Thinking of showing for the first time

[charliejonny]

Hi this question will make me look like a really novice but im thinking about maybe showing my gorgeous 15.2 standardbred this year,nothing to big just little local shows and i was wondering what it involves,what types of classes are avail to a novice?what should i wear?what should my horse wear? Its just lots of little questions i have about showing so any advice would be really really helpfull.I can put some pics of my girl on if it helps.:D

[Luv 2 Trot]

For a novice, i would suggest walk/trot classes to get use to the idea of a show. What type of riding will you be doing? That will effect what you & your horse wear, as well as the classes you enter.

[Daffy Dilly]

Photos are essential.

You can do equitation, riding club horse, tack and turnout and best condition classes with any type - ie hunters, natives, cobs, hairy beasties or show pony types. In those you turn out for the type of horse you're riding, but it's normally tweed.

Then you have the type classes, which is where photos are necessary.

Most shows will have a novice ridden class of some description, but tack and turnout is always good as it rarely goes above walk - it's only hard work if you want to win. It's always worth going to a show run by the prospective club to look at the standard, and you may get the opportunity to talk to the judge/secretary and ask their advice. The secretary knows the show best, so they are a great person to ring before you do your entries.

Standard ridden class involves walking, trotting and cantering as a group, before doing a short individual show where you do minimal walk, some trot and some canter. Inhand you walk around as a group, then the group halts and you take it inturns to trot to the back, then one by one you stand for the judge, walk away and trot back.

Turnout wise you'll need long boots or gaiters for definate, and some creamy canary breeches, brown leather gloves and a shirt and tie. Ideally a navy hat with a leather harness on top, you can now get these for £65 from www.discountsaddleryshop.co.uk and jacket depends on type, but is most likely to be a green/brown tweed.

Horse should either be in plain workmanlike tack (pref brown) or have a show browband on. No horse boots, martingales or non-cavasson nosebands. Whatever tack you do use should suit the horse, and the saddle in particular should show off the horse well.

As well as giving you ideas on what classes to enter, going to watch higher level shows will show you the ideal standard of turnout and what to do in each class. It's rarely a good idea to base your turnout on people riding at local level, better to look at the professionals.

Three things that you should do however - plaiting thread for numberstring, and hair neatly in a bun (or use a donut ring as a bun) with a hairnet or two to hold it neat. Both cheap, both make a big difference. The third, is to enjoy it. :)

[charliejonny]

Thanks daffy dilly thats really helpfull,i was thinking of just going to a few shows first to get a good idea of what it involves.
Il try and get some pis on here to.
THANKS AGAIN EVERYONE.:D

[charliejonny]

Hi here are some pics of by big baby.The first is when we first got her when she was in a terrible state and the rest were taken after alot of hard work.
ENJOY.:D

[charliejonny]

Could you expers out there give me some adv on the pics.