What show class?

[Hollymead]

Help! I want to take Holly in-hand to a show whilst she is two-years-old to let her (and me) get some ring experience before she goes under saddle.

We'll only be entering local shows, but I have absolutely no idea what type of class she would be eligible for. She is (currently) 13.2hh and an un-registered New Forest.

When she is broken in, what would she be eligible for then? I'm 23 so guess that will stop me entering some classes.

Also (sorry for all the questions) my friend has a three-year-old, 13.1hh Heinz 57, what could she enter? Her pony is of medium-weight build, with plenty of bone but no feathers. Thanks for any help you can give!

[Mehitabel]

at local shows, they often don;t require theponies to be registered, so keep a look out for M&M classes open to unregistered ponies. sometimes they have 'native type' classes too, which are useful. then there's best turned out, potential driving pony, prettiest mare etc - al the novelty classes are ideal for gaining experience for a oyungster.

muchthe same for the three year old as well, really - if you don;t know their breeding then just have a look through the schedules and see what you think!

[Kanuma]

at small shows the youngstock class is normaly open, so give that a go as well, inhand age of the handler doesnt matter so you can do any inhand class that she is eligable for. for the ridden classes, chack if they have an age limit, some of the classes dont and the M&M never does, at most locals the M&M's dont have to be registered, and M&M's can do height classes as well

[shirley]

Mountain and Moorland classes are open to all native types. They sometimes do come in two sizes, smaller natives and larger breed natives. Your new forest would come into the larger catergory. There are also in hand for prettiest female / mare / gelding. Best youngstock, those up to the age of three. Best in hand over the age of four years old. As well as the open type classes as well.
You would do well to make sure your pony leads well and you can put together a small show of walking and trotting in hand, Point to remember here is that you normally walk away from the judge, turn your pony so as you have the pony between you and the judge and then trot back towards the judge. The judge is looking at the paces of your pony and how you handle them being lead. If you start to practice voice commands with your pony at home i.e stand walk on and trot on etc this will certainly aid you in the ring. Sometimes a good idea to go and see several classes at a small show and then see what is entailed and then enter.
We started showing our little show pony in hand when she was only two and we did two classes near to each other and that was enough for her. This year she is rising 4 and we did several more shows in hand and she did about 4 classes at these. She was not sure what to expect on the first time, but as we have gone a number of times now takes it all in her stride. It is such a good way of getting youngsters used to shows and all the bustle that can go on etc.
If you can at some point go to some of the bigger shows i.e. Hickstead, they have some brilliant in hand shows for those who are perhaps more into showing than those of us at local level, but they do show very well and to see these doing it is a good education of what to try and aim for.
Mountain and Moorlands are normally shown in natural state, so no need to plait up etc. But you can get books on this and will tell you more in much more detail
Good luck with you showing next year. Do not take anything too seriously and whatever anyone says you pony is still ultimately the best, even if everyone else cannot see it at all!!! Some people take things far to seriously and get quite upset. Go and enjoy the experience, have a fun day out with you pony and if you win anything then a bonus, but just enjoy yourselves.

[Kanuma]

shirley, M&M's are always unplaited! and normaly for M&M's they have to be registered in a stud book of one of the british native breeds, however at local level you are never asked for breed numbers or certs and i have know quite a few partbreds (NF x welsh) enter them.
at most shows they do come as 2 classes, the small breeds for the welsh A and B, the exmores, dartmores and shetlands. and the large breeds for the connemaras, welsh c and d, highlands, and NF's and fells and dales

if you can go to watch some bigger shows then it helps to watch the proffessionals as they know all the tricks and you can pick up alot from them!
i learnt by appraching them after classes, if they arnt busy they are normaly more then happy to help.
good luck and maybe in a couple of years i'll see you on the county circuit!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v442/kanuma/P1010027.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v442/kanuma/harvey.bmp