coloured horse hair!

[cat1]

Hi,
I own a tri-coloured mare that i'm hoping to in-hand show this year or next. I'm not sure whether she can be plaited or her mane and tail left natural.
Help!
catherine

[Mehitabel]

she is the spitting image of one of our school horses! what a sweetie. it depends what classes you do, coloured is usually plaited, and cob is usually hogged. if she's got a really long mane, then (i think) it's ok to leave it au naturel, but if it's pulled, then plait it.

[cat1]

Hi Es,
I'm more looking at coloured classes rather than cobs. Her mane has been described as the same as a 'my little pony' mane!
It takes lots of looking after. I keep the mane and tail conditioner company in business!
Do you show?
Catherine

[Mehitabel]

yes, i do new forest ponies. much easier than big fluffy manes!

[cat1]

Don't blame you.
I thinking of having Megans mane pulled before she comes home from training on Saturday. She'll be a different horse.

[ziggyb]

Hi Cat1,

From looking at the photo your mare appears to be what is classed as a 'traditional', that is 'cobby' build with long flowing mane & tail, & feathers, if that is so then it is correct to show her just as she is - no plating or pulling required although you can trim under her chin and her tail if it reaches the floor.

Hope that helps - if you have any other 'coloured showing' questions just ask I may be able to help.

I have a coloured lightweight that I show but the turnout for a lightweight is quite different.

[cat1]

Thanks Ziggyb,
I think Megan is medium weight. Not sure what her bone size is.
Shes just come back from training for a forthnight and is a different horse. Shes definately come back a more mature horse. Shes only 6, and would'nt let anyone ride her as after 3 people falling off, she developed a fear of being ridden. I've rid her for the last two nights and felt wonderful.
Because of her build, I think she'll do well in cross-country. Her legs are quite sturdy, but not too chunky.
Thanks for your help.
Catherine

[LindaAd]

What sort of class would that be, Ziggyb? A coloured class? Or would she be classed as M&M? I know cobs are shown trimmed and hogged.

[maverick927]

I have my pony hogged and he's New Forest. I just hate the furry mane

[ziggyb]

Hi LindaAd,

Yes - I was talking about coloured classes, with coloureds the cobby types with log manes, tails and feathers are classed as 'Traditionals', often referred to as Gypsy horses, where as the chunkier show cob types are indeed shown with hogged manes, pulled tails and all feathering clipped off.
Sorry I know nothing about M&M's

Sue

[supergirl]

i have a middle weight coulerd hunter but what i suggest is pulled mane and then plaited it is more traditional and shows their markings better ok hope that helps my boys hogged !

[LindaAd]

That's interesting, ziggyb: I've got a traditional chunky cob - the sort that's usually shown trimmed and hogged, and I thought I couldn't show him because he's got his mane and feathers on...(well, actually I chopped the feathers off today, they weren't beautiful feathers and I wanted to see how he looked without them, so I suppose now I have to pull the mane enough to plait).

[supergirl]

yes lynda now that you have chopped his feathers of it wuill either mean being pulled and plaited or hogged

[ziggyb]

Here are the addresses of a couple of sites that give details of the differrent types of coloured horses and how to turn them out when showing.
www.ifield-park.co.uk/bspa/showing.htm (this is the old bspa web site I can't find the new one at the moment)
www.theispa.com
www.chapsuk.com

I hope this helps