Show advice

[Bertie]

I've been thinking of entering my new share into the local show in the middle of August, now bearing in mind her fitness isn't up to scratch yet but we are getting there and the weight is dropping off and muscle building up the more I ride (mental note must get in more riding).

Due to the limited amount I've done and will be able to get done with her in time for the show I've thought about the following classes: -

Ridden Horse
Part Bred Arab Under Saddle
Pony of Hunter type
Best Condition Horse

Firstly, will I have to do individual shows with her in each of them, bar best condition? Will it all be walk/trot/canter, bar best condition.

Secondly, my saddle is synthetic and black and the bridle brown, is there any point in me entering or will they just look at us being mismatched and think why are you bothering??

[Glider]

Secondly, my saddle is synthetic and black and the bridle brown, is there any point in me entering or will they just look at us being mismatched and think why are you bothering??

It's definately worth you entering. Unless it's tack and turnout most judges only see the tack as part of the overall impression they get. Performance and conformation are much more important (good tack just enhances conformation).

You are exactly right about what's expected in each class. If I had a horse that wasn't that fit I'd do the inhand (condition) class, and one or two of the others, depending on fitness and how spaced out in time they were. 3 ridden horses can be quite exhausting if horses aren't used to doing so much.

How big is your horse? In the hunter pony class they'll be looking for a hunter type, whereas there'll be lots of different types in the ridden horse class. So if she's definately a hunter pony type I'd go for that class, but if she's not, I'd go for ridden horse.

[Daffy Dilly]

You should have time to get her fit enough for those classes. However, it depends on the horse. I used to do about 5 classes a day with my sec C (mix inhand/ridden) and he was fine. Daffy seems to peak in his second class (or third attempt at a jumping course) and then tail off quite quickly afterwards, so I'm looking at doing 2 or possibly 3 ridden classes to get the best out of him.

[Bertie]

Thanks for the advice, I've read through Mehitbel's web-site for advice on what to wear, what to expect etc and that is a great help.

The tack issue was a worry for me as non of the tack is mine but was thinking that I could always invest in a new black bridle so at least the colour matches, seen as though saddles are bit more expensive ;)

Her fitness is improving all the time and with continous work I think she up to 4-classes as there pretty well spread out throughout the day, morning, lunch-time then last one about 3pm.

My horse is about 14.2hh - 14.3hh I think, she is a part bred arab, bred with welsh I believe, grey mare, she has very short choppy/bouncy gaits especially in trot everything is done very short and fast, canter I'm not sure as we've not done much work on that yet!

[Bertie]

Quick question - why beige, cream or canary jod/breeches and not white for showing??

What kind of tweed is best with a grey for a variety of classes?? I quite blue and green, shires are doing quite a nice one for reasonable price :)

[Mehitabel]

it's just the Law about breeches - white is for stressage, cream or bananalegs for showing. i have a nice dark green one for grey horses.

[Bertie]

what do think of these jackets??

[Mehitabel]

much prefer the green one personally.

[bevy]

it's just the Law about breeches - white is for stressage, cream or bananalegs for showing. i have a nice dark green one for grey horses.

I know it was a typo, but it was funny "white is for stressage"!!!!lol

[Mehitabel]

not a typo - thoroughly intentional!! :D