complete dumbass when it comes to showing :S

[barlz_max_hero]

i am hoping to take max to some local shows this year whether it be showing or jumping. I have quite a few questions about showing, as i popped along last year and didnt have a clue what was going on!

Firstly what classes would you recommend i enter?
Also what would i need to be wearing? What colour Jods etc
Is there anything Max couldn't wear? Martingale, Numnah etc
Would i be allowed to carry a whip?
Should i wear a velvet hat?
Can ankle boots be worn with/without chaps?

Thanks for any help :)

PS heres a link to a picture of max:
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w23/barlz_max_hero/picture154.jpg
he is 16.2hh and a chestnut, not too sure of breed, and around 15 years old

[Daffy Dilly]

Showing wise, he strikes me as a riding horse from that photo. Similar in type to hunters, but slightly finer. You can do hunter classes if you wish, ridden horse (anything over 14.2 with a rider), equitation, riding club horse (includes a jump or two, never very big) and if you want you can do tack and turnout, best condition etc. Obviously for jumping you jump at the height you are comfortable with, I would aim to be jumping 3-6" bigger at home so they don't look huge when you get there. :)

You should ideally wear;
navy velvet hat with leather harness
green/brown tweed jacket
shirt and tie (not white/black, creamy yellow for the shirt, lightly patterned for the tie)
brown leather gloves
Buff/canary jods - beige can look washed out, but you don't want banana coloured jods
Black long leather boots. No half chaps, but you could wear leather gaiters and short boots. If possible you don't want just short boots.

Max ought to have a ribboned browband for riding horse classes but you need a plain one for the working/hunter classes. Which you stick with for the others is up to you, see what suits him best.
No martingale in showing classes, unless it's working hunter.
Ideally he should have a flat hunter browband, with two pairs of reins (not rubber) on a pelham, but you can work with what you have and don't put the pelham in if his schooling isn't up to it.
If you use a numnah, it should be plain brown, and fit his saddle, no saddlecloths.
He can wear discreet boots for the jumping phase of working hunter classes, but these have to be taken off for the flat.

You ought to carry a show cane, but a plain brown whip (something like this (http://www.equestrianclearance.com/perl2/v2.cgi?page=/templates/details.html&productid=1552)), not a schooling whip, would be ok.

Don't go spending a fortune (because it can easily add up) until you know you like it. If I were you my priority would be a nice pair of long leather boots (suitable for any discipline/everyday), followed by a riding hat with a leather harness.

Have fun :)

[S_F_S]

What she said. :P

Actually, I was just thinking how nice it was that you had admitted not knowing anythnig about showing and asked for advice rather than vice versa.

Your boy looks lovely, and at local shows there will be many different classes you can do such as Riding Club Horse, Equitation, etc - where he does not have to be a certain 'type'.

Best way to find out if you enjoy it is to get out there and have a few goes!

[barlz_max_hero]

Showing wise, he strikes me as a riding horse from that photo. Similar in type to hunters, but slightly finer. You can do hunter classes if you wish, ridden horse (anything over 14.2 with a rider), equitation, riding club horse (includes a jump or two, never very big) and if you want you can do tack and turnout, best condition etc. Obviously for jumping you jump at the height you are comfortable with, I would aim to be jumping 3-6" bigger at home so they don't look huge when you get there. :)

You should ideally wear;
navy velvet hat with leather harness
green/brown tweed jacket
shirt and tie (not white/black, creamy yellow for the shirt, lightly patterned for the tie)
brown leather gloves
Buff/canary jods - beige can look washed out, but you don't want banana coloured jods
Black long leather boots. No half chaps, but you could wear leather gaiters and short boots. If possible you don't want just short boots.

Max ought to have a ribboned browband for riding horse classes but you need a plain one for the working/hunter classes. Which you stick with for the others is up to you, see what suits him best.
No martingale in showing classes, unless it's working hunter.
Ideally he should have a flat hunter browband, with two pairs of reins (not rubber) on a pelham, but you can work with what you have and don't put the pelham in if his schooling isn't up to it.
If you use a numnah, it should be plain brown, and fit his saddle, no saddlecloths.
He can wear discreet boots for the jumping phase of working hunter classes, but these have to be taken off for the flat.

You ought to carry a show cane, but a plain brown whip (something like this (http://www.equestrianclearance.com/perl2/v2.cgi?page=/templates/details.html&productid=1552)), not a schooling whip, would be ok.

Don't go spending a fortune (because it can easily add up) until you know you like it. If I were you my priority would be a nice pair of long leather boots (suitable for any discipline/everyday), followed by a riding hat with a leather harness.

Have fun :)

:):) thanks a lot for all your help :):)