Advice on showing Welsh Cobs.

[Specialoats]

Has anyone got any basic advice/tips on showing my Welsh Cob (D). I am completely new to this and would like to show in unaffiliated ridden showing classes.
Help required with horses tack, should I use a snaffle, or pelham?
Rider turnout do's and dont's, colour of shirts, breeches, jackets, etc?
Schooling of horse, way of going etc?
If I was entering a Mountain and Moorland class what size M&M would mine be?
What are the judges looking for??? :confused:

[halkynuk]

Have a look at this list - http://www.welshcob.co.uk/ to see if there's a Welsh Cob stud or association near you.

I'm sure they wouldn't mind you contacting them to ask for advice.

[Daffy Dilly]

Starting with the horse;
Hunter bridle, preferably brown, and preferably with a pelham/double with two reins, but if the horse goes best in a snaffle, use a snaffle.
Saddle should be workmanlike and straight cut, it is especially important that it shows off and doesn't restrict the shoulder, as movement is very important for the welshies. Again saddle should ideally be brown, as should a numnah if you use one (but it must fit well) and preferably a brown leather girth.

The mane should be natural, but that doesn't mean scruffy. I take the straggly hairs out, and infact I pull Daffy's to the length of the bit just behind his poll, but it still looks natural enough because he has a sparse forelock. It should all be on the right side. You can show with a single braid behind the ear, left long and secured with thread, and if you wish you can put two ribbons through the plait. Tail should pretty much be left, just bandaged regularly to neaten the top, and tidied a little at the bottom provided it's not cut straight.

Trimming is allowed. Outside of the ear (not inside) and under the jawline are the two key ones, as they make a really big difference to the appearance of the pony. Whiskers can be left on or off, I just take a bit off the really long ones of Daffy's and leave the rest.

Rider should always wear a current standard hat. It's in the WPCS rules if not the individual shows rules. Ideally this should be a navy hat with a leather harness. Hair should be in a bun, discreet scrunchies can be worn but it often looks better to go without unless you're quite young.
A green or brown tweed jacket should be worn, with a nicely coloured shirt and tie, and brown leather gloves with a brown cane.
Jods look best if they're a sort of creamy canary colour, as beige looks washed out but banana is too much!
You should wear long boots, and as with the hat you can never wear spurs to show, the reason being it's a mixed class of kids and adults.

Horse should be as well schooled as you can get it. Ideally it will work consistantly in an outline, but I showed with nose in the next county and still did well at local level. Overbent (ie head forced in) is not a good look. At local level it's not so important, but a welsh cob should extend well in trot and canter, or can do a gallop. Manners are really quite important for any ridden horse.

Welsh cobs are classed as large breeds.

Essentially the judge is looking for a smart pair, with good manners, conformation and paces, that is well schooled and fit. You can either take the attitude that you wont show until the horse is schooled, or take the horse in, get opinions/experience and make the schooling more specific to areas that need improving. I took the second approach, and haven't done badly by it.

It's no good knowing all this if you don't enjoy it, because whilst it's easy to get competitive, it's more important to have fun.

[Specialoats]

Starting with the horse;
Hunter bridle, preferably brown, and preferably with a pelham/double with two reins, but if the horse goes best in a snaffle, use a snaffle.
Saddle should be workmanlike and straight cut, it is especially important that it shows off and doesn't restrict the shoulder, as movement is very important for the welshies. Again saddle should ideally be brown, as should a numnah if you use one (but it must fit well) and preferably a brown leather girth.

The mane should be natural, but that doesn't mean scruffy. I take the straggly hairs out, and infact I pull Daffy's to the length of the bit just behind his poll, but it still looks natural enough because he has a sparse forelock. It should all be on the right side. You can show with a single braid behind the ear, left long and secured with thread, and if you wish you can put two ribbons through the plait. Tail should pretty much be left, just bandaged regularly to neaten the top, and tidied a little at the bottom provided it's not cut straight.

Trimming is allowed. Outside of the ear (not inside) and under the jawline are the two key ones, as they make a really big difference to the appearance of the pony. Whiskers can be left on or off, I just take a bit off the really long ones of Daffy's and leave the rest.

Rider should always wear a current standard hat. It's in the WPCS rules if not the individual shows rules. Ideally this should be a navy hat with a leather harness. Hair should be in a bun, discreet scrunchies can be worn but it often looks better to go without unless you're quite young.
A green or brown tweed jacket should be worn, with a nicely coloured shirt and tie, and brown leather gloves with a brown cane.
Jods look best if they're a sort of creamy canary colour, as beige looks washed out but banana is too much!
You should wear long boots, and as with the hat you can never wear spurs to show, the reason being it's a mixed class of kids and adults.

Horse should be as well schooled as you can get it. Ideally it will work consistantly in an outline, but I showed with nose in the next county and still did well at local level. Overbent (ie head forced in) is not a good look. At local level it's not so important, but a welsh cob should extend well in trot and canter, or can do a gallop. Manners are really quite important for any ridden horse.

Welsh cobs are classed as large breeds.

Essentially the judge is looking for a smart pair, with good manners, conformation and paces, that is well schooled and fit. You can either take the attitude that you wont show until the horse is schooled, or take the horse in, get opinions/experience and make the schooling more specific to areas that need improving. I took the second approach, and haven't done badly by it.

It's no good knowing all this if you don't enjoy it, because whilst it's easy to get competitive, it's more important to have fun.
Hi Chris
Many thanks for taking the time to give me this advice. It will be very useful and hoping to put this into practice this season.
Regards Teresa.