Tack for in hand

[Oli]

Please help i am unsure what the difference is between a in hand bridle and a normal bridle. Is it ok to use either? If you use a normal riding bridle do you keep the reins attached to the bit and just lead by those or are you suppose to have an actual leading rein? If you use a leading rein should this be attached to the bit or the noseband?
I will be taking the shetland in the in hand classes.
Also what do you do to make them nice and shinny etc and ready for the ring?

[Wally]

I'd use an in hand bridle with a lead of your choice attached to the bit, or if it's a mare just a filly slip, or show headcollar.

Stallions must be shown bitted with the lead attached to the bit. Only in leadrein ridden classes do you attach the lead to the noseband.

http://www.littletreesaddles.com/P1090574.JPG
This is an in hand bridle, you see the noseband is attached to the cheeks and not on it's own headpeice.

[Wally]

I am afraid I cheat for that final show shine and use URAD saddle cream!

[Mehitabel]

on the pony, wally? :eek:

for an adult pony, you can use a normal ridden bridle and if you do, you should use the reins, not an inhand lead. if you use an inhand bridle, then use the lead but don't mix and match.

[Oli]

What is URAD cream and what do you do with it. Do you think it marks you down to not have a in hand bridle? I currently only have his ridden bridle and dont know if by this Sunday i will have time to get a in hand bridle.
Also do you know what colour shirt you should wear is it always supposed to be white?
The Shetland is a black gelding, 6 years old.
Are you supposed to add any oil or anything around their eyes or is all that for the show ponies?

[Mehitabel]

urad is a saddle soap - i was teasing wally! no, you won;t be marked down for not having an inhand bridle, either is perfectly correct. shirt can be white or cream. check on the shetland pony society website - there will be guidelines there about presentation. i knwo you're not allowed any makeup, but i'm not sure whether oil round eyes etc counts.

[Wally]

I use a bit of baby oil on noses and bottoms!

[Oli]

I hate ask lol but where do you put the baby oil on the bottom??
Are you allowed to use such things as show shine tyoe of things? How much can you push the natural state?

[Wally]

We use the mane and tail detangler, and make their little bottoms shiny with baby oil, and in the case of the stallion, his dangly bits too. Just use it on the skin under his tail and the skin between his back legs.

You can use things like chalk and the ordinary well accepted show stuff.

When all's said and done, no manner of pills and potions will make a winner out of a pony that hasn't got good, basic conformation and way of going.

[Oli]

With the baby oil do you put it on neat on the body or do you mix it with water?