Aghh! No idea what I'm doing - showing

[Well Then]

Hi all, just found this fab forum and really could do with some advice on showing in general.
I ride my 16.3 ID x TB who is a huge Chesnut with a heart of gold!
I have just started doing Dressage on him this year and have decided to take him to the North West ID and Hunter Show next weekend.
I have been told i should take him into some of the ridden and in hand showing.
1. Can i wear what I wore in my dressage comps (including footwear)?
2. Do i need to plait him up (his mane is pulled, his tail isn't and he has no feathers)
3. He has lumps and scars on his legs etc - does that matter?
Any advice will be more that welcome!
Thanks

[Daffy Dilly]

Have you got some photos?

I'm not too up on ID breed show stuff, but I do know how to turn a hunter out.

For hunter classes, rider should be in a velvet hat (pref navy, it's normally either with a leather harness or not at all at this sort of level), tweed jacket, shirt, tie, brown leather gloves, breeches and long boots, with spurs (dummy spurs are acceptable). You also need to carry a cane or whip.

Yes he should be pulled and plaited for a hunter class. As he's a part bred, I'd go with hunter turnout rather than whatever the ID's are doing, because normally all part breds are plaited/hogged, the exception being coloured traditionals.

Lumps and scars really depend on the judge, the class and the horse. Mascara is good for covering white hairs on dark legs, or you can get horse makeup. If he's an older horse they shouldn't be a massive problem, but if he's young then I would anticipate being pulled down on them. Again, less of a problem in working hunter classes.

Have you checked on entries? Often breed shows insist on entries before the day, and it can often be a couple of weeks before to allow time for the catalogues to be made.

[rtk]

As above but be careful over the hat, although a lot of the top people use beaglers (no harness) a lot of shows are now insisting on hats which meet the current safety standards.

Even the side saddle ladies had to wear them at the Great Yorkshire this year, if your not sure a blue velvet with flesh coloured leather harness is safest.

Oh and dont forget your groom, at that level they will probably strip the horses and you need a groom in the ring. Groom should be smartly dressed too and always wear a hat.

Dress for inhand is similar, you can still wear the hat although its not usually compulsory and you see various types of headwear. Breeches and long boots are swopped for trousers and smart shoes/boots (whatever you can run in) trousers should be opposite colour to your horses legs, dark legs = light trousers, white legs = dark trousers

[Well Then]

Great - thanks for all that!

I've found a lovley girl on my yard who is going to be my groom - she's done it before and so will be holding my hand so to speak!

I've got a navy hat, but it has dark straps! That will just have to do! I've got to take a visit to the Tack Shop on Friday and will end up spending a fortune anyway wothoug forking out for a new hat too!

Re his legs, he's 14 sou shouldn't have too many problems there, I ve only found two and I've been recommended to chalk them and then put white shoe polish on them - his rear legs have white socks.

Will he need to be in a double bridle? I can borrow one if needs be.

I've also never ridden him in spurs - is it a great idea to start now?!

And finally yes, re the entries, I spoke to the show organiser and she's ok'd it for me to enter.

Phew!

I think I've attached some pictures of us at our first ever show - just a local Dressage comp in the collecting area. I think we've come on leaps and bounds since then- we're gonna do the dressage at the show on saturday too

Good job I don't get nervous about stuff!

[rtk]

He looks really nice :D

I think a huinter bridle would suit him best. It can be a double or Pelham with two reins, dont use roundings. Flat noseband and browband, fairly wide if you can get it.

Dont worry about the dark straps, its only if your buying one anyway.

If spurs are the correct dress you should wear them. You can get dummy spurs (spurs without the spur) if you dont need them.

Dont forget to wear a tiepin and use thin elastic or plaiting thread for your number and a lot of people round off the edges of their numbers too.

Good luck, I'm sure you will have a great time.

[sarah--x]

ALWAYS WEARA HELMET WHEN SHOWING!! didnt know one else hear about the poor lady who dided showing her horse about a week ago!

[Well Then]

Great - thanks!

I always wear a hat - have heard of too many near misses that would have ended up a lot worse - one friend came off whist hunting last year and when she came round(!) she had a hoofprint on her hat!! Could have been v nasty - as it was she was unscathed bar a headache.

Mmm tie pin - good idea.
Not too sure about the spurs, will prob just leave them and hope for the best - will let you know how we do and thanks so much for the advice

Tori and Monts x x x