that would be so upsetting to shave them off :o

I think Cobs Look nice with natural Manes

Personnel opinion

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100% with you on that :D

[Hero]

100% with you on that :D

Thank you Joyscarer :D x

[Daffy Dilly]

I second the pull, trim and plait. ;)

[Peanut]

Just to say I remember the hunting picture from a thread when you were asking whether you suit each other. And once again, I think you look fantastic. :D

Btw, I like cobbs to look their natural hairy selves. :D

[joey_olop]

Gorgeous lickle cob, personally I think you should do whatever you feel comfortable with-if you dont like the idea of shaving everything off then leave him as he is :)

I think you would do well in handsome pony classes & family pony classes :)

[marsden]

if its just local shows, you could enter the cob class. I did on my 14.2hh and we weren't out of place. We debated whether to hog, or i pleaded with his owner :rolleyes: . But we just showed him in his 'natural' form and always got placed!

[chickflick1066]

She's of very similar type to Stumpy. We do: Family pony, handy pony, prettiest mare (all novelty classes I guess) and hope to do 2ft3 WH if I ever pluck up the courage (which is highly unlikely).

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/chickflick1066/Ontheyard2.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/chickflick1066/Headshot3.jpg

You could also do: Best rider, Riding club horse/pony etc.

[Rarah]

She's of very similar type to Stumpy. We do: Family pony, handy pony, prettiest mare (all novelty classes I guess) and hope to do 2ft3 WH if I ever pluck up the courage (which is highly unlikely).

You could also do: Best rider, Riding club horse/pony etc.

What do you actually do for family pony? I think she'd do well at handy pony if they have that class at my local show (I'm very lucky that my livery yard host it).
Novelty classes might be best for starters - then I won't feel under too much pressure.

With regard to the feathers on / off debate - it looks like we're keeping them on - for this year at least. Logic's just been clipped today. I asked for a full clip but didn't actually specify legs on or off (I was still undecided so left it to chance).... YO decided to keep them on! She looks beautiful :)

Thanks for all your kind comments and suggestions.

[chickflick1066]

Sarah...you go round in a group (the class I was in was a BIG class, about 14 of us), walk, trot and canter together. Then they have the initial line up, and each rider/horse duo does their individual show, walk, trot, canter and extended canter/gallop in front of the judge and the rest of the group, joins the line up.

You then go round again and as a group and they pull in each horse how they like. They also ask questions about the pony, about the suitability of your horse as a family member. And some shows may even specify two riders to demonstrate the robustness of the pony!

I've done family pony twice. I came 5th out of 14 (initially pulled in third) and that was without any fine tuning schooling and 4th out of four, so it's really subjective.

But I reckon, our two mares suit family pony down the ground :D

[Rarah]

Another question - when you say
......each rider/horse duo does their individual show, walk, trot, canter and extended canter/gallop in front of the judge ....


Do you mean, you do stuff without getting any instructions from anyone?? You have to THINK as well as ride??? :eek: If that's the case I think I'd fall to pieces.

I really do need to watch some shows and pay attention to what's going on (not just eat burgers and drink coke like I did last summer :p )

[chickflick1066]

Yeah!! You almost ride a figure of eight on each rein, demonstrating w,t,c and then gallop the long side, come back to halt, salute the judge and job done!

Mehitabel has a fab practice test which I based my individual show on. You get to practice lots before the class though ;)

[Daffy Dilly]

Walk should be kept to an absolute minimum during an individual show, see plenty of it on the go around and it's boring! Goes for the people that thing they need to do 3/4 figures of 8, circles and god knows what else - short and sweet is much much better. ;)

[Rarah]

So - is there an actual set way you should do it, or is it down to what you (the rider) thinks is the best way to make your own horse look good?

[Esther.D]

I am another for keeping her hairy :) I think she looks lovely and if she is too ponyish to do really well as a show cob then it seems a shame to chop it all off for nothing.

[Lucyad]

Yup, I vote for hairy as well. She is absolutely gorgeous - OK a bit difficult to find a show class to perfectly suit her, but IMO that's the their problem not hers! Very, very pretty.

[Daffy Dilly]

What you need to include in your show depends on the class (some require different traits to others) and sometimes the judge will give you a full show, or ask for a few things to be put in. It also depends on the arena, and you need to show off your best points, and try to hide the worst.

For M&M classes, I walk away from the judge, trot just before turning the first corner, turn onto the diagonal at the next to change the rein, canter at the next corner and around, change the rein across the diagonal, canter at the next, extend/gallop along the long side and then back into walk for the straight in front of the lineup.

It's important to show off Daffy's trot because of his breed, so if he's really striding out, I would do a full figure of 8 in trot, with trot extensions along the diagonal. Most horses though, I'd leave out the second trot part.

In equitation I would change one trot diagonal for a serpentine and do it sitting, possibly include a canter circle and a reinback at the end. In riding club pony I would rework my show to include a jump.

Best thing to do is to learn and practise an individual show that suits you and your horse, is well within your capabilities (you don't want to try a reinback and the horse to rear for example) and that you can adjust to suit a different sized ring, starting point etc.

Especially if you have to show first, it can involve thinking quickly on your feet.

[k8_doran]

Sorry, I hope you don't mind me borrowing your photos for this:

BEFORE:

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o113/goof_photos/17-2-1.jpg

AFTER:


http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o113/goof_photos/17-2.jpg