Turnout

[Gothika]

Riight. On Sunday I'm hopefully taking Willow to a show. :D (anyone who knows our story this is a pretty big thing, she had a very bad injury and they thought she was going to die let alone never be ridden again, but 10 months later she's back :D She's recovered so well I'm even allowed to jump her [in time])

Anyway, since Lacey hasn't been going well for a bit, and even after our regular back doctor looked at her and knocked her pelvis back into place, we're having someone else who is physio and chiropractic and saddle fitter rolled into one to see her. ANYWAY.

This means she won't be going to the show on sunday as she's being looked at on saturday. So I'm taking Willow. My mum rang them and I can def do best turned out, any other classes depend on the judge (but I have a certificate saying although she's lame she isn't in any pain).

Anyhow, she started doing quite well showing last year. Obviously whether she ever will again is unforseeable as she's still lame. I'm entering on the day but probably will do best turned out & child handler, then see if we can do the
in-hand black/bay/chestnut/grey class but that depends on the judge as she's unsound.

Soo I want to try and do well in the best turned out. (nothing I ever managed before lol) So I want to check turnout.

She's a 15.1hh TB x Connemara grey, quite fine bred.

I've got a tweed jacket and a navy jacket. Not sure which to wear? I've also got a yellow and navy showing browband and pin thing to stick on my jacket which I bought last year as I think she's more a riding horse type than a hunter. Am I right in thinking if the browband is on then I have the navy jacket? I also have a yellow tie with navy spots.

For my native (Lacey <3) I wear the tweed jacket, a brown tie ect.
The best turned out is in hand by the way, but I only have beige in hand trousers for Lacey so would wear jodphurs and jodphur boots, which I have in brown?

I think I have a showing cane and gloves ect in brown too, I'm just not sure whether to wear the tweed jacket or the navy. This is a picture of my tweed (the horse is Lacey NOT Willow. Below I'll post some pictures of Willow.)

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g215/ahrena/IMG_1129.jpg

Last year I bought for her a tweed jacket (pictures) brown cane, brown gloves, brown jodphur boots & gaiters, yellow tie with navy spots, yellow & navy browband & thing to pin on my jacket. Only thinking now, browband ect would look silly with tweed? I think she's a riding horse more than a hunter, but here's some pictures of her.

Also do you think I should use a yellow tea towel to dye a shirt creamy/yellow?

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g215/ahrena/IMG_1288.jpg
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g215/ahrena/IMG_0480.jpg
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g215/ahrena/willowshowingcanter2.jpg
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g215/ahrena/IMG_1687.jpg

The tack and turnout is in hand by the way.
Sorry this post is so rambly!

[Glider]

Yes, she does look more of a riding horse type, but you should still wear your tweed (blue is for hacks, and she looks a bit on the heavy side for a hack). Don't wear the pin on your jacket, I'm afraid they're just for pony classes really.

The rest of your outfit sounds really good, jut make sure everything is really clean, neat and tidy (hairnet, discreet numnah, cotton or elastic to tie your number on etc)

I'd definately give the dying a go, but use really cheap dusters rather than a tea towel, because the colour in dusters will run, whereas tea towels usually don't.

[Daffy Dilly]

Personally I would turn her out as per a riding horse, I think she's a bit pretty to make a small hunter.

You - A navy beagler would be ideal (see www.dressageonabudget.co.uk (http://www.dressageonabudget.co.uk/riding-hats.php?PHPSESSID=e585af23d54593fdce7bd8855443543b#)) with hair in a bun. Or a bush hat (hair in ponytail) would do too. A riding hat doesn't look as professional, but if you do use one then hair in a bun.
Shirt, tie, tweed. I'd go for the yellow tie to match her browband, and a cream shirt. See yellow duster thread if necessary. Button holes are not really worn by adults, but take it just incase you feel the bling will help. A scrunchie (I use navy with gold spots so it's barely there against my hat) is also more of a pony thing, but sometimes the judges go for the bling.
Brown leather gloves, and brown show cane.
Trousers - I prefer navy to black, but brown or green would do. Anything dark so her legs show up against them.
Shoes/trainers you can run in - something dark and discreet.
Hairnets are essential, and plaiting thread (as long as it's not white) makes for good number string. If you do buy the beagler from the link, sew/tuck the tails under as a) they're long and messy and b) it's hunting ettiquette anyway.

Willow - I would put a 1" noseband on her, probably raised, and the show browband.
If you have one, a pelham/double with two reins would be ideal (complete with curb and lipstrap) but if not, just show her from a snaffle with reins. If it's a rugby pelham, put a sliphead on, otherwise I wouldn't.
I would plait her up with thread, and pull and bang her tail, level to just below the hocks when moving. If you choose to plait her tail, make sure it's secured with thread, fold the end under and sew the two sections down to make one instead of a loop. Looks neater. ;)
Her ears (outside definately, inside is preference but many don't) and chin hair ought to be trimmed. Whiskers are also personal preference. She'd look better without, but for just one show..
I would definately trim her feathers, and also around the coronet band to get a clean line.
Hoof polish is a tricky one. If she were sound I'd suggest black to highlight her movement, but as she's lame that may not be the best idea, even though it's only T&T. I would scrub her feet up well and either go for a matt black if you can get it and she has black feet, or clear.
A little bit of highlighter (like a fly repellent gel or vaseline) around the muzzle, eyes and over the chestnuts is a nice finishing touch.

I can't think of a lot else for an inhand class, although you could put a wetwipe, hoofpick, bit of string and a 10p in your pocket, the wetwipe being for last minute touchups, the rest being an old tradition again from the hunting field. Useful if you have a traditional judge though. ;)